[Johny Joe Hold]

It was refreshing to read a piece outlining the responsibility of good church members to criticize the sins of other members. Who else is going to call out such sinners? It will not be other sinners, that's for certain.

It takes some time from busy people, but a group that composes a letter to be sent to a sinner is time well spent. The letter should outline the sin and the scripture that explains why it must stop. While we are good at this in Landover Baptist, more is always better than less. I hope the attached will spur even more monitoring of our members and ensure heaven for every one.

Why the Church needs to get back to practicing church discipline | Voice (christianpost.com)

[Dennis Lukes]

Yes, sins such as insufficient tithing, lax church attendance, making accusations of wrongdoing against pastors, informing the help about labor laws and regulations, and apostasy must be monitored and responded to by the wider congregation. We must police each other. Who will police the police? Jesus. Therefore things like alcoholism, child abuse, wife beating, sexual misconduct, tax fraud, murder, and so on and so forth are between one and one's God, and are really not the business of the community, which ought not to address or acknowledge them.

[Dr. Anthony J. Toole]

Brothers, I believe more discipline is what we need to reverse the long decline in Church attendance. That and the Supreme Court. Personally I blame Millennials.

[Johny Joe Hold]

Originally Posted by Dr. Anthony J. Toole

Brothers, I believe more discipline is what we need to reverse the long decline in Church attendance.

You are onto the answer, Dr. Toole. All kinds of Christian pundits are wringing their hands about declining church attendance. Why can't they understand what is really going on?

The problem is simple. People don't want to attend church if they don't learn about sin and how to avoid it. The tougher the pastors and members are on sinners the fewer sinners and the more happy church goers. Churches will be full. The time to put the hammer down on sin is now.

[MitzaLizalor]

The chart attached in Dr Toole's post shows a familiar trend among Church attendees from 137% in [the year] 2000 to less than half that, 65% in 2020, suggesting by now it's down to 54% in which case how can they identify as congregants at all?

Pending the resumption of compulsory Church attendance, exemplified by a former Queen of America and her eponymous Virginian colony [but not by her sister -ed.] together with the prohibition of Romish catholicism, some important Scriptural precepts should be remembered.

Originally Posted by Johny Joe Hold

Churches will be full

Fortunately there's no need for me to tax myself in this respect: God has explained everything already. Some ideas have a pure source and are therefore correct. Other ideas, such as those promoting debate and debate's daughter clone "progressive" ideology, have their origin in sensual delights and are therefore devilish. God explains:

James 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

There's no need to dwell on the elements of devilish sensuality: astrology workshops, ninety-six hour rave parties with LSD where everyone looks like witchdoctors in fancy dress so you can't tell the ones who aren't, idolatrous rites in wicked temples, "fun" poolside midnight frolicking with UV lighting and luminous clothing such as it is but not much of it: it's a long list, it's earthly and there's a single mind behind it. Satan's mind. And there we have an expert: Jesus. He defeated sin and death forever to set us free. In the meantime, what should we do? God tells us the right thing for fornicators is:

I Corinthians 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

DELIVERY UNTO SATAN

Originally Posted by Johny Joe Hold

The time to put the hammer down on sin is now

Satan wants us to sweep abominations under the rug so that they can't be seen, even though they still exist and therefore control the lives of sinners. Satan is rotten to the least sinew of his being. Satan wants us to be rotten too, hanging out where we shouldn't be, drinking the suspicious-looking fruit punch (unless you want to share whatever experience returnees-for-more have going on) [RIGHT] but God objects. This important sacrament is overlooked in many congregations. “Satan?” they opine. “What claim does he have over Christians?” Five references from Scripture was not enough for the linked news article. They had to go for six. I've done it in half that with no thoughts or opinions intruded. Pastor knows all about this sacrament and congregational attendance is a solid 300% assuring us that no abomination is too foul to be brought to his attention.

James 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

[Dr. Anthony J. Toole]

Originally Posted by Johny Joe Hold

The tougher the pastors and members are on sinners the fewer sinners and the more happy church goers. Churches will be full. The time to put the hammer down on sin is now.

The one positive of losing so many people is that our Church, and more importantly our Republican Party, is the concentrated yoke of our movement. We are of one voice and that voice is screaming for Christian Theocracy, willing to do whatever it takes even if it costs a few more members. I read somewhere it only take 3% of the population to overthrow the government so that's all we need, in principle not that we'd actually do it like that.

[MitzaLizalor]

TEMPLE OF JUPITER (AFTER)

Although persecuted, we're encouraged by God to respect governmental leaders just as He respected Roman officials when He was Jesus. That doesn't mean He agreed with them or hung out in the temple of Jupiter adoring their idols. But whether talking to centurions or taking luncheon with Zacchaeus, one of their toadies, He was always respectful.

God knew, it hardly needs saying, that He'd be dealing with that temple later. In its "before" condition though, it was allowed to stand and we know that heathen governments today, although allowed to stand temporarily until God addresses their error, will similarly get His attention in due course.

But the persecution is getting very strong now, believers mocked at every opportunity, businesses attacked for deciding which products they want to sell, idolatrous burrows set up for every abomination some even masquerading as "churches" to hame just three! Take the second one for instance. You do some market research, study the products available, invest in some premises and employ the necessary staff – partly for business reasons but also from a sense of public duty. You've decided to sell widgets. You've got brass widgets, iron widgets, plastic widgets, lovely glossy brochures showing your product range – and it's a risk. You think you've identified an opening in the market but should you stock iridium widgets? What about an innovative alloy widget? Scandium/bismuth? Vanadium with a dusting of antimony baked on (I'm looking these up in a list of metals) but you get the idea? May not sell any but as a halo product on display your capabilities would be advertised. Cool.

Then some freak walks in: "I'm looking for a foofer valve."

"We don't sell foofer valves."

"That's not fair. I demand you sell me a foofer valve!"

"Here." (you smile encouragingly) "Have a look through the product range in this glossy brochure. Perhaps I could recommend our Erbium selection?"

"I don't want anything in your brochure I want a foofer valve!!"

Eventually you get sued because something you never planned on selling is unavailable and it's not even in your brochure as a special order. And when a Christian is involved, the persecution really kicks off with demos and street parties where heathens put carpet down and armchairs to reclaim the streets, really though they want to obstruct traffic to your shop. Perhaps they'll throw rocks through your window and loot all your widgets. There'll be a glossy brochure burning ceremony and maybe a totem pole set up for some impromptu go-go dancing or an oiled Adonis competition. Whatever revolts you that's what they'll do.

Perhaps that's how Jesus felt when He saw the Roman idols and their detestable form of government yet even up to the point of crucifixion He remained respectful. But look at the Temple of Jupiter now!