"You Are Called To Belong, Not Just Believe"
~Rick Warren
You Are Called To Belong, Not Just Believe BY RICK WARREN — MAY 21, 2014
"Don’t Just Believe. Belong!"~Rick Warren
"Don’t Just Believe. Belong!" BY RICK WARREN — MAY 21, 2014
Who, Christian, do you belong to? Why, you belong to the one who puchased you with his own blood! But curiously Rick doesn't talk about you" belonging" to Jesus, but rather, you, belonging to a "community." It's rather odd, (don't you think, Christian,) that he fails to teach that when a person believes in Jesus they DO belong... to the Lord. (see Mark 9:34)
"Belonging" is not some secondary thing that one must accomplish on their own in addition to believing, however, if you believe in Jesus, Rick wants you to realize that simple faith in Jesus is not enough. No.... there are lots of requirements and expectations now placed upon you. It would appear to Rick that those old- fashioned churches that just accept you and love you, give you a place to come and be discipled... you know, learn about God, get it wrong. They do not place requirements and expectations on you, like Rick does.
"Belonging" is not some secondary thing that one must accomplish on their own in addition to believing, however, if you believe in Jesus, Rick wants you to realize that simple faith in Jesus is not enough. No.... there are lots of requirements and expectations now placed upon you. It would appear to Rick that those old- fashioned churches that just accept you and love you, give you a place to come and be discipled... you know, learn about God, get it wrong. They do not place requirements and expectations on you, like Rick does.
Rick laments:
"In churches, membership is often reduced to simply adding your name to a roll, with no requirements or expectations."
Imagine that!
Imagine, if you can fathom it, a church being so lame as to be a place whereby membership comes about with no requirements or expectations placed upon you. All they dare to do is accept you and maybe add your name to a roll. (This would be that kind of church whereby you are a member because you simply heard the gospel and responded in faith, making proclamation of your faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior and then you attend church to learn more and grow in your knowledge of who God is and to be a part of that church! Can you imagine that membership in a church would even be that simple?
Imagine, if you can fathom it, a church being so lame as to be a place whereby membership comes about with no requirements or expectations placed upon you. All they dare to do is accept you and maybe add your name to a roll. (This would be that kind of church whereby you are a member because you simply heard the gospel and responded in faith, making proclamation of your faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior and then you attend church to learn more and grow in your knowledge of who God is and to be a part of that church! Can you imagine that membership in a church would even be that simple?
Rick is here to help:
"We need to recover and practice the biblical meaning of membership."~Rick Warren
He means you must tithe to your church.... ten percent, show up all the time and volunteer your time too. It's required for membership.
"Following Christ includes belonging,
not just believing."~Rick Warren
You must understand... you not only to believe. You have to also belong! Isn't it great to know that being a Christian is not easy? In addition to a membership covenant with your church... you will need to buy study materials, attend all the appropriate classes, and go on missions but only after you make yourself useful... that is, once you discover the purpose God made you for, but you'll need Rick's best selling book.
.....and while you' at it, besides believing and belonging, you must also master the art of balancing the "five purposes" God has for you. (What happens pray-tell if you cannot balance them right?) And be aware, that task actually doubles, because in addition to you balancing the five purposes, you need to know that there are five purposes for the church too.
It's a double whammy!.
It's a double whammy!.
"God’s purposes for his church are identical to his five purposes for you."~Rick Warren
Whoever said that all a person had to do to was "believe?"
Simple faith, (the kind of faith a little child has when you tell them something; what is that anyway?
Simple faith, (the kind of faith a little child has when you tell them something; what is that anyway?
.... Not Just Believe.
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