Should I pack up and go?

Sam81 said:

I have only been saved a couple of months but already I have become disillusioned with certain elements of every church! People want material things and no one wants to be 100% focusing on Jesus 100% of the time. I feel led to just buy a bus ticket to a certain city, a few clothes, only a few hundred bucks, and just go. Am I being led into foolishness? I wanna be far more sold out tham anything I see from anyone. I have a vision of commune style, Acts based, the world is pointless, live and preach Jesus constantly 24\7 type of Christianity. But who would dare join me - no one would listen! Am I being foolish?

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1 Kings Chapter 19

11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; [but] the LORD [was] not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; [but] the LORD [was] not in the earthquake:

12 And after the earthquake a fire; [but] the LORD [was] not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Mark Chapter 1

35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.

37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All [men] seek for thee.


Matthew 6:6 - But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

James 4:8 - Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.

Psalms 1:2 - But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Someone told me once, that there is nothing wrong with alone time. How when you are alone, and praying, and searching, waiting and thinking, God is changing you, showing you things, programming you as He desires, forming you and reshaping the clay. I too have felt odd about the 'churches' I mean the buildings I have went to, I went to some and felt I did not feel the spirit of God in it, or it was just, formal, and traditions of men instead of the way I felt it should be. Be alone with God, seek Him on everything , He will give you your hearts desires. I know what you are going through I think. I at least can sympathize. Just pray and wait, and God will answer, pray to Jesus the Son of God our savior and you will always be ok if you trust in Him. Look up in the bible the times disciples spent time alone, what were they doing in that time. People nowdays are afraid to be alone, they feel they need people around, a boy or girl, wife or husband, son or daughter, friends and all, but we who have God, need nothing, nothing because we already have everything, in Him. People are afraid to be alone, they cannot stand it, they do not get to know themselves, they can barely put up with themselves alone. This is what Igather atleast. But there is nothing wrong with sitting alone, you do need to sit and think , and pray, and just see the beauty in everything , the way things work, and most importantly, to hear Gods voice. Sit and wait. But the main thing is to ask Jesus the Christ what you should do, as He will always give you the best , unlike me, who [hopefully not] could unknowingly give you the wrong answers, since we all are lacking the full and complete wisdom that God has, but He gives us His wisdom so we are okay

@Sam81:

If and when the day comes I will street preach someday (under proper preparation for it - Heavy prayer, fasting, and research on street preaching), I will do things a little differently than your average street preacher. If you have ever watched street preachers on YouTube you will notice that many of them get into arguments (call certain people devil's or how they are not of God, etc.). But I would tell them to accept the love of Jesus and how He will change their life. I would focus on the love of Jesus and what He went through for us. I would focus on how He was whipped and beaten for them. How He loved them so much to suffer for them and die for them so as to pay the price for their sin so as to offer them the free gift of salvation to forgive them and to help them to walk uprightly in His love. I would use images of love and not hate to draw them close to Jesus. Yet, I would say they need to seek the Lord's forgiveness. I will say to them that grievous sin can separate them from God. But I would do so in love. For Jesus loves them so very, very, very much. I would shout to them that Jesus loves them. I have severe ringing in the ears, so if a person wished to say something to me, they would have to either speak very loudly or they would have to write something down in order for me to respond (Which I would let them know by a large sign and by my own words). If it is something hateful, I could simply ignore it, and pray for them and tell them more about the love of Jesus and how He desires to change their life.

If I heard someone say, who are you to judge, I would say, Jesus came not to judge but to save. Let Him into your life and change your mind about what is good and right. Jesus does not need to be your judge. He can be your Savior. Your life line. Your long lost friend. Jesus loves you. He loves everyone and desires all to repent and to obey Him.

I would have pictures of hearts, silhouettes of the Lord's suffering, and him on the cross (not a white version of Jesus). I would provide verses like John 3:16 and other love verses and for them to seek forgiveness with Jesus today. I would encourage them to take material (with the Word of God in it) that could help them to accept Jesus and to walk uprightly in Him.

I would dress nice (white collared shirt, and maybe a writer's sports coat sometimes); But I would not wear a full matching suit and tie.

