If you've gone very deep into our web site, you are probably aware that B'Ann and I are both US citizens.  (We both have been born and raised in the US.)   Consequently, we have a point of view about the churches in America that our brethren and friends overseas may not have–and the E-mails that we have received from many of you wanting money so you can duplicate American churches seem to bear this out!  Because B'Ann and I have been able to closely observed churches in the USA, and have been involved in the activities of many of them for several decades (B'Ann wouldn't like it if I told you just how many!); we would like to share a little of the history of our nation's churches and then make some comments.

First, a brief overview of the history of our churches–a history that is closely intertwined with the history of our nation! 

That the LORD JESUS was closely involved in the establishment of His Church here in the United States can be confirmed by looking at the founding Fathers of the nation itself!  The men that came to the new world and eventually established our new nation; did so to free themselves from the political and spiritual oppression in the countries they had just left.  Not only did these men boldly name the name of the LORD JESUS, but their writings and their lives acknowledged His Lordship!  However, they were careful not to mention the name of JESUS in the Constitution lest individuals creep in unawares and establish their own form of a Christian church and then make it part of the ruling government.  Many had experienced such bondage in the countries they had just fled.  To prevent such atrocities, they wrote: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."  Nevertheless, they did acknowledge the Lordship of JESUS in Article VII of the Constitution saying the drafting of the Constitution was "done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven"–the Year of our Lord acknowledging that it had been some 1,787 years since JESUS, THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, had visited His earth."

Before we look at the churches in the US, let's first look at our Lord's words concerning the Church He was to build in this world.

Matthew 16:
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some [say that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  (note that the "rock" Jesus was talking about was the heavenly revelation that Peter had received–the same revelation that all must have to be a part of the Lord's CHURCH!)

Now, let's look at an image of the Church that the Lord was building in our new nation...one that differs greatly from the tall, modern buildings; the vast man-made denominations (church organizations); and the mega-media ministries that, for the most part,  promote men and their ideas.  The first churches to spring forth on our newly settled continent were built by small towns/communities and were often named after the town itself (for example: the Jamestown Church).  The churches served all in the community.  In the rural areas, the churches were birthed under crude structures /shelters made of  poles driven in the ground over which long poles were laid across the top in a lattice fashion to serve as support for a primitive roof of brush or hay.  These crude structures were called "brush arbors" and they were used from the late 1700s through the mid-1900s by communities that couldn't afford to build a church.  Also, because these communities could not support a pastor on their own, "circuit-riding" preachers would travel from one arbor to another–preaching the Words of Life that the LORD JESUS used to birth souls into the Kingdom as HE built HIS Church!  In addition, when for whatever reason, a community didn't build an arbor; the circuit riding preachers would preach in an open field, often from a stump, to men, women, and children who would accept the LORD's salvation, and later as the Lord would bless, these new converts would build church buildings. (It's interesting to note that although these buildings were build to house their worship, more often than not, they were used by the community as a school building or for various important meetings!)

There is another important difference between today's churches and the early churches that we should note: i.e., the message of the pastors/preachers and the goals of the churches. 

The following Scriptures are just a couple of the many passages from the Bible that Jesus uses to build/add to HIS Church--passages that the early preachers/evangelists used extensively in their preaching.

John 3:
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Romans 10:
8 ...The word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

In addition, the early preachers saturated their listeners with Scriptures such as the following–Scriptures that stirred up the Holy Gift that was within them.  It was this kind of preaching that made the new believers to act like the new creatures they had become: zealous of good works and quick to share the reason for the hope that dwelt within them!

1 Corinthians 6:19
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Romans 8:
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
...
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot  please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

