First off you can't pick and choose parts of the bible to follow which every church does,not just Celebration. I know Mason and he's a showboating,immature kid who thinks he knows what he is talking about bc his dad is a leader of a large congregation. If you are going to follow at least the principles laid out in the Bible and be ""christ-like"", publically slighting the commander and chief of our nation is against Jesus's teachings. \r
Pastor Joe doesn't like people messing up his image...or his money. Anyone who expresses their opinion negatively towards the church in any way on their own facebook/myspace/etc is banished from ever returning to the church until its removed. I've seen this happen because I was ""plugged in"" to their ministry school for 3 months. I was at the staff meetings and Joe went so far as to tell us how he told this woman never to come back because of what she wrote(which i read and really wasnt all that awful.) Im sorry but WTF?! You don't tell ANYONE to not come to church...what happened to compassion?understanding?Being open-hearted? If we are in fact ""stewards"" and everything given lent to us is a blessing of God to serve Him...then that church is NOT Joe's and he has no effin right (but apparently the over-grown BALLS) to tell someone they cant come into God's House? It seems as though someone has a mean power trip that needs to be stopped, it sounds like someone has a God-complex to me. \r
If Mason can talk all kinds of mess about someone elected to office then why cant someone express their dislike for something a pastor said? Completely ludicrous. The best thing I did was leave that church. It's a cult. 1 person has a voice and uses it when something doesn't sit well with them...they are silenced by the rest of the sheep.\r
Speaking in tongues? Paul wrote a whole chapter on blasphemers claiming to ""speak in tongues."" You can't just say God is speaking through you as you weild, same w/ miracles...the youth pastor calls out kids in the crowd claiming that they are healed from ailments on the spot. God isnt a genie that you rub & he comes out to do your wishes. IT'S HIS WILL NOT URS. \r
People are looking for answers and just like any vice to fill a void, church can be one of those. just like a drug. you'll fight to get your drug...and justify its use. you'll fight when someone questions why you do it and that its wrong. i have seen staff and long-term members turn very cruel to people who have just innocently questioned Celebration's practices why do you have to fight so hard Celebrators? are you really so threatened because there is truth in what people outside your little church culture say?\r
Im sorry but I take this personally...My God loves all of me. My good my bad and my ugly...and when you don't love,accept & do the same for other HUMAN BEINGS...then don't claim to be anything like Him. You are insulting Him.You aren't to judge, you arent to tell people how God views them because of their actions, you are not to shame,guilt,banish anyone for their human nature. If someone asks you for help, you give them your hands and feet...not regurgitated verses proving that they are ""less than"" because they screwed up and they need to repent and claim God before the masses.\r
You claim its a ""personal relationship"" people are lacking. Celebration...you can't provide that for people. You can't tell people how to do it or tell them they're doing it wrong if it doesnt mirror your Joe and Lori's oh so intimate relationships with our Lord and Saviour.Its freakin' personal, \r
Celebration is NOT the bride of Christ. Its a building. There are people who will never truely feel the full unconditional,accepting love and binding of God's heart to our because of that ridiculous ""church."" And I am sorry for that.
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