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Please note that this applies to Evangelical Christianity. I am a firm believer in Jesus Christ, His sacrifice for us, and His salvation. If you don’t know Him, and would like to, don’t hesitate to ask in my forums. God has been pressuring me as of late to discuss some theological issues. I am finally following through. I have, through my short life, witnessed many types of Christian doctrines, organizations, and the like. I have some issues with some practices and doctrines. These issues do not apply to only one denomination, but to many, perhaps all of them. Some issues are more a church to church type issue, though. Please do not hate me, get angered at me, or cease friendship with me because you don’t agree. I have no problem with friendly discussion, though.
Worship People worship in many different ways. Some raise their hands, some clap, jump, dance, sing, kneel, close their eyes, or combine those things, along with various others not mentioned, to create their own personal worship style. There is no “right” way to worship, so to speak. It all depends on the person, and how they respond to the Holy Spirit’s promptings. You don’t have to worship in the same manner that the person next to you is doing, or the way “everyone else” is. Just do as you feel lead. Personally, I am very introverted with my worship. Aside from singing, with the occasional clapping, jumping, and dancing, it is all very internal. I like to close my eyes, basking in God’s glory, and meditate in the spirit. When I sing, I sing to God, not to the audience, not to the people around me. Its just me and God. It doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing, my worship time with my Lord is His and mine to share. Nobody but God and myself have a say in how I worship… In other words, worship in your own style. Just make it you and God in a room together when you worship. Don’t be concerned about those around you. Just be there with God, and worship Him in a personal way. PrayerPrayer is sacred. It isn’t to be used in an unrighteous manner. God hears every prayer, and it doesn’t matter if the person praying it is sincere or not. We must really mean what we pray, and not be superficial in the things we pray for. Prayer is meant to be used to communicate with God. Talk to God like He is your best friend, because He should be! No big words are required, and formal prayers don’t have to be used. The Holy Spirit intervenes when necessary, and takes the thoughts, and feelings behind the prayer, and communicates those, along with our words to God the Father. One other thing: don’t use prayer for show. Don’t go out in public, and pray just to show off how “Spiritual” and “Godly” you are. That is unrighteous. As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely." Mark 12, 38-40 NIV Churches as Businesses I am tired of churches becoming businesses, before God. While business is necessary this day in time, the flaunting of gigantic buildings, money, glitz and other such things of the world should not be the focus of a church. The focus should be on Jesus Christ: living like, following, and sharing Him. Castes Within Churches It is wrong to set pastors, deacons, and elders apart as those only called by God. God calls everyone to something, and just because they aren’t “priestly” doesn’t mean they are less righteous and less Christian than the pastors. If God calls you to be a janitor, do the best you can, and show Christ in everything you do. In actuality, we are all to be Pastors, declaring the Good News of Jesus’ salvation everywhere we go, and in everything we do. Some are just called to do it as both an occupation and a ministry, rather than just having it as a personal ministry. TonguesThis divisive issue doesn’t matter when it comes to salvation, so there is no point in worrying about it. Divine Security "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38
It just takes faith. The ultimate sin is never accepting or denying Christ, which is the only unforgivable sin. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is basically the same as denying Christ. You can read more about that here. Really, as long as we have faith in Christ’s birth, sacrifice, and resurrection, we have nothing to worry about. That makes this argument moot, whether it is argued one way or the other.
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