I Cor 1:10
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Sadly, most of the churches' early history is unknown in the world, including many of today's US citizens.  This is because the past few generations have not seen a Church unified in the cause of Christ, which can only make us believe that the preceding Scriptures are rarely being preached.  Oh, there has always been a remnant in the churches who have faithfully preached the Word of God; and God has given these men a harvest.  But without such Scriptures, Christ cannot build His Church.  In their place, the pulpits are issuing forth words that divide the believers and that produce church members that have a form of religion but deny the power of God  (II Tim. 3:5).  Today, the world looks on the US and sees a church that is divided and scattered and unable to bring forth fruit that glorifies God.  Instead of being co-laborers in the building of the LORD's Church, these churches are setting forth confusion for the lost to see.  Instead of producing the "good works" that would cause men to praise God, they build buildings and organizations that brings praise to themselves.  In such an atmosphere, it was only natural that, for many, the church buildings became the church instead of the born-again believers.  In turn, the churches often became the property of the men and women that built them–as were the denominations that followed them.  Family churches soon filled our land and too often, these "family" churches became inclusive–having no place for preachers who invite "outsiders" into their midst!  To sum it up, these modern churches are fulfilling prophecies concerning the corrupt end-time church.  HOWEVER, DON'T DISCOUNT THE BORN-AGAIN BELIEVERS ON THE SCENE–FOR CHRIST HAS ALWAYS HAD AND DOES STILL HAVE A CHURCH . Oh, recently it has been sleeping, for sure, but Christ is waking His Church and it will be a force to reckon with.

B'ANN WROTE:

The church went through some refining issues during its early days in the U.S., and as always, the radical elements made it into the history books such as the one at Salem, Massachusetts. Yet, the true church was always functioning, exercising  great Faith, with the Fruits and the Gifts of the Spirit operating. (Galatians 5:22 & I Corinthians 12)  It was a living organism dedicated to the salvation of soul's-which remained its focus, then and now.  There were then, and always will be, persons that operated as "God's Left Hand". These were reclusive clubs that focused on paying of dues, social status for membership, some radical creed or dogma, and a strong arm for social or political change.  One might argue that there is nothing wrong with a church having such an "earthly" focus; however, the Bible does declare that Christ will set one free. If a church member is caught up in the business of fund raising,  paying a certain amount of dues, or waving banners for a cause, the Cause of Christ is going to fall by the wayside. Members usually are encouraged to give money for the cause, and not be concerned about the lost. To keep the money flowing into the coffers, the ministers will bring forth the "word" that will "tickle the ears" least they offend or drive away their support.

2 Timothy 4:

2   Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3   For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Large church debts do not free its members to minister to a lost and dying world. We need to return to this Scripture which puts the whole process in order.

Matthew 6:33  
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

By getting our priorities straight, the Body of Christ will line up with the Word of God.  Never are we instructed to "build bigger and better barns"; nor, are we commanded to build a fancy home for the ministers.  Everyone needs a shelter! Everyone needs an income! Everyone needs a church fellowship where they can come together and edify one another.  Yet, it we build the buildings first, then go out to get people, the "cart is going to be before the horse".

Our Christian walk should look like this: the man goes forth to sow seeds; then, there is the harvest; and after the harvest, the ground needs to be plowed for the next harvest. Never should building of church structures take the place of spreading the Word.

II Corinthians 9:
6  But this [I say], He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7   Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8   And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work:
9   (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10   Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for [your] food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11   Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God

Never should financial gain be the objective of any ministry.

But rather we need to have patience and learn what the following Scripture means:

Philippians 4:19:  
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
 

I am Abubakar Ibrahim a muslim and has converted to a christian by God's grace.

I had led a celibacy life since my child hood. I am twenty six years of age.

I used to experience God,s visitations oftenly in dreams.

He has revealed unto me that in the whole world 90% of people are lost and 10% would be saved in his sight.

In a dream a particular night, I saw in the sky two groups of people. The left were in black dress and the right in white dress. It apppeared to me a big river and the two groups were with hook and line catching fish in the river. The black dress cought more than expected. At their teritory there appeared some big more containers there were filled with the cought fishes and they were full and some did felled big there were no space for them in the containers some were dead and others too alive.

On the side of the white groupt to appeared some small containers. There were only small fishes cought not encouraging.

I heard a sound said unto me that the white group were the agents of God winning souls on the earth. And the black group were agents of satan winning souls for him. And that was what they had all gotten.

It was quite terrible no.

I heard finally that 90% are lost in 10% would be saved. And I should announce for all people to hear and repent because very soon he will be arround.

Again, In a vision, my friends and I were going to a place on a mountain, we look in the sky and there was a strange signs. It began to changing into red and started melting. It started slowly and began to spread to all parts of the clouds. It became red like blood. The sun began to appear and decend and hang in the sky. It shook and flew from south to west, north to east and was just moving. Suddenly, darkness appeared and you don't see your fellow friend. It became very hard for us because we thought that was our end. The stars began to appear and fallen. Dangerously when the stars falls it brast like a bomb and when it lands on people it skrike and divide their body by two. People were wailing and dying like animal. I thought there was no life for me again because the end had come but God grace I saw myself on a bed.

