É inegável a relevância do trabalho realizado pelas ecclesiastical businesses, ou estruturas a elas assemelhadas, em função da Igreja, Corpo de Cristo, nesses últimos (aproximadamente) mil anos: apesar de episódios absolutamente abjetos como, por exemplo, a Inquisição, foram as ações de diversas Igrejas que mantiveram as pedras caladas e funcionando como instrumento do próprio Senhor Deus para preservar e difundir as Escrituras.
Contudo, é precisamente nesse solo árido e institucional que, por vezes, Deus faz brotar uma esperança inesperada.
The great problem with any millennial cycle is that humankind adapts to it in such a way that it simply cannot accept its end: the paradox to highlight arises from those who claim to believe in God—both Jews and Christians, especially their priests—and simply refuse to believe when the time comes to put into practice the prophecies recorded in the Scriptures!
In fact, it is quite difficult to separate the Church from ecclesiastical businesses, and there is no suitable term by which we can refer to them without sounding derogatory, such as social club, religious club, or other similar term.
It is also painful when we begin to see the reality of that environment—once considered sacred—which, according to commercial terms, functions to generate profits, competes directly and fiercely with other franchises distributing equivalent products, alters (or sometimes even completely abandons) the raw material to adapt to consumer preferences, and, in the face of the pandemic, is completely and servilely subservient to Caesar's orders.
O Inquérito Do Pastor Neopentecostal
A decade ago, I was going through a whirlwind in my personal life, and even before my understanding of the separation between Church and work was fully consolidated, I received the following message from an avowedly neo-Pentecostal pastor:
Goodnight friend!
I visited your website and found the topics covered and the study materials very interesting.
I am a pastor of a "neo-Pentecostal" church, but I am here to, first of all, congratulate you on your firm and direct stance. I know that your opinion regarding "this class" of churches is not favorable.
Please know that I respect your opinion and even agree with much of your point of view. I'm not here to criticize you, but I would like you to answer a question, if that's not too much trouble. I realize that you are not a fool manipulated by the pseudo-ecclesiastical system of this era, and that is why I am addressing you to ask you to share your spiritual perspective.
Okay, let's get down to business. Correct me if I've misunderstood; the brother mentioned that he doesn't attend any church, he doesn't belong to any denomination. If that's the case, how do you interpret the following text?
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Please don't misunderstand me. I'm being sincere; my intention is simply to know your opinion, as I found it interesting to see things from a new perspective.
Thank you, Peace.
Como geralmente pinto de vermelho tudo aquilo que é suspeito ou duvidoso, na época, na publicação original, cheguei a fazer isso, mas agora me limitei a misturar um tom ligeiramente amarelo por questão de diferenciação e para alertar que essas não são minhas próprias palavras.
A verdade é que achei muito estranho o fato de um pastor assumidamente neopentecostal se aproximar com aparente sinceridade e, ainda por cima, apresentar uma questão válida.
Bastante incrédulo diante de tamanha simplicidade, decidi responder conforme apresento a seguir:
A Resposta E A Esperança Inesperada
Hello, pastor!
First, I will present something that is not of my own creation, but to which I will add later. See Mário Persona's explanation:
Your question is about Hebrews 10:25?
When we talk about leaving the denominational system, this doesn't mean leaving to be alone, but rather to gather together in the way the Bible shows us, that is, only in the name of the Lord and on the foundation that there is only one body (and not many bodies divided by different names).
Therefore, it's not about ceasing to congregate, but about congregating.
However, when we understand that the denominational system is a perversion of God's original plan for the Church, we have a responsibility to separate ourselves from it. Insofar as we understand that the system created by men divides believers by names and does not recognize the Head, who is Christ—placing their own heads as popes, church presidents, etc.—we must obey what is said in [the Gospel/Philippians]. 2ⁿᵈ Timothy 2:19"Whoever names the name of Christ must turn away from iniquity.".
