Comments on: The Fig Tree Has No Figs https://theschoolofchrist.org/the-fig-tree-has-no-figs Preserving a Christ-Centered Faith Wed, 15 Feb 2023 19:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Patty https://theschoolofchrist.org/the-fig-tree-has-no-figs#comment-666 Sun, 15 Jul 2018 15:21:25 +0000 http://theschoolofchrist.org/?p=11289#comment-666 In reply to Claudette.

I find it sad to say that when I was having the struggles with what I viewed is legalism or the need to do activities rather than be walking with Christ I tried to explain this to some of my brethren in the church system. There were a couple of responses one of which was an uncomfortable silence another was an awkward assurance that I needed to keep doing the right thing and Assemble and I expect that I am now on the roster of cult follower. Of all of the like-minded Believers I sat next to pewsitter I have communication with only one person on a regular basis. And that person is also someone who senses being called out of the system it is true that somedays it feels lonely in the church in the wilderness but it is also true that I was lonely sitting in the Pew as well. I find that I am more and more okay with loneliness because I’m spending time with my master and learning to be his disciple and though I may be lonely I am not alone. The Lord knows our hearts and then to me he says what about us ?our relationshipneeds to be my number one priority and all other things fall into their proper place..

]]> By: Claudette https://theschoolofchrist.org/the-fig-tree-has-no-figs#comment-665 Sat, 13 Feb 2016 16:24:40 +0000 http://theschoolofchrist.org/?p=11289#comment-665 Churchianity: Believing in Jesus Christ, instead of Believing Jesus Christ. I believe those that are members of a religion institution may need to take a stand for our own well being, the only question is how to do that? How ever that is to be I would totally be part of it. Thank you Chip for planting the seed.

]]> By: Timothy https://theschoolofchrist.org/the-fig-tree-has-no-figs#comment-664 Sat, 15 Nov 2014 16:29:06 +0000 http://theschoolofchrist.org/?p=11289#comment-664 We can all complain of the faults and weaknesses, “till the cows come home”, of the current religious system of most all Denominational Churches. We can also complain about Cults and Schisms in the Christian Church. We can complain about former Pastors, Music Directors, Board Members, etc. WHAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING WITH YOU IS WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD! Here is your opportunity to be an intercessor; to lead others to see how your own “relationship” towards Jesus Christ truly matters. I recently prayed for healing of an 8 year old Indian boy in Intensive Care (critical condition) on life support. Amazingly, God has healed him, and he is now at home with his mother! PRAISE GOD! It isn’t WHO or WHAT we are; as much as WHO and WHAT Jesus Christ IS that matters most. Let us give Him our fullest trust and obedience. He alone can then work miracles. Amen

]]> By: Brenda Brown https://theschoolofchrist.org/the-fig-tree-has-no-figs#comment-663 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:03:50 +0000 http://theschoolofchrist.org/?p=11289#comment-663 Hi Chip,
My Daddy used to have a saying (his having lived in WWII era):
“I’m not like the Japanese. I know when I’m whipped!” No disrespect meant to the the Japanese: Christ died for all.

This just describes the way I felt right before I left the church system…I had fought and fought to prove church was the only path for living victoriously over sin..
I defended it.
I held on to it.
I criticized others for not attending.
I learned the hard way that I had to “surrender” in order to survive…
I was finally “whipped” by churchianity….I left while there
was something of Life left in me…My husband and I have never returned or regretted it…

We don’t “want” to be lonely.
We don’t “want” to be misunderstood and rejected as “backslidden heathens”. (We live in the Bible Belt)…

Church, as we had came to know it, was hindering us and others from Spiritual growth and the relationship we desperately needed with Christ…It was also keeping us from needed family time…
Our son was growing up, and we had left him to others in church to teach and train him up in the Lord…how blind and dumb was that…
Just look around and see what is happening to our families in the church system…startling statistics…

Jesus is enough! I’ve tried and proven it in my life…He expects so little of us compared with the “busy-ness” of the outer court ministry of religion…

I’m a fish in a much smaller pond now, but come on in; the water’s fine!! There’s lots of room over here in this pond…not crowded at all:)
Brenda Brown

]]> By: Rolando J. Torres https://theschoolofchrist.org/the-fig-tree-has-no-figs#comment-662 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:38:59 +0000 http://theschoolofchrist.org/?p=11289#comment-662 …thanks for sharing your experiences sir…

]]> By: Garry Ballard https://theschoolofchrist.org/the-fig-tree-has-no-figs#comment-661 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:49:42 +0000 http://theschoolofchrist.org/?p=11289#comment-661 Yes Eve-Loraine, I too have difficulty with saying I’m a Christian. I usually say I’m a believer which I’m not entirely happy with either. I haven’t used the term disciple but might try it.

]]> By: Brian Mines https://theschoolofchrist.org/the-fig-tree-has-no-figs#comment-660 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 23:16:39 +0000 http://theschoolofchrist.org/?p=11289#comment-660 Chip,
The Holy Spirit got me to go back to my former church a month or so ago, just for one day, and I didn’t want to go – but I did go in obedience.
It was like I must have needed another shot of the vaccine against this deadly virus.
It was such a shock.
It was an experience of darkness and control.
Church had become worse in the year that I had been away from it.
The extra shot of the vaccine did its job really well.
Best regards.
Brian.

]]> By: Frank https://theschoolofchrist.org/the-fig-tree-has-no-figs#comment-659 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 22:58:42 +0000 http://theschoolofchrist.org/?p=11289#comment-659 Chip, another GREAT message.
Thanks for your insight.
I can proudly call you my mentor.

]]> By: Nan Cameron https://theschoolofchrist.org/the-fig-tree-has-no-figs#comment-658 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:55:33 +0000 http://theschoolofchrist.org/?p=11289#comment-658 Amen. Yes! Got it in one! This is why my family left the established church. Our then 17 year old son telling us he got more out of his daily devotional than church sealed the fate of our church membership. Since then we have become so much closer to Jesus. Our membership in a church was definitely hindering our spiritual growth. I see it continuing in that church and it is so frustrating, especially when new Christians come to that church looking for growth.

]]> By: Kat https://theschoolofchrist.org/the-fig-tree-has-no-figs#comment-657 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:15:46 +0000 http://theschoolofchrist.org/?p=11289#comment-657 This is so true.

I went to this church in my hometown for 10 years. In the early years, the church was the center of my life. Everything I did, everyone I knew revolved around it. I was your typical church-brat. Then my father’s sinful life and lustful ways were revealed, and the pastor of that church advised my mother to separate from him (because of the abuse). She did, but he turned his back on her and she lost her job as the church secretary. We were shunned, after 10 years of being devoted to the church. After a month or so we left, and I slowly drifted away from Christianity. I stopped attending churches all together, stopped praying and started only hanging out with my non-Christian friends. I had already had a hard heart to begin with, but the facade of “following Christ” that the church had presented me had only made me FEEL like a Christian for a while. Once I was outside the church, I didn’t even think twice about God.

Eventually I became a true believer, this past year. But I think the disillusionment that I went through is typical of those raised in these types of churches.

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