Something Changed In Me Today But I Don't Know What It Means.

[SarahM777]

To set the stage I have been thinking of a pastor who I was quite fond of the past few days. He was gay and passed away from complications from AIDS,about the same time I was dealing with my fathers health just before he passed away.

Anyways this morning took my mom to her Bible study and I go as she can't drive anymore. Our retired pastor started a short study on this passage

Mark 10:13-16

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

He broke us up into groups of 3-4 per group and we were to discuss the passage. Somehow the group that I was in finished a bit early. The discussion got a bit off track and one of the ladies in the group whom I have known for about 5 years and is somewhat a friend, started in about how the GAYS were taking over the television etc,etc etc,

Being in a somewhat melancholy mood to begin with. I got very angry. (I have NEVER gotten angry before in a Bible study before) Somehow I kept my cool but I started pointing out some things she needed to hear from a Biblical perspective. I had to remind her that Christ died for ALL.

Something is stirring in my heart and I just can't get a handle on it.

[Del]

I know this is an old thread but I figured I would respond as it was written while my internet was down and computer messed up.
I have witnessed two things spoken of here.
First the disciples rebuking the people who brought children and secondly that we must come unto the Lord as a babe.
I'll put them opposite as they fit.
Scripturally speaking we must all repent and say let God be true and all men liars. Scripture says we all have been born in sin and all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Therefore we must all be renewed by the Lord as we are chosen unto salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. When the Lord gives us eyes to see and ears to hear we are but babes in Christ.
Babes cannot walk, talk, work or feed themselves. They feed from their mother's breasts and mainly eat milk.
Peter spake of the sincere milk of the word. Like a baby, all who stay on milk alone will never grow but perish for malnutrition. Sadly this brings us to the second part.

Many deonominations and websites stop babes from hearing the truth, depth and spiritual things of God as written.

As non-denominational and believing in the baptism of the Holy Ghost I have been told by a denominational pastor that  was not to speak of the baptism of the Holy Ghost or evidence of speaking in tongues in his church.
I find it very sad that these men have placed their attendance numbers and tithes above feeding the flock of God. They would rather keep the numbers high and the money coming in than risk having the sheep hear the shepherd's voice. They forget it is the Lord's flock and not man's.
Brother Paul said that when he became a man he put away childish things. In the spiritual things that means putting away doctrines and denominations of man and growing. Going from babes in Christ to mature Christians that like Peter have "been converted" with the baptism of the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues. Sadly many who speak in tongues have never done so and therefore are not even qualified to speak on such. Sort of like a garbage man trying to advise on brain surgery.
We see straight sites that ban gays. Transgender sites that ban cisgender. Gay sites that ban straight folk. Baptist churches that ban Pentecostals. Catholic and Methodist churches that ban Baptist and Pentecostal preachers and evangelists.
All these things are division which is listed in Proverbs as an abomination. Things and people Paul said to avoid. Rather than avoid the ones that attempt to help and maybe bring saints from babes to children to adults (mature) they should take note of the divisions made under the guise of protecting the flock. The only thing they are protecting is their wallet and numbers. If they truly love the flock of God they should welcome the exhortation and uplifting of the saints and have enough confidence in the gospel they preach and teach that the saints will stay.
Sadly, many are like a friend that told my wife "I don't want him talking to my kids because I am afraid he'll convert them."
The sad part is that she would rather risk her kids going to hell hearing a lie than having them go farther than she. And those kids were 18 and 19. Adults.
The disciples were making a mistake the Lord rebuked.
The prophets rebuked Israel. Today they call that hate and phobia.
The word calls it the truth and love.
Loving someone enough to tell them the truth that they might grow in faith and have their steps ordered of the Lord in his word.
May God bless.

[SarahM777]

Perhaps it has come about due to traditions. Have we gotten to the point where we have set up a form of the temple worship system? Is there any churches outside of the very few non-denominations that do not have their roots in some sort of Catholism? Where we were told to build multimillion dollar edifices?
Where were we told to redo a form of temple worship? Where were we told that someone other then Jesus was to be the head of the Church? When were we told that the church was to be a nonprofit corporation? Didn't Jesus point back to the time when worship would be more like how it was for Abraham? Did he have a temple or a formalized ritual or was it one on one with his Lord and maker? Did God walk and talk with Enoch,Noah,Abraham and Moses? Perhaps somewhere along the line the Church got off track and has replaced somethings with tradition so that it appears to have a form of godliness but there is no power to change lives anymore.

[Brooke777]

Perhaps it has come about due to traditions. Have we gotten to the point where we have set up a form of the temple worship system? Is there any churches outside of the very few non-denominations that do not have their roots in some sort of Catholism? Where we were told to build multimillion dollar edifices?
Where were we told to redo a form of temple worship? Where were we told that someone other then Jesus was to be the head of the Church? When were we told that the church was to be a nonprofit corporation? Didn't Jesus point back to the time when worship would be more like how it was for Abraham? Did he have a temple or a formalized ritual or was it one on one with his Lord and maker? Did God walk and talk with Enoch,Noah,Abraham and Moses? Perhaps somewhere along the line the Church got off track and has replaced somethings with tradition so that it appears to have a form of godliness but there is no power to change lives anymore.

