Hi 4430,

I'm sorry you found my writing so obtuse.

I sometimes utilize many more words than would suffice.

Here is the short, concise version:

I named churches that, by their own words, claim to be the one true church, but are not, and I named churches that peacefully coexist with other churches because they understand that both groups are Christians, worshiping God, the Father; Jesus Christ; and the Holy Spirit.

There is one true "Church," (a word which is translated from the Greek word, "ekklesia," which also means "congregation, assembly, called-out-ones)," but it is not contained within one single congregation, or in one specific denomination, or in one building, no matter how large.

It is inclusive, not exclusive.

(What is the difference between Inclusive and Exclusive?
Inclusive: A or B or both.
Exclusive: A or B but not both.)

The true church is all those who have accepted, through faith, the true Jesus as described in Scripture, His sacrificial death on the cross in payment of their sins, and His resurrection and ascension to heaven. They have confessed their sins to God, the Father, and have repented of their sins.

Repent means to turn and go the other way, literally to change one's behavior.

They believe He is the only mediator between God and man because the Bible says so.

This is the Universal Church that has continued from the Day of Pentecost. His congregation are His "called out ones;" in every country, all over the world. They are His Church, the Body of Christ, regardless of the church building they attend or the name of the denomination, and they recognize Him, not any man, as the Head of His Church, to which they belong. They are all united spiritually by the Holy Spirit.

Let the Wheat and the Tares Grow Together, for God Will Do the separating based on what they have chosen to believe, and whom they have chosen to believe in, during their lives.

Jesus said to "let the tares grow with the wheat," for they will be separated. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’ (Matthew 13:30)

I believe in the Word of God, I do not believe in any words that man has attempted to add to God's Words.

Hi 4430,

What you call "old school," I call authentic Christianity.

I believe that it is because there are still Holy Spirit guided, Bible believing congregations across our nation like yours, that God has, thus far, withheld the punishment from this nation that we so richly deserve.

Jesus said that His followers (like you and the congregation with which you worship), are both the salt of the earth and light to the world.

“You are the salt of the earth." (Matthew 5:13); "You are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:14).

He used the concepts of salt and light a number of different times to refer to the role of His followers in the world.” Salt had two purposes in the Middle East of the first century. Because of the lack of refrigeration, salt was used to preserve food, especially meat, which would quickly spoil in the hot desert environment.

Believers in and followers of Jesus Christ are preservatives to the world, preventing the wholesale evil that would run rampant within any society of unredeemed, ungodly men whose sin natures control them. (Psalm 14:3; Romans 8:8).

The presence of Christians in the world must also be like a light in the darkness, not only in the sense that the truth of God’s Word brings the light of the Gospel to the darkened hearts of sinful man (John 1:1-10), but also because our good deeds must be evident for all the world to see.

"In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:4-5)

Not that Christians should stand out for their own sake, but so that God might be glorified.

You are being true to Jesus' commandment: “Glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Hi 4430,

What you call "old school," I call authentic Christianity.

I believe that it is because there are still Holy Spirit guided, Bible believing congregations across our nation like yours, that God has, thus far, withheld the punishment from this nation that we so richly deserve.

Jesus said that His followers (like you and the congregation with which you worship), are both the salt of the earth and light to the world.

“You are the salt of the earth." (Matthew 5:13); "You are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:14).

He used the concepts of salt and light a number of different times to refer to the role of His followers in the world.” Salt had two purposes in the Middle East of the first century. Because of the lack of refrigeration, salt was used to preserve food, especially meat, which would quickly spoil in the hot desert environment.

Believers in and followers of Jesus Christ are preservatives to the world, preventing the wholesale evil that would run rampant within any society of unredeemed, ungodly men whose sin natures control them. (Psalm 14:3; Romans 8:8).

The presence of Christians in the world must also be like a light in the darkness, not only in the sense that the truth of God’s Word brings the light of the Gospel to the darkened hearts of sinful man (John 1:1-10), but also because our good deeds must be evident for all the world to see.

"In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:4-5)

Not that Christians should stand out for their own sake, but so that God might be glorified.

You are being true to Jesus' commandment: “Glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)