Also, In a vision, I went to a visit some people in a village their collour was so different that I have never seen some with my naked eye before and their human personalities were different so from mine. They gave me something but have forgoten what they gave me. On my way back, immediately I heard a heavy shake like the cracking of a pick rock. It repeated and I run back to the house I aske and they answered the land is a mining land that they are working and blasting the rock with dynamites. I return and on my way a heavy rock like a building landed in front of me. It was repeating and I realized it cannot be workers working but the rapture. I saw trees uprooting and a heavy thick wind. I saw in my eyes millions of people running and amazingly a heavy light shown on the earth. The light was so brighter that no tiny substance cannot be revealed. I saw also some small groups of people standing at far side. I heard that the runners were the perishers people and the standers were the saved people. It was very dangerous.

There are many more revelations and mystries in additions to these that Lord has given unto me for which I need to tell. I am being compelled by the spirit to move from schools to schools, churches to churches to churches and every where to alert people about the second coming of Christ.

Please I want how best you can help me reach the message to a lot of people and God would richly bless because I feel within me that Jesus is at hand.

By God's grace, I have converted some my three sisters who were muslim into Christians. and I hope the rest would see the light before God comes.

Thank you

Abubakar Ibrahim

Ghana Kumasi


DON WROTE:

Hello Abubakar,

From what you have written in your WRAP, it appears that, like Peter, God has revealed to you that Jesus is His Only Begotten Son and that in Him alone is the gift of eternal life!

Matthew 16:
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

As we noticed in the WRAP above,  the "rock" Jesus was talking about was the heavenly revelation that Peter had received concerning Christ Jesus–the same revelation that all must have to be a part of the Lord's CHURCH!  Furthermore, this "revelation" should be only the beginning of our experiences with God.

I Corinthians 6:
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Romans 8:
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.

However, as we begin our walk with Christ, we need to be aware that the Bible commands us to try the Spirits to be sure that they are of the Lord!

I John 4:
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

I bring these Scriptures to light because it seems that you want to work the Muslim community for Christ.  If so, then  I'm sure that you are aware that there are those Muslims that would seem to honor Jesus by accepting Him as a great prophet–but just not quite as great as their Mohammed.  This is in no way the Christ Jesus of the Bible Who in Eternity past was One with the Father, Who came to the earth by being born of a virgin that had been impregnated by the Holy Spirit, Who chose to experience all that we experience down here that He might be the Savior of "whosoever will", Who died the death of the Cross wherein He took the sin of all in His body that He might be able to forgive all believers of all things.  The Bible puts it like this:

Acts 4:
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders [the Jews], which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Let me close with the words to one of the songs that the Lord gave my family

THAT DAY

1)  THAT DAY HIS HEART WAS FILLED WITH SORROW:
HIS SOUL WAS ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF.
THAT DAY THE WORLD HANG IN BALANCE
AS HE HUNG ON THE CROSS LIKE A THIEF.
THAT DAY HE WAS FILLED WITH COM - PAS - SION
AND HIS HEART BURST WITH THE PAIN
AND HIS BLOOD RAN FORTH LIKE A FOUN - TAIN
A FALLEN WORLD TO RE - CLAIM.

(bridge) THAT DAY.
SINNER GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES AND THANK GOD FOR THAT DAY
AND A GOD THAT WOULD SEND HIS SON IN THAT WAY.
SINNER, THANK GOD FOR THAT DAY.

2)  THAT DAY RECORDED IN THE ANNALS
AS A DAY OF SIN AND INFAMY.
THAT DAY THE WORLD KNEW NO JUSTICE
AS THE JUSTIFIER HUNG ON A TREE.
THAT DAY MANY WERE ASTONISHED
AT HIS VISAGE SO MARRED WITH THE PAIN
AND THE WORLD KNEW ITS CRUELEST HOUR
AS HE SUFFERED AND DIED WITH OUR SHAME.

@Don Love Ministries, 1982
http://www.doweknow.com
Click on Singers of Heart

My prayer for you is that Christ Jesus will become all things to you and that you will learn to serve Him as did Peter and Paul. 

Thanks for WRAPping with us.

Maranatha,

Don

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