Too bad more people don't feel this way. The world would be a much better place IMHO

[SarahM777]

It is very hard to break away from traditions. It is so easy to fall back on them. People are creatures of habit and when things start to shake the foundation of what one has been taught for so long,it can be a scary place.

[Brooke777]

I never have understood why people fear change so much. I personally have no problems with change, and welcome it. Life gets boring if nothing changes. That's probably why I have moved 10 times in 11 years. Always to a different city, and different part of the country. Jesus brought change. Why do people who are Christians fear change if that is what Jesus did?

[SarahM777]

I never have understood why people fear change so much. I personally have no problems with change, and welcome it. Life gets boring if nothing changes. That's probably why I have moved 10 times in 11 years. Always to a different city, and different part of the country. Jesus brought change. Why do people who are Christians fear change if that is what Jesus did?

You are more of a rareity then most and that's a good thing. The answer is pretty simple if we think about it. Change always comes with a cost. For those money and comfort is it really all that easy to give those things up,to maybe be called to go to Zaire or the Congo? Is it really that easy to be a person in authority to become a servant? Is it really all that easy to give up what is comfortable and rutine to a position of having to live by faith? Is it really that easy to be asked to do something that on the surface makes no sense or may cause those around us to question our sanity? Build an ark,marry a prostitute,being the only prophet to go against 450 prophets of Baal,to get out of a boat in the middle of a storm,or to be the one who has to lie on one side for over 300 days then to turn on the other side for over 100 days as a warning to both Israel and Judah? Granted those are the extrodinary,but what about the every day "little" things?

What would happen if the church actually changed the way things were done? What if we truly got back to the principals that were laid? When the believers gathered was not some of the time used to show in a practical way that they truly loved one another? Were the offerings used as a means to get some land,build a building,have a higher archey with plans and programs for entertainment purposes,or was the offerings used as a way to meet the needs of those who did not have? Weren't the tithes a provision for those who could not provide for themselves, and weren't they to be brought to the store house and not the temple? The tithes were not money,the tithes were livestock and produce. The offerings could be money and that could be brought to the temple,but I have yet to find where the tithes were to be brought to the temple. If I am wrong on this please show me.

Aren't the believers the temple and not some building that we do a weekly observation so that we can be OK for the week? Do we really in that observance ever get to the point of encouraging each other,praying for each other,and caring for each other in a manner that is pleasing to God? Or is it more like this after 57.5 minutes,or 1 hour and 45 minutes (depending on the church) everybody escapes to the parking lot to get away from it?

Perhaps this says it better than I can

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[Brooke777]

Aren't the believers the temple and not some building that we do a weekly observation so that we can be OK for the week? Do we really in that observance ever get to the point of encouraging each other,praying for each other,and caring for each other in a manner that is pleasing to God? Or is it more like this after 57.5 minutes,or 1 hour and 45 minutes (depending on the church) everybody escapes to the parking lot to get away from it?

For the first time since I became a Christian, I attend a service where, when it is over, everyone (literally) meets in a big room. We have food, talk, pray, and genuinely care about each other. We are really like a family. The kids are usually running around playing. I am usually only there for about 2 hours after the service and am usually one of the first to leave. People are there to worship God, and celebrate His love.

[Chaos]

Like with me,i feel its a hunger for truth and compassion.I was raised on the *Jesus only died for you IF your perfect already* which was not the point behind it to start with.He died for the outcast,the unperfect,the sinner,the misunderstood and those are the same ones he came to give understanding,accept,make perfect through him and to set them free.ANYONE who teachs other wise is molding God and the bible into their own biased ideas.Think like this-Who did jesus spend all his time with besides the 12? it wasnt in the temples with the high and mighty,tho he went a few times with a purpose in mind and to show a point,otherwise he was with the lowly,those that society cast out,those that people would cast stones at.so why should that suddenly be diffrent? Even the bible says *even until the end of the world* so God is unchanging and his acceptance of ALL man kind,will never die.it is only those who want God to be what they want him to be.i will NEVER accept otherwise,i will NEVER follow otherwise and i will NEVER outcast anyone,for any reason.And neither did he.He took up for a Whor* (as the people in that time spoke of it) who had cheated on her husband and was about to be killed.He told them,if ANY of you are without sin or guilt then you may be the one to first strike her and NO one touched her,knowing *this is true and what if someone wanted to treat me the same? i would want forgiveness as well* and her life was changed completely for good from then on.One would be suprised what alittle love and compassion can do.I mean they even tried to stone HIM when he did these things,and from then till now,it shows how bad society has gotten.Stay true to whats RIGHT and do NOT conform to what the biased melders expect of you. (necro'ed)