What is a Happening Church to you? What is a Dead church?

[SDG]

Oh ....let me help you out w/ this ... Praxeas and Amos ...

First, God's plan of Salvation is Jesus Christ ... HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION are the Gospel ... We are not saved based on our re-enactment of it.

Second, a dead church is JUST THAT ... DEAD. Many posters, including myself, defined the difference between a happening church and a dead church ... in the previous thread but some will read into it what the please.

A dead church does not lift up the THE LIFE ... but lift up their own works, man-made traditions, religious rituals and their kingdoms.

A dead church does not ALLOW the PNEUMA OF GOD ... to operate ... it is as dead as the dead bones in the valley the prophet was instructed to speak to.

A dead church mechanizes salvation, worship and preaching because they've got it down to a science....

A dead church is not grafted into the VINE ... and therefore do not demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit ... nor are they showing the world what makes them disciples ... LOVING ONE ANOTHER because the LOVE OF THE FATHER is in them.

A Spirit-filled church, Trinitarian or OP, has THE LIFE flowing through it's members... it has growth in many areas ... impact, maturity, vision, and yes ... even in number.

A HAPPENING CHURCH is God-centered and lost-centered. A happening church is the body of a PALPABLE GOD ... he is the Head. Their energy and life source is HIM.

[Darcie]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Oh ....let me help you out w/ this ... Praxeas and Amos ...

First, God's plan of Salvation is Jesus Christ ... HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION are the Gospel ... We are not saved based on our re-enactment of it.

Second, a dead church is JUST THAT ... DEAD. Many posters, including myself, defined the difference between a happening church and a dead church ... in the previous thread but some will read into it what the please.

A dead church does not lift up the THE LIFE ... but lift up their own works, man-made traditions, religious rituals and their kingdoms.

A dead church does not ALLOW the PNEUMA OF GOD ... to operate ... it is as dead as the dead bones in the valley the prophet was instructed to speak to.

A dead church mechanizes salvation, worship and preaching because they've got it down to a science....

A dead church is not grafted into the VINE ... and therefore do not demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit ... nor are they showing the world what makes them disciples ... LOVING ONE ANOTHER because the LOVE OF THE FATHER is in them.

A Spirit-filled church, Trinitarian or OP, has THE LIFE flowing through it's members... it has growth in many areas ... impact, maturity, vision, and yes ... even in number.

A HAPPENING CHURCH is God-centered and lost-centered. A happening church is the body of a PALPABLE GOD ... he is the Head. Their energy and life source is HIM.

[SDG]

A dead church is IDOLATROUS ... they glory in thinking they have cornered the market of truth ... and revel in their ability to define and explain an infinite God ... yet the truth is they do not have the TRUTH because they do not live it ... nor allow His truth to live through them in their relationship w/ God and others.

A happening church burns with passion and a fire for an daily encounter with a LIVING GOD ... they rest themselves in the bosom of the Master ... they feel his heartbeat .... saving that which is lost ....

[SDG]

A dead church is an amputee ... seeking to disfellowship and maim other vital members in the body because they don't look or act like them ...

[SDG]

A dead church is enfeebled and starving ...because the manna offered is stale and cookie-cutter ... it is not a one size fits all mold by which one's walk is defined or a measuring stick of the Word working in and providing alimentation to one's life.

A happening church offers the BREAD OF LIFE ... for daily victorious living ... not a handful of pet doctrines and topics that make the blood-thirsty preacher feel like he's slaughtered the hogs and pious in his self-righteousness.

[SDG]

A happening church are PEOPLE OF HIS NAME. They do not possess His name simply because the proper name of Jesus was invoked by a baptizer over a believer but because the possess the entire character of the person that the name describes ...

In ancient times the term name revealed the full character of the person.

One writer tell us:

The name given is made to refer to position or official relationship, so that the position is meant when the word "name" is used. Even in this sense "a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches." The success of the Lord's work is to Him "for a name" -- an honor. (Isa. 55:13) To the obedient the Lord promises "an everlasting name." (Isa. 56:5) "but the name of the wicked shall rot." (Prov. 10:7) To receive a prophet in the name of a prophet certainly refers to his official character.