I would speak in love and yet warn them ever so subtly. I will tell them not to miss out on His love. Jesus will be coming soon. Love the Lord Jesus with everything you got. If your marriage is in shambles. Love Jesus. If your life is at the end of it's rope. Love Jesus. Focus on the Lord, and He will give you a new perspective and new eyes to see. He will help you to love like never before. Jesus is the way. Jesus loves us so very much.

These are the words I would say to them.
Please feel free to take any of my ideas or words here and run with them.

Anyways, I hope what I said here helps.

May you pray and feel guided to do what the Lord is calling you to do for His Kingdom, brother.

Also, I would tell them not all Jesus's are the same. I will tell them that many seek to follow a Jesus whereby they are the lords of their own life. But Jesus loves you too much for that. Jesus loves you too much to be caught up in such corruption. Seek Him with a pure heart and love and He will transform you like you cannot imagine. Follow His Word and obey Him. Jesus loves you. For if a person will stop to justify sin, and they truly seek the Lord Jesus, His love will transform their life and make them new creations in His image like a caterpillar that turns into a butterfly.

Focus on loving God and in loving others.
If someone hates you while you speak about Jesus, love them in return.
Tell them about the love of Jesus.
Regard others as being more important than yourself.
Care for their lost soul and love them with the love of Jesus.

royal priest said:

Yes. Finding another assembly is preferred to a one way ticket out of the church altogether

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Where did that idea come from? .. all I remember him saying is that every church in his area has got it wrong, and it is impeding his faith. You might read the OP again, for his sake, where he said:

"live and preach Jesus constantly 24\7 type of Christianity"

Doesn't Jesus really want people to do that?

.. now all these people here are trying to stop our brother from doing what God has led him to do, sowing confusion and speaking of their own heart to turn him away from following God, and now look! He's beginning to follow an opposite spirit that will cause him to stagnate.

OP, I really feel for you bro, and I want you to know that I am doing exactly the same thing, and it's not easy to find people who truly will build you up in faith .. all we ever find is envy. They are telling you what they would do if they had your talents, and they want you to go under the yoke of their favourite idol bease that is what they have done! .. they are not empowering you to do God's will, and you probably haven't seen that you have already turned away from following God by following the doubt that is not of God (1 John 3:24 - read the whole chapter!).

Sam81 said:

Ah man. I have been praying and the Lord revealed that I am allowing myself to be distracted by thoughts and seekings. I need only see His face.

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Amen!

Who does He reveal His face to? Only those who are His heart's delight!

"Everyone who has given up home or family to follow me, will receive hundreds of times retuned (with persecutions), in this age - and everlasting life in the coming age

.. why?

"For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also".

"If anyone should desire to be my disciple, he must take up his own cross and come after me".

"Make every effort to enter through the narrow gate, for many will try and will not be able to".

Stay loyal bro, don't follow any other, and I might even see you out there!

JohnC2 said:

So quit talking about it and do it. What’s stopping you?

I think in some cases - the best way is to just experience it for yourself.

For example - commune working and living is available if you want to try it. There are still monestaries and monk orders which take vows of poverty to serve the poor and destitute.

Start by locating a couple potential groups. Contact them and see what it would take to come on board. Then take the plunge.

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Well, I think a person should first pray, fast, and seek God's will before doing anything. Just mindlessly taking the plunge and to: "Just Do It" (as the Nike slogan says) is not exactly God's will. That's Nike, and not God. Even Paul desired to go to Jerusalem to reach the Jews. But God was warning Paul not to go. Paul did not listen and he was thrown in prison. We have to consult God in everything we do. We have to make sure we are answering His call and not our own (Whereby we can be led to a group of people that do not have our best interests at heart concerning the things of God).

Sam81 said:

I believe we all have our calling and there are many members of the same body. I am not trying to be judgmental but this is more of a revelation of the following: the height that Christ is lifted up in me is contingent upon the extent in which the old man plunges to his destruction (in this life). If I fall to the ground and die completely, then Christ is raised completely in me. And if Christ be lifted up, He draws all men to Himself. So my fruitfulness is directly correlated with Jesus being raised in me...but I have to be completely crucified to ALL THINGS but Christ! What better thing can there be in a world that's here for only a second?

