I like many of you are finding a church to attend, so what better place to turn then Yelp right?So I started going through Yelp reviews starting from the top. This church was only a few blocks from me, and after driving 10+ miles to church for several years it seemed like a bonus. The first time I attended this church, myself like the 5 STAR raters, enjoyed the worship service. The message was applicable to what I was going through at the time, but time only reveals what a church is really about.
If you have read my other reviews on other churches then you know I am the doctrine police. After my first service I talked to pastor Noemi. I was asking her if they had actual "bible studies" not life or small groups. My desire is to know the Word of God in greater detail, not using extracurricular material and the opinions of the author as to what the bible really means. She told me they didn't have bible studies. This is exactly what she said, "Because we don't want people to get bored." Are you kidding me? The bible is never boring to read!
So I decided to give a 6 week life group a try. In the life group and at the pulpit so many people were quoting Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen. They were all talking about how they also attended Cottonwood church, a false church. Read my Yelp review on Cottonwood and you will see why it is problematic. If you aren't acquainted with Joyce Meyer she teaches that Jesus died, went into the pits of Hell, and was born again. She also teaches that she is not a sinner. (1John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.) Joel Osteen denounced Jesus as Lord and Savior on Larry King Live. (1John 2:22 And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.) All of the ladies in the Life Group were like, "but Joyce has some good things to say it's not all bad. I haven't heard him or her say anything wrong." I choose not to play dumb. When I attend a church or listen to a person I am going to pull up their statement of faith, doctrinal beliefs, and find out what they are about. I will dig and ask the pastors probing questions. There is a lot of things preachers and churches aren't saying on Sundays in their sermons. It takes digging to find out. If you choose to attend a church because worship was energizing and made you feel all warm and fuzzy inside and that the preacher's words hit your life situation just right without not knowing the complete truth then you are sinning. "2 John 1:10-11 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not give him any greeting, because the person who gives him a greeting shares in his evil deeds." If you put man's words and don't consider what the bible says then you make that man your God and God is another man.
I stayed for 4 months because I really liked the 1st service, but have since then realized I didn't like any messages after that. I had a friend prophecize over me. She was talking about how Satan is the angel of light. He can make something look so glamorous at the service and suck you in after one time. I realized that is what happened. That first service was so glamorous that I decided to give the church a chance, but things aren't always as they appear.
This is yet another church that stands from the pulpit on Sundays and preaches tithing 10%. First this is legalistic and practicing religion. I am all for tithing your church as what flows from the heart. Some may be able to tithe 1% while others should be tithing 50% of their wealth. It should be in proportion as to how God blesses us. The purpose of the tithe is to help the orphans, sick, widows, and to provide for our pastors. However this 10% is Old Testament law. If we were to tithe biblically it would be 33.3% of our annual income. There was the Levitical tithe, tithe of the feasts, and tithe for the poor. Research that on your own time. Jesus died on the cross for our sins. We are living in New Testament times and are no longer under the laws of the Old Testament.
Be aware that there are several local sister churches. If they are partnering together then birds of a feather flock together and are in agreeance with one another and have very similar teaching. Those churches would include: The Garden, Long Beach City church, Fountain of Life, Antioch, Grace, Redemption, and Parkcrest. If you disagree with this review that's fine then maybe this is the church for you. If you agree and want to go deeper in your faith then you don't have to waste your time on exploring this church. read more