"Thou shalt call his name Jesus because He shall save His people from their sins." Jesus means Savior, and we are carried forward from the mere word to the exalted official position, on account of which he can "save to the utmost all who come unto God by him." His position is contrasted with that of men and angels, as he is Lord of both, having "all power in heaven and earth." Hence, it is said, "Let ALL the angels of GOd worship him"; [that must include Michael, the chief angel, hence Michael is not the Son of God] and the reason is, because he has " by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they."

Michael or Gabriel are perhaps grander names than Jesus, though Jesus is grand in its very simplicity, but the official character of the Son of God as Savior and King is the inheritance from his Father, which is far superior to theirs, for it pleased the Father that in him all fullness should dwell. He has given him a name which is above every name, that at the NAME of Jesus every knee should bow both in heaven and earth. And there is "none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." With this view before our minds that the name refers to his official position, the importance of taking from among the Gentiles a "people for his name" will be appreciated. As the wife takes the name of her husband, so the church takes the name of her Head. The two made one is the fact of importance. Not one in name merely, but in fact, as represented by the name -- one in spirit, position, aim and work.

The difference between the terms Jesu-it and Christian may illustrate a point. The first relates to the letter, as Jesus, is a proper name; the second relates more nearly to the spirit, as Christ means Anointed and refers to his official position.

We are not here pleading for a name, but what appears to be an important idea. There is doubtless as much danger in using the name Christian as the name of a sect, as in using other names. The one body knows no divisions. All who have the spirit of Christ are one whether they fully realize it or not; one in spirit now and when glorified -- married -- one in every possible sense, even as the Father and Son are one. (John 17:22, 23).

To be baptized into the name of Jesus (or Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), as in him all fullness of the Godhead dwells, means far more than a baptismal formula. It is by the apostle expressed as being baptized by one spirit into one body (1 Cor. 12:13). There are letter and spirit in the subject of baptism as in almost every other part of God's plan. We should not ignore or belittle either. The letter represents the spirit, as a symbol or "likeness of his death", and "resurrection" (Rom. 6:5).

Those who can appreciate the Spirit need not and are not most likely to ignore the letter, but it seems important that we should guard against mere formalism. In spirit, to be baptized into Christ involves a death to sin, a rising into a new life of obedience, and a consequent formation of a character; -- having "your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life" (Rom. 6:22) "As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27). "Into one body!" "Ye are members of Christ," as in the figure used, bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh (Eph. 5:30). Do not confound the figure with the reality, do not imagine we will lose our individuality. "

Water baptism is but a figure of Christ's death and resurrection of the inward work he has done when we placed our faith in Him and repented of our sins.

"The body of Christ is a body corporate, each individual acting in harmony with each other and under the direction of Christ for the manifestation of God's love in the salvation of men.

The human body is used to represent the church, but in this as in all other figures the reality is but dimly fore-shadowed. As Jesus is the Anointed, so are we, and for the same purpose. He is both king and priest, so we are to be kings and priests -- kings to rule and priests to bless.

To be baptized into his name is to become sharers in his spirit, his character, his official positon and his work. The power given to him will be manifested through his saints. He is our Savior, but the body corporate will save the world."


The apostles, namely Peter and Paul understood and preached this message when the echoed the words of the prophet Joel that those who called upon the name of the Lord will be saved ... because they understood that the name of the Lords is the Person of Jesus Christ ... He does the saving when as believer we turn to God and draw nigh unto HIM.

If a trinitarian or OP is Spirit filled they are people of His name and part of the body.


http://www.auburn.edu/~allenkc/jname.html

A dead church is one of little to no divine love manifested. In the absence of this, God is missing since God is love. In the absence of divine love, there is then the rise of false doctrine among the people, first seen as faith apart from love. Faith becomes primary while divine love is finally forgotten or even recognized for what it is. This sometimes take generations, sometimes even less.

