If you were to listen to the messages being preached from the pulpits of many modern day churches you’d think Christianity is just one big love fest. Everything is about love. God loves you no matter what you do, say or how you live. Once you’ve said the sinner’s prayer you and God are good, and you can’t do anything to change that. There’s no laws or rules to follow, no real life style changes to make; we just need to believe that Jesus died for our sins and we are golden. Really? Maybe that’s why so many churches are full of people who know very little about God’s nature, and even less about what his plan of salvation entails. It’s all about feel good messages full of positive thinking and lots of prosperity.
Now let me be clear, I have nothing against Christians being positive, motivated or having prosperity. My problem is seeing those things held up as idols by people in the church. How many Christians who show up each week for an infusion of feel good do you think would continue attending church services, and paying those tithes, “the only one of God’s Laws that seems to have survived” if they started talking about sin, and how people need to change and live a set apart life? Again, I have nothing against prosperity if God comes first, and if he is the focal point in one’s life. I always find it amusing when I see a car being driven that says “Jesus is Lord” on the bumper, or has one of those fish symbols, and they’re behaving in less than a Christian manner.
Please understand I am a very imperfect man, a man who has to regularly repent of bad attitudes, etc. So when I’m railing about these things it’s not because I’m a model Christian or think I’m better than anyone, it’s because I know I’m a sinner because I know what sin is. If you’re only getting the feel good love everything half of the message, you won’t know how much of a sinner you are, and therefore won’t know you need to repent.
Now before you start screaming that God is love, and God loves everybody, and we’re all just here to love, I want you to consider God’s own words.
Proverbs 6:16-19 (NKJV)
16 These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.
So, God is a God of love, but he’s also a God of justice and judgement. There are things that God hates, and makes him very angry. You need to get away from that picture of “gentle Jesus meek and mild”. When Christ returns to this earth he’s coming back as a concurring King of King’s. He’s coming back to bring justice to the earth and restore the rule of law.
Now with that said, a big part of Jesus’ ministry was about loving others; as a matter of fact we are called to love God with all our hearts, minds and souls, and we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. But what does that mean, or how does that look? Are we loving God by going to visit him once a week for an hour or two then spending the rest of the week barely acknowledging him?
Are we loving God just because we give tithes and or offerings? Are we loving God when we tell someone else that God loves them, or when we share prayers or quotes on Facebook? Jesus talked a lot about love, but he also talked a lot about sin; and that teaching my friends is something that is sorely missing from many modern day churches. How can we walk with our Creator and love him the way he expects us to when we don’t know who he is or what he expects from us? If you’re not daily reading the scriptures and regularly talking to God how can you be in relationship with him? If you don’t know what the 10 Commandments say, how can you know how to love God or your fellow man; as it is the 10 Commandments that tell us how to do just that.
Much of the Christian church have become just a carnal and worldly as non-believers. It’s become all about how nice a house we live in, or how nice a car we drive. Time is spent running the kids to their soccer and baseball games, while the only spiritual teaching they get is an hour in church once a week, while the godless government school has most of the rest of the week to poison their impressionable minds.
I’ve got a test for all those reading this post. Ask all your Christian friends to recite the 10 Commandments, and see how many can actually do it in order or even name them all. For that matter, ask your preacher if you want a real wake up call. Now I realize I’m preaching to the choir with many of you who read this blog, but I have grave concerns for the spiritual well being of this nation. I think God is giving us a slight reprieve with our current administration, whether you like him or not. Those of us who really walk with Christ need to be more vocal and make every effort to let our light shine wherever and whenever we can; not just in church.
Sadly not all the blamed can be placed on the lukewarm Christians as many of their pastors and preachers have not been doing their jobs. According to the Barna Group, many pastors don’t even believe in the virgin birth or the literal return of Christ to this earth. What??? I’ve even heard of many preachers saying that they can’t talk about sin or controversial topics from the pulpit as they would lose their jobs, or lose much of their congregations.
Didn’t Isaiah describe it perfectly?
Isaiah 30:8-10 (NKJV)
8 Now go, write it before them on a tablet,
And note it on a scroll,
That it may be for time to come,
Forever and ever:
9 That this is a rebellious people,
Lying children,
Children who will not hear the law of the Lord;
10 Who say to the seers, “Do not see,”
And to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us right things;
Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits.
Unfortunately Satan through perverting our culture has just about brought down the church along with all other institutions in our country. Many of our young men are becoming emasculated, and many of our young women are becoming more militantly feminist rendering much of our youth spiritually impotent. Then there is the hamstringing of the church by way of the 501C3 keeping preachers and pastors from discussing the direction of our Country for fear of losing their tax exemption, money, money, money.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, God is calling a remnant to gird themselves up with spiritual armor, and be ready to do spiritual battle for our King. Remember, scripture says, many are called, but few are chosen. Those chosen are chosen for a reason, they are the ones who will put Christ first, and will walk with him in covenant no matter what. It’s time to quit playing church, and get prepared for the battle ahead.
Please let me know what you think?
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