So many Christians nowadays lack any degree of discernment, (and subsequently accuse other Christians of being judgmental when they exercise their ability to discern). Because of this vast chasm between those who are reading the same Scriptures, I thought I’d introduce those lacking in this area to their very first lesson in discernment.
Now to those who use discernment daily, this lesson may seem as elementary as counting to 10, but bare with me; this may be very difficult for some. Let’s help guide them along.
Your first lesson will be easy. It involves visual comprehension and very little reading. Scroll through the home page of the Open Door Community Church.
Now let’s test that discernment: What is your reaction to this church?
A). I see nothing wrong with this church and would have no problem attending.
B). I can’t make out if this church is good or bad, but as a Christian I don’t dare discern judge.
C). A picture speaks a thousand words.
How did you do?
Christ Alone Wyoming 
Thank you! I have been having this battle for awhile now. Discernment is not being judgmental, it is using the tools God has given us, by the way, C!
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I was hurt to see the word christian (christ like) used. What if Jesus read this and saw the lack of His law. Who is the true, Jesus or open door community church. If they are going to run church on change doctrine then please do not use His name.
I vote C
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C!!!
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C.
Great test!
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Definately a C.
Kind of picture that makes you want to throw up. It has nothing to do with the Lord Jesus Christ and everything to do with satan and every deceiving spirit in hell.
This is of God? Don’t make me puke!
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I’ll take “C” as my final answer, Regis.
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A.
No, no, wait. B. Definitely B.
Or is it A?
B or A?
Oh, I just saw C.
Is there a D?
They do have pretty colors on that web page…
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C, by the way.
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you didn’t give us this choice….
eeeeewwwwww.
or, in other words, C.
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Whew. I wasn’t sure about you Nathan. I was wondering how you’d actually do on this test, but you pleasantly surprised me.
I suppose for our friends who have so little discernment and backbone (and foundation in the Scriptures) I could have offered D. All Of The Above just so they can play it safe. :o)
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Matthew 7:21-23 King James Version (Yep..the older one than yours.) 🙂
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Let me define a little for clarity:
“Work iniquity” IE: Continue in lawlessness, Continue to practice sin, profess to know Him, but really only “know” you sexual partner.
So… to the so-called ‘church’ of Grace Open Door Community, the only grace you ‘think’ you are giving and receiving is your own grace so that your sin may abound, but it isn’t Godly sorrow which leads to true repentance which God can only give His perfect grace. Repent, today…while you may call on Him for His perfect grace.
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C…….This ‘stuff’ is actually public and welcome????…….ugh!! Never thought we’d see it in our time……..sad.
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From their doctrinal statement:
We believe in Jesus Christ and what is taught about Him in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John): he was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed many miracles and proclaimed the message of love, hope and reconciliation to all who would listen and respond. His message was “whosoever will may come”. Jesus died to pay the ultimate penalty of our sin. He rose from the dead after three days, thus providing the gift of eternal life to all who will receive Him as Savior. We believe Jesus is God in the form of humankind. As a human, he lived among us and delivered to us the message of God’s love and forgiveness. He is the reality of an invisible God made visible to us in human form. If we want to know who God is, we can look at Jesus. He conquered death and ascended to the “right hand of God the Father”. Jesus is Lord of all things. As such, He deserves a place of honor, submission and respect in the life of every believer. One day, Jesus will physically return to earth in power and glory. No one knows the time or date. Until that time, the Christian is instructed to be active in our ministries.
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Bruce,
That last sentence is pretty amazing. the Christian is instructed to be active in OUR ministries. They must have erased there page. All I got was the church name.
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How dare you all poke fun at the wonderful work that the Lawd is doing thru these loving brethren? How dare you brood of pharisees and vipers?
My choice? A… B… C, of course! The pictures (and the text) on the site really do speak a thousand words! Lord have mercy!
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C. Definitely C. Just to be sure that I wasn’t misreading what the picture seemed to be saying, I cheated a little and checked out their About Us page. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, though it was hard not to. After checking the About Us, I was certain that the picture was telling the story I thought it was. I say we need to pray for them. Thanks for the test. Blessings to you.
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If I could type a bigger ‘C’ i certainly would!
This is so so so so sad. This kind of church “In Jesus Name” really makes me sick! I don’t know what “Jesus” they worship….but my God, my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is pretty clear in His word about all of this.
Shalene I agree, we should really remember to pray for these people, that they will come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour in the only true sense and repent of this. How twisted, deluded and sad.
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I’ve already given my answer here, and I am firmly in the “C” camp. However, it’s really interesting to me how the American church has gone on the subject of homosexuality, but not on other issues. That’s it’s become such a “hot button” issue.
For example, I wonder why the church doesn’t take such a strong stand on the subject of divorce and remarriage? It seems like the Bible is pretty clear on this subject, and yet we have a higher divorce rate in the church than in the world.
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Dear Nathan (answeringchurchofchrist),
Are you sitting down? I actually agree with you on this.
Sin, is sin, is sin. Granted some are more evil in our eyes like a fib compared to abortion, but in the sight of a holy God, sin, is sin, is sin. They will all keep a man out of Heaven and damn a soul to hell.
But, with that said, be confident, that I would criticize a Bible that seeks to make adultery, child abuse, or divorce seem acceptable.
The Church is to be in the world, but the world should never be in the Church. The world is going to do what comes natural to the nature of fallen man, and that is act like the world. The Church, however, is supposed to act like the Church, not the world.
You can expect consistency from me.
– The Pilgrim.
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C.
You know, I have to wonder about the people who say that the New Testament doesn’t speak to “committed, loving gay partnerships.” (These are usually the people who read paraphrases and extremely loose “translations,” without worrying about the original language, which is VERY CLEAR on this subject.)
But here’s a thought: The New Testament doesn’t say anything about incest, either. So by their reasoning, shouldn’t they also support a father who molests his own teen daughter as a “loving relationship” before God?
I’m sorry if that’s too gross, but sometimes you have to hit people between the eyes, or else they miss the magnitude of their error.
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Did you see the graphic about halfway down the page?
“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”
I’m not kidding! Was that supposed to be a pun? That was hilarious!
Oh, by the way: C
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Just a bit of trivia regarding “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” graphic:
This is the “church” and the “pastor” who actualy officiated Tammy Faye’s funeral.
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totally gross! The sick minds of people who don’t want to hear what God has to say to them and yet they want to claim that they follow Him and are saved. They are as lost as you can get! Not so sure they would listen to you if you tried to witness to them, but I have to try. If everyone turns a head away from them without giving them the Truth of God’s Word, then they will forever be lost. Let’s all send them the truth of the Word. We are to be a light to a dark world. They definitely need prayer! again I say, totally gross! repulsive! sick! not enough words to describe it!
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from the site:
In 1992 he committed to a lifelong loving, committed relationship with Gary Eddy. …Randy had been advised not to disclose this relationship with the whole church.
In 1995 the pain of staying silent about a relationship that was so meaningful and Christ-centered was too great.
I came to Christ in 1981. With the Light of the Holy Spirit, I could then look back to see the darkness that was once upon my mind and heart. There is NO way that the Holy Spirit within a true believer would ever allow justifying the depth of any sexual sin. They are deceived and they are teaching this same deception as if it were God’s truth. Perhaps it is from their god; one they have made in their own image. But it is not the God of the Bible.
Romans 1
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient (proper or decent but loathsome)
Please pray for these individuals. I’m sick in my heart just typing this portion and pondering their deception. I have little doubt the Holy Spirit grieves for them greater.
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