A happening church is one where love is primary since the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. From the presence of that divine love, the light shines on His own Word, giving light to the Truth, the Word of God. This can be said of a people who HATE a lie and every FALSE way.

Thus a happening church is led on from glory to glory. From glory to glory is accomplished by having the mind renewed and is "transformed (metamorphosis) into His own image.

This is accomplished by a church who loves the truth, loving not a lie by which they are at length given over to strong delusions, but rather are fervent in the Word of Truth and in good works, loving what the Lord Himself loves.

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Oh ....let me help you out w/ this ... Praxeas and Amos ...

First, God's plan of Salvation is Jesus Christ ... HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION are the Gospel ... We are not saved based on our re-enactment of it.

Second, a dead church is JUST THAT ... DEAD. Many posters, including myself, defined the difference between a happening church and a dead church ... in the previous thread but some will read into it what the please.

A dead church does not lift up the THE LIFE ... but lift up their own works, man-made traditions, religious rituals and their kingdoms.

A dead church does not ALLOW the PNEUMA OF GOD ... to operate ... it is as dead as the dead bones in the valley the prophet was instructed to speak to.

A dead church mechanizes salvation, worship and preaching because they've got it down to a science....

A dead church is not grafted into the VINE ... and therefore do not demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit ... nor are they showing the world what makes them disciples ... LOVING ONE ANOTHER because the LOVE OF THE FATHER is in them.

A Spirit-filled church, Trinitarian or OP, has THE LIFE flowing through it's members... it has growth in many areas ... impact, maturity, vision, and yes ... even in number.

A HAPPENING CHURCH is God-centered and lost-centered. A happening church is the body of a PALPABLE GOD ... he is the Head. Their energy and life source is HIM.

Amazingly enough, you hear very little about trinitarian churches that "mature" to the place that even the basic fundamental doctrine of baptism in Jesus name is accepted. Doesn't sound like their maturing to me.

The Holy Ghost leads one into ALL truth. I do not for one moment believe that the Holy Ghost "skips over" the correct biblical method of water baptism, and allow someone to go on into perfection. Water baptism is a foundational doctrine. If one does not have it right, then they are off on everything else.

A True "Happening" Church will be a church where the True Word is preached to the congregation. A place where the congregation begins to look, talk, and over all act, like Jesus Christ. It will be a place were there is a balance. A place where gifts operate. A place where sinners are saved, and backslidders are restored. A place were saints grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord.

It is not a "Happening Place" just because the steppers perform, or the McGruders sing. It is not "Happening" because the church shouts, and people jerk with convulsions under the "power".

To me, 2 things represent the "Happening" church:

Truth is preached and Maturity is reached.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

Amazingly enough, you hear very little about trinitarian churches that "mature" to the place that even the basic fundamental doctrine of baptism in Jesus name is accepted. Doesn't sound like their maturing to me.

The Holy Ghost leads one into ALL truth. I do not for one moment believe that the Holy Ghost "skips over" the correct biblical method of water baptism, and allow someone to go on into perfection. Water baptism is a foundational doctrine. If one does not have it right, then they are off on everything else.

A True "Happening" Church will be a church where the True Word is preached to the congregation. A place where the congregation begins to look, talk, and over all act, like Jesus Christ. It will be a place were there is a balance. A place where gifts operate. A place where sinners are saved, and backslidders are restored. A place were saints grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord.

It is not a "Happening Place" just because the steppers perform, or the McGruders sing. It is not "Happening" because the church shouts, and people jerk with convulsions under the "power".

To me, 2 things represent the "Happening" church:

Truth is preached and Maturity is reached.

Maturity will reached when there is an understanding of what it means to be people of His name ... as long as your definition excludes people who are filled the same Spirit that indwells you ... your truth ... will be just elementary understanding of what the name and person of Jesus entails and who is HIS BODY.

Please examine post 36 ... Trinnies and OP's both have called upon the name of the Lord. ... in the person of Jesus Christ our Savior.

[SDG]

12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:12-13

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Romans 8:9