Comments on: Lonely, But Never Alone

By: BlancaV

BlancaV — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 03:18:14 +0000

I am right here -> “The more in tune with the Lord we become, the more dissatisfied and uncomfortable we become with what is being said and done in His Name. Yet, there is an uncomfortable pause between where we used to be and where we are called to be.”

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 14:18:30 +0000

Chip

I have been following your articles and email updates for a while and have enjoyed the articles and have been encouraged. We still are not in any local fellowship, how to know when to go back to a church? We have no fellowship still, the only option seems to go back…Its much different here, there is a church on every corner and you are expected to go on Sundays. Welcome to the bible belt.

By: Aging Well

Aging Well — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:36:05 +0000

I wouldjust like to thank you, Chip, for your rather refreshing comments and view on organized reigion. I am involved in it, yet, so many times call those who are in it wrong. Is it wrong to correct those that you know are not doing what the Word says? No.
As G.J. says above, this is no way to win friends but I am not here to win friends but souls for Christ.
Your commentaries are encouraging and speak the Truth in love.
Praying for you.

By: Valerie

Valerie — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 21:11:37 +0000

Excellent points made here. Very helpful things to consider. I am recently out of the IC (for the 2nd time in 5 years). I would love to be able to say I know without a doubt that the Lord has called me out. The only thing I can say is that I know He has been working on performance related mindsets, rather intensely, in recent months. I want to believe He is trying to lead me to a place of freedom and intimacy I’ve never know. (I believe Lord, help my unbelief). Yet, we’ve heard so much of the gotta do-s that I easily question my separation from the Body. (Although I do not hesitate fellowshiping when He provides an opportunity- so in this respect I have not separated). I want to believe the enemy is relentless when it comes to telling us we will not grow in Christ on this path.

By: Jade Kennedy

Jade Kennedy — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:56:51 +0000

Its a lonely walk that’s for sure. In search for fellowship I have tried many times in the past 4 years to go back to church and every time I do how quickly I am reminded why I left.

The trouble is, if I don’t walk closely with Jesus, the loneliness becomes unbearable and I start to indulge the World which, as you know, has a cascading effect. Trust me, it’s humiliating.

I always thought it was a blessing and a privledge to be called out of today’s ‘church’.

Thanks Chip for the article, it was very encouraging.

By: Dale

Dale — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:22:10 +0000

I agree with Chip, the org. is for man by man I have found more Jesus in reading the Bible than any org. .The org. has never changed any one.THe Bible says that only Jesus can do that . the org. fight with each other ,where did Jesus say that fighting was ok. I know that read,pray more than most org. do .I Love Jesus . Jesus has changed me . I pray that Jesus will help org.to find him.

By: Roger

Roger — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:39:33 +0000

I have shared before that my wife and I have been called out of mans religious system for some 20 years – during that time we have met others who have been out longer, some shorter, and others who are in the process of ‘coming out’. In every case, there has been pain, loneliness, and persecution, as we emerge, not ‘out of church’ and into the world as some would say, but out of mans religious system (Babylon), out of the world (Egypt) and into His Ekklesia and into a relationship with Jesus Christ our Saviour, Lord, Shepherd and King.

During our 20 years IN His Ekklesia,and as I read the comments of other people after this and the other teachings of Chip’s – I recognise that most are specifically ‘Called Out’ by our God Himself. This is by revelation of who Jesus Christ is, either through the written word (Bible) or the living word (Jesus).

At the same time there is the ‘emerging church’ which seems to have as one of its doctrines the concept that we have waited so long, and Jesus hasn’t returned yet… He isnt coming, we need to save the world ourselves. 2 Peter 3:4 specifically warns of this happening. Maybe those that believe this should read further, down to verses 9-10.

Be encouraged, Jesus Christ – our Saviour, Lord and King is in control. He loves us and always has – we only need to hear and obey His word to come out of her my people… and His promise of His continued everlasting dwelling with and in us. 2 Cor. 6: 16-18.