O versículo em Hebrews 10:25 deixa claro que não devemos deixar de nos congregar, porém 2ⁿᵈ Timothy 2:19 nos exorta a sairmos do meio daqueles que estão se reunindo em desacordo com a Palavra, porém PARA NOS REUNIRMOS com aqueles que, de coração puro, invocam o Senhor (1ˢᵗ Timothy 2:22).
Portanto, não é errado deixarmos uma congregação que esteja em iniquidade.
A Palavra de Deus nos mostra isso.
Today, there is much talk about: "go to a church where the Word of God is preached," and this is a deception, because there are many places where the Word of God is preached by servants of Satan, as happens among Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons, who deny the divinity of Christ.
Suponhamos que um cristão esteja reunindo‑se em um lugar onde as pessoas clamam “Senhor, Senhor!”, onde profetizam em nome do Senhor Jesus, onde expulsam demônios em nome do Senhor, onde fazem muitas maravilhas em nome do Senhor… será isso suficiente para essa pessoa continuar se reunindo ali?
Leia em Matthew 7:22-23 the answer to this question (read also Revelation 18:4).
O Modelo Apostólico Sem Grilhões
Vejamos o exemplo do apóstolo Paulo, cujas cartas e epístolas compõem mais da metade do Novo Testamento e são a melhor base para se estabelecer uma congregação: sem dúvida ele fazia parte de todas as Igrejas às quais escreveu, mas ninguém pode afirmar que ele era “membro” desta ou daquela, pois a verdadeira Igreja é o Corpo de Cristo e nunca uma empresa eclesiástica que segue o modelo empresarial secular para se tornar, através do CNPJ, uma espécie de parceira / propriedade submissa a César.
E na mesma hora, levantando-se, tornaram para Jerusalém, e acharam congregados os onze, e os que estavam com eles.
“They found them gathered together,” there, at that moment… and that congregation even included “those who were with them,” that is, whoever was there in communion (saddened by the crucifixion, grieving, people offering condolences…).
This implies that we cannot consider the "congregation" here as forming an ecclesiastical structure, but rather as the gathering, in communion, of those who loved the Lord Jesus Christ.
A Espontaneidade Do Congregar Bíblico
So the apostles and elders gathered together to consider this matter.
In this example we have almost a "board meeting", but it still doesn't characterize an ecclesiastical structure in the way we've become accustomed to seeing it.
If, therefore, the whole church comes together in one place and all speak in tongues, and some who are uninformed or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
The conditional "if" in this passage indicates that the entire church did NOT ALWAYS meet in just one place.
Let us now examine the passage you quoted in greater detail:
O Limite Da Tolerância Com O Sistema
Let us draw near with true hearts, in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water,
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,
antes admoestando-nos uns aos outros;
And all the more so as you see that day drawing near.
LEARN THE GREEK WORD αλλα IN
“CLOSING CYCLES“
The main issue here, incredibly enough, is not exactly that of the congregation itself, but that of admonition — "BUT rather, admonishing one another...", that is, priority — to the brothers and sisters whose hearts are no longer so pure, to the brothers and sisters whose "confession of hope" is no longer so firm, to the brothers and sisters in whom love and good works no longer have their true meaning.
If you got around to reading my story, He saw that I fought as long as I could: I even contacted the Baptist convention… but then very important biblical recommendations emerged that also cannot be disregarded:
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler.;
with that one, do not even eat.
(…)
Avoid a heretical man after admonishing him once or twice.,
knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned.
Ora, se a maior parte dos que estão congregando em uma determinada empresa eclesiástica é composta por pessoas que fingem conhecer a verdade, submetendo-se a rituais sem fulcro nas Escrituras por razões como:
- O interesse nas vantagens prometidas pelos estelionatários espirituais;
- O medo servil de ir para o inferno;
- A necessidade de construir e manter uma aparência de piedade;
- A crença de que a frequência em alguma reunião pseudoespiritual é como a coleção de pedacinhos de um quebra-cabeças a ser completo e utilizado como ingresso, na hour of death, to enter heaven…
E se, somado a isso, até mesmo os líderes / proprietários se colocam como inquestionáveis e inerrantes, a despeito de seu envolvimento em corrupção bíblica, moral, sexual ou financeira…
What fellowship can a genuine Christian have with these people?!
