I mostly agree. I had the word "church" in quotes. Meaning the human organization of sectarian religion.
Saint Steven said:
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Yes. The "church" is a dead end street.
There is a whole vast world of boulevards, parkways and freeways to explore.
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I was thinking about you today and had another one of those pesky images in my head. This time it was a hot air balloon. Have you ever ridden in one?
I was gifted a ticket to ride in one many years ago. I finally contacted the place to set a date for my ride. It was amazing. I was so glad I did it. Except for the sound of the heater flaming up to create hot air, it is completely silent. They cut loose of the sandbags holding it down and the balloon ascends to height rapidly. Wow. Then the wind takes over. The scenery was beautiful over the river valley. And it was so quiet that you could hear people talking and dogs barking at the homes below.
I think many in the "church" are in the balloon basket, but they refuse to release the sandbags and trust the wind (Spirit) to carry them along. They are suspicious of anything they can't control. Ultimately, it is a trust issue.
John 3:7-8
You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.
So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
2 Peter 1:21
For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were
carried along by the Holy Spirit.