1 /5 seeing clearly: Edit: I see your reply, North Church. Thank you. Im afraid that you have only further supported my experiences with your comment where you said this: "Areas like alter calls, as we have times that people can boldly make a commitment to Jesus (like on our January 29th 2023 message, where we asked new believers to boldly declare their new faith and celebrated/prayed for them). " January 29th was 8 Sundays ago (8 weeks). Do you suppose there may have been people among those attending your Sunday services, during those 8 weeks, that came to hear about how to know Jesus, and left, not finding the way? Teaching people how to pray & accept Christ is the duty of men & women who call themselves Pastors of a Christian Church.
One Sunday, among 9. Its sad. Im sad for the ones who missed being lead to Jesus.
"He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." Jesus, from Mark chapter 16
"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. from Romans 10:9-14
Im so happy to hear that 9 weeks ago, you lead some attendees of your Church to Christ. Praise God! There is no greater joy, than to know Jesus.
That said, if leading people to Jesus is merely a once in a while event at your Church, then what else have you placed at a level above Salvation?
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original review:
My experiences with the ministry at North Church expand over time, when they were Life Center North and then North Church.
Lack of teaching and instruction of Righteousness is unfortunately the norm at North Church. Even gossip runs amok among greeters, and wives/womens group leaders. Nobody wants to see that. Its not that women shouldnt have roles of leadership, but they must also continue their spiritual education, and be corrected when they are going astray.
I left this Church because it was not a Church. It was a social club, and a Social Justice facility. Socialization is important, and making friends among our brothers & sisters in Christ is important too, but without true leadership, and deeper involvement from Pastors & Church leaders, it becomes merely a social gathering without spiritual edification.
There is no alter call.
There is no prayer with people who are seeking Christ but dont know how to pray.
There is no teaching about the Second Coming of Christ. Jesus said we are to watch for His Second Coming or the events leading up to it (according to Jesus & Gods word). We are to be ready, like the virgins with the oil lamps who went out to meet the Bridegroom --- the parable Jesus told. There is none of that being taught at North Church.
I pray for those who attend there, who may never hear an alter call, or be lead to Christ. The Pastors & leadership there are responsible for that and will have to answer to God, not to me, or to anyone else, for that. Being good, and doing good, isnt enough to save us. We need a relationship with Jesus Christ. We will all stand before God one day, and we will all be responsible for our own actions or lack thereof, and then ultimately whether or not Jesus knows us.
I encourage the leadership of North Church to make a change. There is still time. You can turn things around and start fresh, making the Salvation of the lost, and the instruction of Righteousness, your priority. Lead people to Jesus, or walk away and let someone else do it. This is serious business, the Salvation of the lost. Dont be angry with my comments here. Pray. Ask God to show you if you should be doing more to lead people to Jesus.
Please.
