Phyllis Beveridge Nissila

Co-Saints,

Perhaps you, too, can relate to the following:

1. In recent months or years you left one or the other denominational church because you realized the leadership focus shifted from the basic tenants of Christianity to purposes, politics, “new paradigms” for a new century, and/or mystical throwbacks.
2. Your presentations to the leadership regarding the contrast (however patient, respectful and/or urgent) netted a pat on the head, a deaf ear, and/or a boot out the door.
3. You have begun to find others, too, in the same predicament—some in your family, neighborhood, or place of (former) worship; others Online expressing the same frustrations.
4. Now, what? You have been wondering.
5. More importantly, where to?

Welcome to my world, I should say, our world, as in a small home fellowship to which I now belong—and the world of more and more Christians I meet, hear from, and/or discover in their own blogs, Youtube presentations, and/or alternative Christian news sources.

We, too, have been wondering if there is anymore, anywhere, a denominational (or non-denominational) place of fellowship that has not been tainted by the Spirit of the Age that is not the Holy Spirit.

My (along with one of my sister’s) “odyssey” out of the Contemporary Church of What’s Happening Now, as it were, in its various and sundry morphs, constitutes the topic of one of my first blog posts [1] so I will not elaborate, except to say that after several years of prayerfully and carefully investigating quite a number of area houses of worship, we could relate to Ezekiel’s “guided tour” of the sins of Israel as chronicled in chapter 8 of the prophetic book bearing his name.

Just as soon as the Lord took E to a quick viewing of one corrupted “gate” right there in the temple, the astonished prophet was whisked to yet another, even worse, site…

(For just one peek into our local “temples”: one of the most extreme examples features gold dust and feathers.) (No, really.)

It’s easy to be discouraged.

However—good news–Jesus remains the same yesterday, today, and forever, and His words to us remain true: “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst” (Matthew 18:20).

Additionally, lest we mourn the loss of preachers and teachers and pulpits, more good news: we have an “inside”, as it were, teacher and guide available 24/7, the Same One Jesus Himself promised and delivered (aka the Holy Spirit, see John 14:16).

It’s easy to be encouraged!

And so to the purpose of this series: to share with the reader what others of the remnant (as in still following the same Bible, Gospel, and Jesus) are hearing. For most agree we live in unprecedented times. We need to know what God is telling His people. Today.

For have you noticed, yet, that what you seem to be “hearing,” and or reading/studying in the Scriptures just now so happens to be what others of the remnant are, too?

I think there’s a reason for that.

TODAY’S CONTRIBUTION

Regarding the temptation to tear one’s hair out over the (sorry) state of much of the (modern) temple, just this morning I was praying for “deliverance” from the temptation to be very angry (again) over one particular aspect of things gone awry.

Answer I got?

Don’t feed it.

(I love how wisdom can be so simple and so clear…)

(Note to self: you have done all you can think of to diffuse the situation. It’s likely time to just shake off the dust, hold on to the discernment, and move on.)

Perhaps this reminder can help you, too, today?

At least I hope you are encouraged.

POST SCRIPT AND INVITATION TO COMMENT: WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND TO SHARE?

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[1] https://pnissila.wordpress.com/2012/04/09/what-in-the-world-is-going-on-in-church-how-to-figure-out-whatsemerging-what-you-can-do-and-a-story-that-might-sound-familiar/

Bible translation: New American Standard.