What good is it to participate in services full of "social" and "psychological" aspects, but devoid of the true Word of God?!
In my case, faithfulness to the Word and love for the Lord God above ALL things ended up making me a very heavy stone.
The business method dictates that any inconvenient employee, regardless of whether they are right, should be fired: since a company can't simply do that, the pastor started to "ruin my reputation" until at a certain point I came to be seen, even within the "religious family" that had known me since birth, as "the rebel," "the arrogant one"...
O Estigma De Ser Chamado Anticristo
Contrary to any and all supposed pastoral ethics, I will never forget the Sunday morning when that man used the pulpit to correlate my behavior in such a way as to, in the end, call me the "antichrist"!!
Now, those who distort the Word of God with pretexts such as "creating a better social environment," "increasing self-esteem," "creating a better world"... or for any other reason that leads them to throw out the wheat in order to fill a temple with tares, are against Christ!
It is regrettable to hear people claiming that attendance at meetings promoted by ecclesiastical organizations is essential for anyone to "remain steadfast with God," especially since these same people are unable to dissociate the Lord God and the Truth of the Scriptures from these organizations and the rituals—often completely secular, full of useless politically correct virtues and, eventually, even profane!—promoted by them.
These are probably the ones who, faced with a situation like mine, would immediately turn away from everything and run off into the "world," because they have never truly known the Lord God and need to live being guided by a path of repeated rituals of false edification, in which they never come to know for themselves the real power of the Word that liberates!
Those who are always learning,
but they can never come to a knowledge of the truth.
I confess that even I don't know why I'm so stubborn, so annoying, and unable to "relax" and distance myself from the Truth: I've lost and continue to lose would-be friends, and I could have a much more active social life if I learned to remove the Word of God from my mind and silence it from my mouth.
For the same reason, I know that I miss many opportunities to earn money by speaking for various church franchises, instead only talking about the parts of Scripture that suit them.
In fact, it was only after being ostracized from the evangelical community that I discovered that many of those with whom I thought I had fraternal ties were only "brothers" in name only, and didn't even have the decency to pay a visit... from 2005 until today!
In truth, it took me a while to understand that this distancing might be due to fear, because I lack a solid argument based on Scripture to refute the expositions I make, but… what good is this theatrical Christianity of pure falsehood?
De que adianta investir num processo do mais puro “convívio social” se, no momento em que alguém não obedecer às ordens de Faraó — para se curvar perante a estátua de Nabucodonosor ou receber um atestado individual de irracional submissão absoluta ao governo —, os próprios membros dessa comunidade serão os primeiros a denunciar?!
Obviamente me seria muito mais confortável estar participando de dancinhas ou sentado num banco de igreja para ficar ouvindo mensagens sem questionar nem comparar com a Bíblia do que ter que meditar nas Escrituras de dia e noite, buscando vivê-las na prática: não sei porque Deus me quis para isso!
A Ética Do Evangelho No Limão
I think I'm already saying too much and, without lying, it strikes me as odd that you, a self-proclaimed neo-Pentecostal pastor, are questioning this topic so civilly: others who have done so have come armed with arrogance and firing threats, leading me to an automatically acidic reaction.
Your upbringing gave me no reason to treat you harshly, and I'm presenting you with a point of view that wasn't exactly what I intended, because in this conversation I ended up discovering that I never strayed from... Church — true body of Christ — and I continue to strive to fulfill the New Testament order — warning beforehand! — throughout all this time, faithful first and foremost to Lord God — which reveals Himself through His Word — and willing to love Him above all other things, whatever they may be, to the very end.
Espero que não se ire contra mim e mantenha um comportamento verdadeiramente cristão, pois ao contrário de muitos outros pastores e líderes falsos que a mim se dirigiram, sua questão foi pertinente e seu tratamento, educado.