Our prayers are with you Chip and Karla.. you may feel lonely, but you are not alone.

By: pat

pat — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:05:58 +0000

This is one of my favorite of your articles, Chip!I’ve experienced times of loneliness several times during my Christian walk. The most profound of these times occured while still in the organized church. In 2000 I moved to NC, leaving behind a NY church which was undergoing “renewal. I began attending another highly active, charasmatic church. In the new church, people kept talking about how awesome “the presence of God was today!” But I felt mothing-nothing at all. During a 4yr, 7mo period of time, I saw my husband develop a relationship with the Lord, and I experienced a wonderful time of social relationships, but in private, I cried out to the Lord, “What’s wrong with me? What did I do that You no longer show Yourself to me?” I’d determined that this was just how it was going to be, and went along, satisfied with my “different” relationship with the Lord. Then one Sunday morning, the associate pastor shared a conversation he had with a person who was experiencing the same thing I was. In the pastors reply to this person, he told him,”The Lord didn’t leave you, He’s taking the world out of you. You’ve been taking entirely too much satisfaction from a form and a fashion…” (the activities of organized religion”) I was speechless-this man read my heart. He shared with the congregation my deepest fears, pleas and cries to God. I spent the next 3 weeks wailing for many hours each day. In learning the answer to my prayers, I’d been broken. When I recovered some, I got up the nerve to call this pastor. During the last 6 years, much has changed. Many of us, including this pastor, were kicked out. The deceipt and venumous behavior of “loving, Godly people” in leadership was intensely frightening. The Lord allowed me to see behind the curtain of organized church and clergy-laity relations. It reminded me of the wizard in The Wizard of Oz… One of the things I’ve learned since then is just how our fallen nature clings for social relationship, which in itself is not bad. But just beware of confusing it with spiritual one-anothering. Don’t leave the organized church to join a home group and expect all is well. Religiosity can still follow and will often creep in unexpectedly. And the worst part of that, is we can foolishly believe we’re free from it, forever letting down our guard. Be thankful for times of loneliness, allowing the Lord’s pruning and dependence on Him only. And be willing to admit when we’ve regressed to our old ways, turning back to the Lord as often as needed. If the Lord has called you, as I believe is the ministry of The School of Christ, speak out against organized church, but examine your motives. How much of what you say comes from unresolved anger and hurt rather than a pure message from God. And understand that you cannot convince someone about this message; you can only love and support the message revealed by the Lord to a persons heart.

By: Regina Rice

Regina Rice — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:16:32 +0000

I totally agree with you. The Lord told me to come out of the building called church about 7 years ago. He told me forget everything man had taught me that, HE was going to teach me now. I took Him at His word. He has made a believer out of me. When I first came out for about 4 years, some of us met in our homes. But, the Lord had to take that also. If we don’t have a personal relationship (or walk) with Him, then how can we give or recieve to or from the ones we do fellowship with at times. I know my journey with Him alone has taught me how to persevere in my storms. Without that I would not be where I am now. Don’t get me wrong I love to fellowship with true lovers of Him, but my personal relationship with Him is sweet. Thanks for allowing me to share my comment.

By: Shelley

Shelley — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:57:34 +0000

Seble:

You said, “that cutting ourselves off from the ‘organized religion’ is not the solution… that we have no right to take the seat of Christ…”.
Is it not true that we are indeed seated with Christ in heavenly places, and, if we are to abide in him we CANNOT be where He is not? You might ask if perhaps it is ‘another christ’ that has established himself in the institutionalized church. I too, have struggled with the desire to “not judge”, but what the Lord has shown me is that just as Peter was told not to call ‘unclean’ what the Lord has called ‘clean’, I am likewise not to call ‘clean’ what the Lord has called ‘unclean’. It is not the people to whom I refer it is the “system” that holds these people in bondage.