I guess my calling is to one day be a missionary.

But my church requires both future pastors and missionaries to be couples! So I MUST get married one day if I remain in my church and want to one day "go". Marriage is a sacrifice in itself but clearly the inferior one. Marriage is temporal and a vanity. I need the mobility and less accountability to any one but God. For the sake of souls and the next world.

Things are confusing.

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It is recommended we be accountable to someone, a pastor, a brother, i don't know but someone, because we need our brothers. And there is no such thing as the perfect church. I guess we always can find something they do wrong, if not the pastor, the brothers etc, and i don't mean doctrine problems.

NBB said:

It is recommended we be accountable to someone, a pastor, a brother, i don't know but someone, because we need our brothers. And there is no such thing as the perfect church. I guess we always can find something they do wrong, if not the pastor, the brothers etc, and i don't mean doctrine problems.

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I believe we are living in the last days. So things are different. Jesus said when He returns, will He find faith on the earth? Jesus said narrow is the way and FEW be there that finds it. He didn't say many find it. Also, a Pastor was not meant to be a lord or ruler over the flock but more like someone who serves and builds up a fellow brother. They are to be spiritual guides or protectors. They are not to be our masters. They most certainly were not supposed to stand in a big building and tell other brothers what to do. The pastor is not a Master or King. There is one Master and one King, and He is Christ. He is the head of the body.

In fact, I think it is spiritually dangerous to put yourself under a pastor whereby he is to rule over you in make you think what the Word of God says (Whereby he controls your life and not God). Scripture says that we do not need any man that teaches us because we have the anointing (See 1 John 2:27). We ought to obey God rather than men (Acts of the Apostles 5:29).

Look up and join Youth With a Mission. You are perfectly of the same mindset. I did the same thing too. Worth it.

Sam81 said:

I have only been saved a couple of months but already I have become disillusioned with certain elements of every church! People want material things and no one wants to be 100% focusing on Jesus 100% of the time. I feel led to just buy a bus ticket to a certain city, a few clothes, only a few hundred bucks, and just go. Am I being led into foolishness? I wanna be far more sold out tham anything I see from anyone. I have a vision of commune style, Acts based, the world is pointless, live and preach Jesus constantly 24\7 type of Christianity. But who would dare join me - no one would listen! Am I being foolish?

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you are not foolish at all. You are living in the hear and now. I like what you said. you are a minimalist. I like that about you.

Patchygirl1964 said:

you are not foolish at all. You are living in the hear and now. I like what you said. you are a minimalist. I like that about you.

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I would join you in your mission

Sam81 said:

Ah man. I have been praying and the Lord revealed that I am allowing myself to be distracted by thoughts and seekings. I need only see His face.

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Jason0047 said:

I believe we are living in the last days. So things are different. Jesus said when He returns, will He find faith on the earth? Jesus said narrow is the way and FEW be there that finds it. He didn't say many find it. Also, a Pastor was not meant to be a lord or ruler over the flock but more like someone who serves and builds up a fellow brother. They are to be spiritual guides or protectors. They are not to be our masters. They most certainly were not supposed to stand in a big building and tell other brothers what to do. The pastor is not a Master or King. There is one Master and one King, and He is Christ. He is the head of the body.

In fact, I think it is spiritually dangerous to put yourself under a pastor whereby he is to rule over you in make you think what the Word of God says (Whereby he controls your life and not God). Scripture says that we do not need any man that teaches us because we have the anointing (See 1 John 2:27). We ought to obey God rather than men (Acts of the Apostles 5:29).

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I didn't mean to put you 'under the rule' of someone, that is not how is supposed to work i guess, but to have accountability to someone you trust. We shouldn't be 'loners' because we are part of a body. And the communion with the brothers is important.

Sam81 said:

I feel led to just buy a bus ticket to a certain city, a few clothes, only a few hundred bucks, and just go.

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since you live in Ohio, you might want to go to Akron

many at poverty level or considered working poor
am sure God could put you to use there

NBB said:

I didn't mean to put you 'under the rule' of someone, that is not how is supposed to work i guess, but to have accountability to someone you trust. We shouldn't be 'loners' because we are part of a body. And the communion with the brothers is important.

