Are there any here who are grieved over the condition of the churches today?

I am deeply grieved over the condition of the churches today, and I sincerely hope that, as an individual, I have followed the Lord and found, at the very least, the truth concerning the original plan of salvation. Over the last 2,000 years, Christianity has NOT been good stewards of the faith that was once delivered to the saints. The doctrinal purity of the early church has been obscured by the doctrines, philosophies, and commandments of men. True, Spirit-led holiness has been replaced with a shallow "rules-based" form of holiness. People dress, look, and carry themselves "right", but often are full of dead men's bones on the inside.

The majority of Christianity has become powerless, lukewarm, politically correct, and not the church to which Jesus said 2,000 years ago, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12). Stagnant "churchianity" attributes that statement solely to the new birth, because it relieves them of the responsibility of expecting the miraculous and of being accountable for the LACK of the miraculous, but is that truly a "greater work than Jesus did"? To what extent are we actively involved in that process? Also, remember that Jesus said "THE WORKS THAT I DO shall he do also." Why are we not healing the sick in His name and by the power of the Holy Spirit? Why are we not casting out devils in His name?

True repentance and obedience to the gospel has been replaced with a shallow "sinner's prayer" brand of salvation. In most churches, seldom, if ever, do we hear: "Repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). Instead we hear, "If you just prayed that prayer and sincerely believed it in your heart, then you are saved and on your way to heaven. Welcome to the family of God."

The churches today are not entirely to blame, because they were the unfortunate victims of what the institutional church did to the truth between 1,500 and 1,900 years ago; however, the blame of not seeking the Holy Ghost and at least trying to allow Him to guide them into all truth lies SQUARELY with today's churches. We have the same Scripture and the same Holy Ghost that they had in the early church. That being the case, we SHOULD be gradually recovering apostolic truth. Yet we still see myriads of different church organizations, Roman Catholic and Orthodox included, who disagree with each other on even the minutist points, a few of which arrogantly proclaim that they are the "one true Church of Jesus Christ."

13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

(Ephesians 5:13-16)

14And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

(Revelation 3:14-22)

I'm a Christian, but I don't go to church. I think that the majority of churches are simply social functions, and that they have little interest in actually helping others.

The is a fear of the Lord in America, but only in principle; many people still live however they like and then become "foxhole Christians" when times get tough (I have done this myself).

People seem to want to integrate the world and worldly pleasures into their faithview, rather than separating from the world, so yes, they are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.

People are Christians for all kinds of reasons, but American Christianity in general and evangelicals specifically have lost their way for the most part, becoming too angry and political instead of simply following God's word. This does make me grieve, and it makes me cynical, too. And if a Christian is cynical about the Church, what must non-believers make of it?

Yes, somewhat. The majority, I believe, have "fallen away" from holiness. Some have compromised to win people & as a result have lost people.

On the other hand, some are so "holier-than-thou" that visitors are made to feel un-welcome. SAD!

Many churches teachings on the Godhead and salvation are very un-scriptural. A strong belief in the oneness of God, the absolute deity of Jesus Christ and the Acts 2:38 plan of salvation are crucial elements in restoring the church to true biblical belief and apostolic power.

Starting with the notion that Jesus did not start a new religion. HE was a Jew, did Jewish stuff, taught at the synagogue, said to obey the commandments(of the Jews) quoted the old testemant prophets.. The Roman Catholic Church??In my book it seems like Rome was the enemy. How did they get their name on the holy scriptures of the followers of Adam and Abraham. I just read a question from some idiot who says they are paying his preacher to teach them that they should not give to the poor; that God wants some to be wealthy and some to be poor...Pathetic. That is outright wrong. Look up the word poor in about 20 different places if you don't already know. Yes the church is an illusion of what it was when Aaaron was the priest. Jesus said that the time is now that true believers will worship in truth and and in spirit....No. I don't go to a church building, but I do worship our Father , the Holy God

In some ways yes, church has been corrupted by politics on both sides, although maybe a bit worse on the right. Apparently capitalism is somehow Christian and socialism is somehow not. Truth is both have a mix of Christian and non-Christian ideas, which is why we really need to support a more mixed economy to allow for human freedoms but also help the less fortunate among us. Ancient Israel had elements of both socialism and capitalism. We have prosperity preachers saying that God will make you rich if you are a true follower. Such rampant materialism. There is also a strong move to force Christian morality on people, which completely goes against free will and is ultimately damaging to Christianity as we would have people following only out of fear, but not out of a true genuine desire to love and follow Christ's example. We have Christians on the left who although quite in line with Jesus teachings on most issues, such as social justice, have fallen on the issue of abortion to the pro-choice side.

Luke 4:16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. We don't know if He grieves or not, we know He's disappointed and angry that most people choose to follow the lies of Satan over His truth.

I am. I fear many people have not placed Jesus #1.

2 Thessalonians 2:3

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Revelation 2:4

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

YOU should be Christ's church. He is not contained within 4 walls. You can read His word and practice His teachings every day. Not just in a building, as one said, so lavish while we have people sleeping on the sidewalks and begging for bread. WE make up Christ's church by doing and acting out the will of God.

I find it very very sad as we drive about 10 miles to services on The Sabbath and see all those empty(sun day keeping) churches long the way; but the shopping malls are full on The Sabbath.

Who do they actually worship on the Sabbath by where they are on The Sabbath.

Those churches have way too much money. Y'all should be living like monks or whatever if you love god so much and not getting spirit grief over what I do with my own spare time.

Ephesians 4:29-32:

29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, BUT THAT WHICH IS GOOD TO THE USE OF EDIFYING, THAT IT MAY MINISTER GRACE UNTO THE HEARS.

30. AND GRIEVE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT OF THE MOST HIGH, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

31. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

32. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

THE WRATH AND MALICE COMES FROM THOSE THAT HATE INSTRUCTIONS OF TRUTH.