O fato de ser “neopentecostal” não o desqualifica, pois mesmo que se apresentasse como “batista tradicional”, ainda assim não adiantaria de muita coisa: ser cristão é viver pela Palavra; o resto é tudo representação de franquia… ou bandeira de time!
Grace and peace be with you!
Tudo O Que Vai… (O Eco Da Verdade No Deserto)
I confess that I sent these words, but I was expecting the disappointment of a reply containing one of the typical tantrums I've become accustomed to receiving, but instead I received one of the most sincere and moving messages I've ever received, see:
The peace of Christ be with you, my friend.
I am contacting you again to thank you for the care with which you handled my question.
Your response is consistent and led me to a reflection that, so far, has left me thoughtful: there is no way to refute statements that are supported by the very Word of God!
I have to admit that there is a lot of ignorance in the evangelical community today, just as I cannot pretend that the current church is pure and unleavened.
However, I believe that God Himself, through His Word and His Spirit, is amassing an army committed to the truth that will unmask the commercial deceptions that have infiltrated the heart of the church, so that we may once again see the difference between those who serve God and those who do not.
Well, what I've stated above is what I think... and far be it from me to judge your stance, since your words make me rethink all my concepts.
And don't be surprised that a "neo-Pentecostal" pastor would ask you such a question (the one I asked earlier). Believe me: the category of pastors with the least biblical knowledge is precisely this one, because, for the most part, neo-Pentecostal pastors are "made by the knife," that is, they only learn to use persuasive techniques and to run campaigns that keep people going in circles.
I myself have never taken a biblical or theological course: in the ministry where I am a minister, no aspiring minister receives biblical training; we only receive spiritual “tips” on how to bless people. If today I possess a little theological or biblical knowledge, it is because I occupy myself with reading… in truth, I have always desired to grow in the knowledge of God.
Well, that's it. Once again, thank you for your respectful and kind attention to me.
God bless us.
Faced with such sincerity, I truly came to love this person like a real brother… even if I never get to meet him in person.
I decided to address a few more words to you:
…Tem Volta! (Uma Fidelidade Superior À Instituição)
I give glory to the Lord God for your life, for your humility, and for your sincerity!!!
It is not the franchise of your ecclesiastical business that will make me dismiss you as a brother, and by declaring that you seek biblical sanity for your life, you have proven not only that you are a brother, but that the Lord God has given you something that many others are completely unaware of: the desire to truly know Him!
Be prepared, because if you continue this way, you will very soon run the risk of being punished by your leadership: there are many who have contacted me to say that, when questioning biblically some conflict between Scripture and "denominational views," they were simply removed from their positions… some were even taken off the pulpit in the middle of their sermon… are you ready for that?
Despite my latent happiness, it is not I who will glorify anyone for their faithfulness… it will be the Lord God himself!
I know your works, your tribulation, and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Fear nothing of those things which thou shalt suffer.
Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested;
And you will have tribulation for ten days.
Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The one who wins will not suffer the harm of the second death.
Whenever you feel the need to talk about the Word of God, I will be available to you, and you can be sure that I will be praying for you.
May the Lord God protect and bless you!
O Teste Do Tempo: Uma Década Depois…
Incredibly, the reason I chose to revisit this publication was because, given the consolidation of apostasy, time has not only confirmed its veracity but has made it even more relevant and current than when it was originally produced: rereading it moved me, because even though my understanding has been honed over time, I saw that—despite all the discomfort I felt in confronting the "pastoral authorities"—none of the concepts I presented need correction.
That's because those words don't contain my personal opinions, but rather knowledge solidly grounded in Scripture.
But... what about the pastor?
I decided to rummage through my inbox, found your address, and, despite feeling completely awkward, decided to get in touch after all this time—especially considering, after this whole pandemic, the possibility of never seeing you again—and ask what happened after our conversation.
The answer, which I share with you below, couldn't be more wonderful:
Six years have passed since I left the International Church of the Grace of God: having launched myself into the "ministry" in January 1999, I broke with it in January 2016. I still clearly remember everything I experienced there and I am grateful to God for the life of Teóphilo Noturno and for his boldness in publishing what opened my eyes to the truth I was unaware of.