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I am not against having fellowship. It is just more and more these days that most I have ran into justify sin these days and they have an unbiblical view of fellowship. We are ultimately accountable to God and not any one man or person. We should seek to please Him and not men. We should not seek to have another be a lord over us. They are our brothers. Our fellows. Fellowship. Not lords over us. The Word of God is what we should be held accountable to. Every man should work out his own salvation with fear and trembling. Jesus said He that rejects me, and receives not my words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day (John 12:48). So it will be the word of God that will judge me. When I hear accountability to another man, it sounds like yet another boss or master over us. We can confess our faults one to another, but they should not be our superiors. We are all kings and priests within Christ. More times than I can count, other Christians have disappointed me. Many of them do not understand what the Bible plainly says. They make things up that is not in God's Word. There are two Christians that I can talk with in my life personally that I have fellowship with. There are also a few brothers and sisters I have connected with online on occasion, as well. But this number is small.

Sam81 said:

I have only been saved a couple of months but already I have become disillusioned with certain elements of every church! People want material things and no one wants to be 100% focusing on Jesus 100% of the time. I feel led to just buy a bus ticket to a certain city, a few clothes, only a few hundred bucks, and just go. Am I being led into foolishness? I wanna be far more sold out tham anything I see from anyone. I have a vision of commune style, Acts based, the world is pointless, live and preach Jesus constantly 24\7 type of Christianity. But who would dare join me - no one would listen! Am I being foolish?

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I would pray about it and ask God for guidance and if it is His will then open the door wide open, if not though then shut it tightly. I would also ask Him for peace and strength to endure my situation. God Bless

You should not be in such a hurry. Not sure if you wrote it or not, but you are probably just a young man in a period of your life where the zeal for God seems greater than that of those around you in your christian society. Personally, I have been in your shoes before, where I just got overly cynical of everyone in my church, feeling like the only one being serious faithwise. So I forgot everyone and left All my non-christian friends withoutwhaving established connections in the church. Now a few years later I find myself with an at times overwhelming illness where people and friends would be really helpful, but seem so far away. So before hurrying to much, I would advice you to invest in Christian relations and get friends that can stick with you in hard times so you won't burn out. Jesus invested in people and I think you should do the same. You will burn out sooner than later if you go for it alone. We all need significant relationships. And for the ones you don't believe are serious, I just want to say that you have to be careful how you judge others. A serious person might not show it outwardly and you can be just as zealous for God in your local church than elsewhere. Today I try to invest more in people, now that I realize more thwt we are all in need of God, and people that may seem to be fooling around and have fun, might have been in a devastating point in their lives, but still manages just to spread joy around those nearby making it seem like they are not serious at all, when in fact they are just trying to spread peace and joy.

Well pray about it and no matter what you do, God will teach you something.

Sam81 said:

I have only been saved a couple of months but already I have become disillusioned with certain elements of every church! People want material things and no one wants to be 100% focusing on Jesus 100% of the time. I feel led to just buy a bus ticket to a certain city, a few clothes, only a few hundred bucks, and just go. Am I being led into foolishness? I wanna be far more sold out tham anything I see from anyone. I have a vision of commune style, Acts based, the world is pointless, live and preach Jesus constantly 24\7 type of Christianity. But who would dare join me - no one would listen! Am I being foolish?

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Hey Sam81-
I hope I'm not coming too late to this party. If you are up to it, I'd be grateful if you could answer some clarifying questions:

1. How did you come to put your faith in the Lord Jesus? What's your story?
2. As you understand it, what does the Bible teach about the nature of "church"? What's church supposed to look like in your view and where in scripture do you get that picture?
3. What role do other Christians play in your life? Do you have people who consistently interact with you and teach you about the Christian life from the Bible?
4. How does the Bible describe the Christian life? Are all Christians supposed to be doing specific things all the time?
5. How do you differentiate the "world" that is pointless from the "world" that God loved so much that he gave his only Son?
6. In 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Paul gives the "job requirements" of a church elder. Having read this passage how would you evaluate your own readiness to lead?

I hope to be of more help in the near future.

-IngBee