Holy smoke the church is burning.

[mickiel]

I want to look at the state of the church. From opinions to facts, the church sure is interesting.

[mickiel]

The church is a place of worship. It is a historical religious institution. It's an instrument of God. It can be worldly or spiritual. It can benefit or hurt. It can shine or be dull. The church is ambi dexterous. Multi cultured, and multiracial.

[mickiel]

A church has teachings, largely carried out by pastors. So the beliefs and doctrines come from it's leaders. It can have deacons, Sunday school, choirs , youth department, mother's board, ladies and men's departments
.

[mickiel]

Much of the knowledge production of believers has come from churches, so they have had an important role. Both true and false knowledge has been produced through this biblical medium. Yes it is Biblical. The Holy Spirit is being sent to the last church. There are 37 million churches in the world , 34,000 are Christian denominations. 380,000 churches in the USA. Catholicism is the largest branch of Christianity

[mickiel]

Many churches of differing denominations have been helpful to humanity. I recall in my youth how the Catholic Church really helped our community by giving us clothing, food , helped pay our gas and light bills, it was and still is helpful to Detroit residents. I think that is part of being a church, helping your community. The members give of their substance and the church gives back, a healthy flow of giving.

[mickiel]

Church and state.

The church and poitics normally don't mix, except for the Vatican, it's combined there. But in places like America it's not the norm but quickly becoming normal. Churches hold the right to discuss politics so politics holds the right to discuss church. Now they court each other and make strange bedfellows. Pastors are increasingly political, this is one way I think the church is burning.

[Molearner]

Originally Posted by mickiel

Church and state.

Now they court each other and make strange bedfellows. Pastors are increasingly political, this is one way I think the church is burning.

This is absolutely true. If 50% of any country is one party and the other 50% of the country supports a different party…..half of the country are not welcome in a particular church. In effect, it is a descent into tribalism. As I have previously said….Jesus might say instead of “why do you persecute me ?” to “Why do you politicize me ?”

[Miss Hepburn]

I've walked out when they spoke of political stuff, actually putting down Democrats, huh?
Well, guess what? There are Democrats in the Charismatic crowd guys!

[mickiel]

I am curious to see what the future holds for which churches will be in political power when and if America goes to war and what the churches will have to say about it. Or if it would even matter. Roe vs Wade was changed with little church opinion, I wonder what sway the church has on the supreme court?

[Molearner]

Originally Posted by mickiel

I wonder what sway the church has on the supreme court?

Hopefully….little. The odds are high that they will listen to the ‘wrong’ church. We should avoid any version of Sharia law. Separation of church and state must be the rule of thumb.