Today, in February 2022, I live a simple life, working to support my family with a salary that is far from what I was used to at the institution, but I don't regret my radical attitude... because it was one of the best decisions I've ever made: it was a very well thought-out and calculated decision!
Obviously, I was very afraid to abandon a 17-year career, to which I had dedicated myself since I was very young, when I didn't even have work experience yet: I feared for my family, for my children… but even so, I couldn't continue insisting on what, for me, was clearly proving to be a huge mistake.
I spent years leading people on a circular journey, without direction or meaning, of campaign after campaign, sacrifice after sacrifice.
This needed to stop.
The leadership didn't understand the reason for the change in my thinking, but my departure from the institution was peaceful. Even my colleagues didn't understand, although some of them had already shown distrust regarding what we were teaching.
Today my life of faith is more solid and fulfilling than when I had the entire pulpit to myself: the pressure of demanding financial results no longer exists!
The guilty conscience for having harmed people is nothing more than a mere memory that sometimes comes back to haunt me because I can't undo everything I've done... but now it's within my power to do everything differently, and that's what I'm doing!
It has been a long time since I set foot in a church, and I can't say that I meet frequently with people of the same faith, but I can say with certainty that I haven't given up on a life with God and I seek to live my spiritual life spontaneously.
The impact of my decision resulted in an awakening in my family members—my siblings and my mother—who no longer attend church, but are constantly seeking more knowledge in the Word.
Now, looking back, I'm amazed to see that simple, straightforward posts on a website were the starting point for an entire transformation that forever changed the spiritual perception of a whole family.
I am simply grateful.
A Profecia Contra O Mercado Religioso
Some people are scandalized, disbelieved, or seek to discredit my work because I haven't attended any of the current church-club-style temples for over seventeen years. However, no one has ever been able to biblically prove that ecclesiastical businesses are the only possible and eternal format for the Church's existence. On the contrary, there is an important recorded prophecy about the fate of these structures, whose end of journey is exactly the opposite of the true Body of Christ:
Just as there were false prophets among the people in the past, so there will be false teachers among you.,
who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even to the point of denying the Sovereign who redeemed them,
bringing sudden destruction upon themselves.
Many will follow his false teachings and libertine practices.,
And because of these people, there will be defamation against the Way of Truth.
Driven by sordid greed, these masters will exploit them with their legends and tricks.
However, their condemnation has long hung over them, and their destruction is already underway.
— That's a very good passage, isn't it, Teóphilo? She's certainly referring to neo-Pentecostal pastors and faith-based swindlers!
Unfortunately not, dear reader.
I feel pain and revisit my discomfort from a decade ago—because there are men I admire bearing the title of pastor, and it would be very convenient for me to be able to create exceptions to the prophecies—at having the obligation to record that anyone who presents themselves as a scholar—or, even worse, a bastion or bulwark—of Theology and does not have the capacity to distinguish between the Church and ecclesiastical businesses or the sincerity to preach about it… unfortunately, they are also nothing more than one of the false teachers mentioned in the prophecy above.
This guy talks about predestination, puts photos next to quotes, sells thousands of books… but continues to preach the link between salvation and participation in church-related events?!?
O Dogma Da Dependência Institucional
I saw a quote on social media — complete with a photo of the "pastor-author" in the background and everything! — and I took the liberty of bringing it here, unadorned and "unwrapped," for analysis:
SE A Church é o Corpo de Cristo, ENTÃO Quem não frequenta uma ecclesiastical enterprise é um corpo sem cabeça
It's possible that some sound doctrine still exists in the company the author manages, but by posting stupid things like this on the internet, he is simply deceiving, mocking, and embarrassing people—like the former pastor brother presented here—so that they return to the synagogues of Satan from which they were once freed…
The problem is that if any religious entrepreneur preaches against ecclesiastical institutions, even those that are known to have ceased to be churches, he risks being exposed for his own errors and, consequently, losing the regular income generated by the domesticated and silenced attendees of his franchise, which, without openly declaring it, he presents as the most correct and perfect of all, or, according to the reasoning developed here, the only "true church".
