[TheRealThing]

You are using the usual Baptist line. That is fine. You may be right. But, I'd still like to hear your opinion on the issues raised in my earlier post concerning the social atmosphere of most churches. I get the idea that we are all worthless parasites.

To be perfectly honest with you Truth, I am not aware of any posts you have made with regard to the social atmosphere in most Churches.

But, let me explain my position according to the gist of your 'quoted' post as I perceive it.

In order for man to choose to submit to God's authority, he would necessarily need an alternative from which to choose, correct? On the one hand we can choose to sort of do things like Frank Sinatra, my way. On the other, we can choose to repent before God, throwing ourselves on His tender mercies thanks to the gift of our Lord's substitutionary death on the cross.

Our lifeline to our Lord, that being our conscience, is a gift as well. God speaks to all through the conscience, revealing His presence and the need for all men to approach Him through repentance and faith. Hence, when we do things that are wrong, our conscience alarm goes off and we feel guilt, especially where our relationship to Him (or lack of it) is concerned. For example, I have never met a man that did not intend to make things right with God at some point during his life. All men fall into one of two groups, the saved or the lost. Since all men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, all of those who are saved derive from among those who are not. The irony I have spoken about is the fact that even though some men are saved, they still share an unhappy trait with those who are not. They still sin, and their nature is still sinful even though the Lord's shed blood covers that sin and though His righteousness is imputed to the saved at the time of their conversion.

The Church was instituted by Christ Himself as modeled in the Book of Acts. There we see the operation of the local Church. The answer for whom then is worthy to come, is found in Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV)
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

So, if the Churches you cite are acting in a way that discourages people in any way from seeking Christ, they're 100% wrong. However, at the judgment each man is judged according to only one qualifier where it comes to salvation. That being whether or not one has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Christian then, will either receive a reward or they will lose their reward depending on their level of faithfulness and obedience. Men do judge each other though they are in no case worthy to do so as John 3:16 (KJV) reveals,
"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." Churches' social atmosphere not withstanding.