[Faith-talk] FW: [masterslist] Fw: Author tells fellow believers to "Quit Going to Church'

[Eric Calhoun]

I don't agree with this; what do you say?


Original Message: 
From: "Allan Thompson" <allan1.thompson at cox.net>
To: <masterslist at yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [masterslist] Fw: Author tells fellow believers to "Quit Going
to Church'
Date: 
Fri, 13 Apr 2012 22:07:18 -0400

Author tells fellow believers to 'Quit Going to Church'Thought this was
interesting.
al


"The truth will set you free"
Jesus Christ of Nazareth 33A.D.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: ANS at Assist-Ministries.com 
To: USASSIST at sheperd.com 
Sent: Friday, April 13, 2012 8:21 PM
Subject: Author tells fellow believers to "Quit Going to Church'


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      Friday, April 13, 2012 

      Author tells fellow believers to 'Quit Going to Church'

      By Tonya Whitaker, Inside The Pew
      Special to ASSIST News Service 
      PLANO, TX (ANS) -- Bob Hostetler has a message for Christians -
quit going to church.

              
            Bob Hostetler
           
      He also tells us to quit saying prayers, quit reading your Bible,
quit volunteering, quit enjoying fellowship, and so on. 

      Hostetler, co-founder of Cobblestone Community Church in Oxford,
Ohio, uses the Bible to explain why Christians should improve in these
areas in his latest release, "Quit Going To Church." (ISBN
978-0-915547-70-8, $14.99, 224 pages, Leafwood Publishers). 

      While all these requests sound a bit far-fetched, think again. This
thought-provoking and "pull-off-the-gloves" book is based on the premise
that much of how we think and act, a great percentage of what we do today
as church-going people, bears a slight resemblance to the way of Jesus and
"the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3 NIV). 

      The title of the book and its subsequent chapters issue an
eyebrow-raising challenge, showing how many of us have misunderstood and
distorted the good news of Jesus and replaced Christianity with something
else. 

      For instance, in the chapter "Quit Going To Church," he points out
that Christians should "stop going to church and start being a church" that
resembles the one in Acts 2. What should a church look like? Hostetler said
it should be holy ("spirituality" and "being the church"), catholic
("universal" and "all of us together"), and apostolic ("based on the
teachings of the apostles" and "provide gift-based leadership").
Furthermore, Hostetler tells readers to shy from the long held notion by
some that going to church makes you a Christian. This portion of
Hostetler's book takes me to James 2:14-26, when James talks about faith
and deeds. What are you doing to fulfill Christ's kingdom Monday through
Saturday? 

      Hostetler contends Christians should quit tithing because the
practice is misrepresented in today's church. Everything we have belongs to
God. Therefore, if you truly understand the New Testament church, 10
percent or any portion that man constitutes as tithing is incorrect. Jesus
wants His people to surrender all to Him. Not 10 percent, but 100 percent.
Everything! (Luke 14: 25-34). 

      As I read more, I stumbled into another nugget that made me nod my
head in agreement. Hostetler tells believers to quit helping the poor and
unite with them. The author boldly says, "When Jesus said, 'You will always
have poor among you (John 12:8 NIV), he meant, 'among you.' Not 'on your
drive to the office' . Not 'in shelters,' . or in neighborhoods far from
your community. He meant among you." 

      Sadly, some have swayed from the Christ's roadmap for His church.
Hostetler is attempting to convey in "Quit Going to Church" that traditions
and customs were not a part of first century Christianity and it should not
have a place in the 21st century church. This straightforward title has
nothing to do with "denomination" or who is right or wrong. But, if you
believe in Him with all your heart, you would adhere to Christ's vision for
His church. 

      Learn more about Hostetler at www.bobhostetler.com. To purchase
this book, visit http://www.bible.acu.edu/leafwood/pg.asp?ID=180. 



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      Tonya Whitaker of Plano, Texas, is a former newspaper journalist
and copy editor. She is managing editor of Inside The Pew
(www.insidethepew.net), a nonprofit online magazine. Follow Tonya on
Twitter @twhitaker1974 and @pewtalk. 


       


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