Have cessationists become so radical that they can no longer believe in God's supernatural power to save people, and have come to believe that they themselves are merely the agents of Grace?
Is preaching the Scriptures not enough?
Doesn't faith come from hearing the Word of God?
Who convinces the sinner of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment?
Who adds to the Church?
A Verdadeira Missão Do Corpo De Cristo
Any Christian can — and should! — be a seed that multiplies the Truth, seeking to grow in understanding the Truth, being humble enough to recognize and correct their mistakes, and bold enough to share their knowledge until all brothers and sisters reach spiritual maturity.
The act of placing oneself in an unquestionable and unreachable position, taking tithes and offerings To keep an entire community submissive and dependent solely on its own understanding for as long as possible—usually for entire lifetimes—is not love: it is merely convenience, cowardice, and parasitism!
You, all the animals of the field, all the animals of the forest, come and eat.
All their watchmen are blind, they know nothing;
They are all mute dogs, they cannot bark;
They are asleep, they are lying down, and they enjoy sleeping.
And these dogs are greedy, they can never get enough;
and they are shepherds who understand nothing;
all of them se tornam para o seu caminho,
Each one for their own greed, each one for their own part.
Come, they say, let us get wine and drink strong drink;
And tomorrow will be like today, only more abundant.
I know very well that, amidst so much apostasy, it is up to genuine Christians to prioritize preaching the true gospel and reaching those hearts ready to accept and surrender to the Truth: this, without a doubt, is the true mission!
We don't need to dream about virtue signals from great adventures in Africa when right here, within the churches, we find even pastors in need of and asking to know more about the Word: we should also have compassion for them and, through our efforts—I, for example, publish on the World Wide Web as long as possible—try to edify them through the exposition of the Scriptures.
Conclusão: O Trigo Em Meio Ao Oceano De Joio
All the content above is a real example, where the humility and sincerity of the sender both moved me and proved to me that there is still some hope — never for a “new reform”"—, making me seriously reflect on the following passage:
And John answered him, saying:
Master, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and he does not follow us;
And we forbade him, because he does not follow us.
But Jesus said:
Do not forbid him, for no one who does a miracle in my name can soon afterward speak evil of me.
Because whoever is not against us is for us.
Indeed, while for over a millennium ecclesiastical enterprises were the best representation of the Church, it seems that few prepared for the time when they would succumb, contaminated by apostasy and defaming the Way of Truth.
Nevertheless, in accordance with Christ's words in the passage above, I dare not call for a movement aspiring to its end, for, although a necessary evil and even with serious distortions, they still mention the name of Christ.
Without a doubt, in the midst of this ocean of tares, it is our responsibility to exercise patience, endure attacks, and—replicating (without any pretense of dominance) the simplicity of the seed that was planted within ourselves—make room so that the wheat may receive the Light!
Thank you for reading this far, and I truly need any help you can offer: comments, shares, and reactions help spread this content, which was produced with the intention of contributing to the edification of the Body of Christ in the world.
A shortened and easy-to-remember link to this post is:
https://cutt.ly/inesperada
FRONT MAINTENANCE
Theology is free, but the infrastructure to keep it alive against the tide of the gospel industry has its costs. This project rejects sponsors and automated ads so as not to pollute your reading with profane content.
If this content has strengthened your faith—or angered the righteous heretics—and you wish to see this collection grow, use the option below. It's safe, straightforward, and maintains the independence of this voice.
The content of this dedicated space is intended for various possible communications, such as polls to determine the next "“Debates with Intelligenc-AI”...and any other subjects not directly related to the Gospel: this purple box will be gradually added to articles and studies as they are revised and will present the same message in all of them, but always updated: what you are reading now may already be totally different from what was here last week.
If you want to know the full history, my intention is to keep it recorded in Threads… follow me there!
Paraphrasing the apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:23-24May grace and peace be with us all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, now and forever!
Português do Brasil 
English 
Español de Argentina