The Power of the Christian Church

The Early Christian Church was the most powerful community of healing and growth that the world has ever known!

It was in 1969 that I heard an agnostic Psychologist make this statement. I was tremendously shocked and inspired.

It was the former head of the American Psychological Assoc. that said it; Dr. O.H. Mowrer. 

I left the conference after hearing this statement dedicated to regaining the same status of growth and healing that existed in the Early Church.

We do everything that Jesus taught and Early Church practiced. As a result, miracles occur, Christians are empowered and people are healed. Not only that, society is impacted because of the salt and light from great churches small and large.

Support our vision and passion going because it is from God.

Gary Sweeten

Why Is Christianity Stronger than we Thought?

The article I posted last suggested that, despite our perceptions, faith in God and Jesus Christ seems to be vigorous and healthy in the USA. I wonder why we are so surprised. Let me guess. Please add your own ideas.

Statistics about church attendance count every denomination and congregation. That includes many old line churches that are dying so the stats may look different than they really are.

Church history seems to indicate that two factors are important in promoting Christian or Church growth.

1. An emphasis on the Fundamentals of the Faith. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Changed lives morally and ethically to match the new life Christians have in Christ.

2. An ability to change with the cultural shifts in music, attire, means of communication, language and styles. New generations require new music and new ways to dress and communicate.

Key Point: Growing churches must have modern ways of meeting people where they are without losing their strong commitment to the fundamentals of the faith. 

If either is lost the church will die.

In today's world, styles and communication can change rapidly so churches must change rapidly. 

Support Sweeten Life Systems, We equip leaders to accomplish both of these factors.

Christianity is Strong In America! Are You Shocked?

This report from Rasmussen is quite encouraging, especially in light of the naysayers who think Christianity is dying in the old USA. It is changing but not dying. 

While Easter is not the most important holiday of the year for the majority of Americans, most plan on attending a church service to honor it. 

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of American Adults continue to regard Easter, the day Christians believe marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ, as one of our nation’s most important holidays. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 12% think it’s among the least important holidays, while 46% place it somewhere in between. 

See Rasmussen Reports for more on this story!

Two-out-of-three Americans still believe the central tenets of Christianity, that Jesus Christ was the son of God who was resurrected on Easter Day.

Power of Forgiveness

The Wall Street Journal has a good article about forgiveness that can reach many unchurched people and Christians during Holy Week. It mentions how many older people, especially females, suffer from depression but that being forgiven sets them free.

As a Minister and Counselor it has been my experience that many sad, anxious and depressed people suffer from a lack of good teaching about the value of gaining a clear mind and a clear conscience.

Why do so few Churches teach about confession and forgiveness? It might be because few Protestants actually have tradition of interpersonal confession. Despite its grounding in the Bible, I have rarely heard it taught or seen it practiced in my 7 decades of church attendance. And, we know that most church leaders hate to change even if God tells them to change.

"Why do you call me Lord, Lord and refuse to do what I tell you". Great question.

You can learn a lot more and help yourself and others by buying my e book Breaking Free. It is your choice.

Gary Sweeten

Healing the Body Through Confession 4

Because of the cross we can be forgiven and we can forgive others. Both bring healing to the soul and freedom to the body. 

5 I acknowledged my sin to thee,
    and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my trangressions to the Lord”;
    then thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin.Selah

He Touched Me!

Shackled by a heavy burden

Neath a load of guilt and shame.

Then the hand of Jesus touched me,

And now I am no longer the same.

He touched me!

Oh, He touched me,

And oh the joy that fills my soul.

Something happened and now I know

He touched me and made me whole!

When was the first time Jesus touched you?

When was the last time?

Blessings and Power as He touches you today

Gary Sweeten

Healing the Body With Confession 4

When I declared not my sin, my body wasted away

    through my groaning all day long.

4 

The description of what can happen when we try to cover it up is close to that which Therapists see treat.

Groaning sounds like depression and wailing about inner pain. It is a guilty conscience begging to come up and be confessed and healed. Sin in the dark multiplies inner pain like a flu virus. Only walking in the light of open confession and forgiveness can bring an end to the pain. 

For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me;

    my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer

Here David reveals that he knows it is God that has him under conviction. His conscience is constantly at war with his soul because God's convicting hand was upon him.

David was weak and could barely move because the guilt and shame brought him low in remorse and self pity. 

Read these eBooks to discover how to be healed. The Healing Release of the Holy Spirit and Breaking Free.

Gary Sweeten

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Healing the Body Through Confession 2

      We carry a heavy burden. Thank God for His freedom.

Psalm 32 is one of my favorite passages of scripture. It is so deep and so filled with theological and practical wisdom. In my first post of this series I attempted to challenge my readers to dive into the depths of the wisdom of God as it is revealed in a short passage that links healing with sin and disease. 

In the first two verses we discovered that sin has four dimensions:

Rebellion/Pride that pushes us to do things on our own regardless of the will of the Heavenly Father. This was the preferred view of my childhood.

Guilt is the result of my rebellion. When I disobeyed the laws of God and must pay a penalty to clear my record and gain a clear conscience. 

Shame or Alienation from God's Family and the church family comes when I behave differently from the family codes.

Bondage is inbred and grows with each and every rebellious act and the resulting guilt. It all accumulates shame as time passes. 


Psalm 32 however, declares that we are blessed when we allow God to convert us from rebels, forgive our guilt, makes us His children and break the chains of slavery. Here are the promises of God again in this context. 

Blessed is he whose transgression (rebellion) is forgiven 

    whose sin (Bondage) is covered 

2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity (Guilt),

    and in whose spirit there is no deceit (Shame)

I hope you can sing a joyous song of praise for what God has done, is doing and shall do for us sinners.

Psalm 32 is a blessing no matter how alert we are to the deeper meanings but it takes on even a more powerful meaning when I see how God orchestrated all 4 of the realities of sin to be removed by the works of Jesus. 

Our books, The Healing Release of the Holy Spirit and Breaking Free unpack these issues in depth. 

Gary Sweeten