Be Mindful
Be mindful- Illumination of the Church.
There are many denominations of Christians around the world. One of these is the Evangelical Protestant Christians who desire to be understood and identified as part of the development of Christian Church history. They consider themselves the provider and developers of their creeds, their different approach to doctrinal views, and their way of promulgating the gospel. These Christians tend to believe in progressive spiritual and intellectual enlightenment. In my personal opinion, I do not see anything wrong except when they act as Prophets without fear or shame in publicly expressing their prophecies that later tend to fail. Instead of giving a more precise explanation of what is needed to encourage unbelievers and runaway Christians about the truth of the Word, they pursue their personal feelings of being illusionists rather than illuminators.
We believe the Bible is a living organism, and it progresses as human signs of progress. This is called progressive illumination, which the Bible wants us to understand clearer and brighter, not the half-truth or brainwashing type of evangelistic pitch work that will only satisfy lusty desires. We are more exposed to the truth of the living Word today. The progressive Revelation ended during the appointed time of the followers of Christ—The Apostles of Jesus Christ. These followers continued the teachings of Jesus Christ after they were commissioned to preach the Word. The Apostles warned that many would prophesy in the name of the Son Jesus, but these false prophets are just mockers. These false teachers have their agenda and are not even commissioned or called by the Holy Spirit. They will claim the Divine Revelation and live in an unrealistic world. Everything the Apostles of Jesus Christ taught has been carried out for generations. Through these years, many still are enlightened about the progressive illumination of the Holy Spirit because they are more focused on the Son, who is at this time already seated at the right hand of the Father.
When the Protestant Reformation movement won the hearts of new believers, they were separated from the Bishop of Rome. Then, like wildfire, the Christian denominations sprouted like a mushroom, including the Lutheran, Anglican, Reformed, Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, etc. Some even organized their congregation and named it to their liking, and claimed it as their church.
Catholic and Evangelical churches are both declining in attendance, and both are facing financial difficulties. There are fewer young members these days, and once the older members leave the church for some reason, the church, bundled with over-expansion, leads the church to fold its existence.
The church to decline has so many factors to consider, such as Bad leadership, behavior unbecoming of church leaders, materialistic attitude, lousy planning, transparency, accountability, favoritism, gossip, cliché, focus on collection than spiritual growth of the members, leaders become comfortable to few members and ignore the rest, church employees are merely made up of family members with huge salaries and bonuses, church donations being diverted, and sexual harassment, and if we look back, church life then is still better than now.
2 Corinthians 6:14 AMP – “Do not be unequally bound with unbelievers [do not make mismatched alliances with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
Likewise: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in. sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15.