[FONT='Times New Roman','serif']The definition of unity is harmony or agreement, a kind of oneness. With a definition like this I contend with the great churches of our Nation; that is to say the United States, to turn from the zeal of knowledge to the zeal of God. How is it we have so profaned the name of GOD in such a manner as to commit friendly fire on our brothers and sisters in arms. Have we been so blinded by the smoke-screen that Gods enemy, Satan, the Devil himself has surrounded us with that we dont know enemies from our own spiritual army? Tell me this, how have nations with a united faith turned against one another after being infested with American influence? Maybe because the American Church is more American than it is Christian. Maybe because the agenda has been to promote ourselves rather than promote God and Christ. The following is a passage from The Heavenly Man.[/FONT]
[FONT='Times New Roman','serif'] After a few years these same mission organizations started putting other books at the top of the bags of Bibles. These were books about one particular denominations theology, or teaching that focused on certain aspects of Gods Word.[/FONT]
[FONT='Times New Roman','serif'] This, I believe, was the start of disunity among many of Chinas house churches.[/FONT]
[FONT='Times New Roman','serif'] These booklets told us we must worship in a certain way, or that we must speak in tongues to be a true believer, or that only if we were baptized in Jesus name (instead of in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) could we be saved. Other teachings focused on extreme faith, still others argued for or against the role of women in the church.[/FONT]
[FONT='Times New Roman','serif'] We read all these booklets and soon we were confused! The churches started to split into groups that believed one thing against groups that believed another. Instead of only speaking for Jesus, we also started speaking against other believers who didnt conform to our views.[/FONT]
[FONT='Times New Roman','serif'] [/FONT]
[FONT='Times New Roman','serif'] It appears American pastors are more like military recruits than they are generals. They have the same approach to people that recruits do, youve seen it on television commercials. Be all you can be. Hint, hint. If you join the Marines then youre not all you can be with the Army. But the Marines have their own slogan, the few, the proud, the Marines. Ask any military soldier and once theyre on the battle field together they could care less which branch of military youre from, just as long as youre not one of the enemies. Its simple, weve reduced Christianity to, be all you can be, the Pentecostols. Or, the few, the proud, the Baptists. But have we forgotten our allegence? One nation (church), under God (Christ). Perhaps we should change the course of direction, turn from embracing the culture to engaging the culture. Then perhaps well be united in this one thing. We are in enemy territory. Satans special forces (well call them the Cobra Force) is waiting to snipe us out, blow us up, and destroy us from their perch on this terrain we call the earth. What we need to practice as a church (Gods Military) is to protect each other. [/FONT]
[FONT='Times New Roman','serif'] After a few years these same mission organizations started putting other books at the top of the bags of Bibles. These were books about one particular denominations theology, or teaching that focused on certain aspects of Gods Word.[/FONT]
[FONT='Times New Roman','serif'] This, I believe, was the start of disunity among many of Chinas house churches.[/FONT]
[FONT='Times New Roman','serif'] These booklets told us we must worship in a certain way, or that we must speak in tongues to be a true believer, or that only if we were baptized in Jesus name (instead of in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) could we be saved. Other teachings focused on extreme faith, still others argued for or against the role of women in the church.[/FONT]
[FONT='Times New Roman','serif'] We read all these booklets and soon we were confused! The churches started to split into groups that believed one thing against groups that believed another. Instead of only speaking for Jesus, we also started speaking against other believers who didnt conform to our views.[/FONT]
[FONT='Times New Roman','serif'] [/FONT]
[FONT='Times New Roman','serif'] It appears American pastors are more like military recruits than they are generals. They have the same approach to people that recruits do, youve seen it on television commercials. Be all you can be. Hint, hint. If you join the Marines then youre not all you can be with the Army. But the Marines have their own slogan, the few, the proud, the Marines. Ask any military soldier and once theyre on the battle field together they could care less which branch of military youre from, just as long as youre not one of the enemies. Its simple, weve reduced Christianity to, be all you can be, the Pentecostols. Or, the few, the proud, the Baptists. But have we forgotten our allegence? One nation (church), under God (Christ). Perhaps we should change the course of direction, turn from embracing the culture to engaging the culture. Then perhaps well be united in this one thing. We are in enemy territory. Satans special forces (well call them the Cobra Force) is waiting to snipe us out, blow us up, and destroy us from their perch on this terrain we call the earth. What we need to practice as a church (Gods Military) is to protect each other. [/FONT]
