As I write these lines, a profound urgency and alarm grip my heart concerning the state of our churches in these current times. While sin has always lurked within the shadows, its perversion within the church has surged to alarming heights like never before. Looking back to the days of the Apostle Paul, it's clear that even then, the early churches dealt with unrighteousness. Today I find myself contemplating, if Paul were among us now, what letter would God stir his heart to write to our congregations? Surely, I daresay his message would resound with a call to forsake carnal customs and return to the holy truth of God’s Word.
It grieves my spirit to witness the downward transformation of many churches into mere reflections of worldly entertainment venues. Where once the reverence for God's holy presence was unmistakable, now we find darkened lights, live bands, and disco lights. But let us not be deceived by the allure of such diversions; for true worship is not found in dazzling spectacles before crowds but in the quiet total surrender of our lives before the Almighty.
Even more troubling is the erosion of biblical truth within the walls of our churches. Far too often, many churches overlook an understanding of history and ignorantly dismiss the authenticity of the Holy Bible without proper consideration. Many congregations are misled by storytellers who erroneously portray books like Job and Ester as mere fables. They instill doubt in their listeners regarding the very bedrock of our faith, even going as so far as to suggest that the gospel of Mark was plagiarized by Matthew and Luke. Worse still, they reduce the Holy Bible to a source of mere inspiration and self-esteem rather than recognizing its divine authority revealing the Lord Jesus Christ. Such falsehoods couldn’t be farther from the truth! Therefore, let us be reminded that every word of Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, equipping us to understand and serve God rightly.
Truly, we are witnessing a time when the moral decay outside in the world has seeped into the sanctuary, leading many to deviate and embrace perversions contrary to the Holy Bible. The murder of babies is tolerated. Sodomy is increasingly normalized, and the sanctity of marriage is distorted to fit the whims of cultural trends. What’s even more distressing is the acceptance of such perversions within many churches. Some even go as far as suggesting that figures like David and Jonathan were secretly involved in homosexual relationships. Nevertheless, let us stand firm in the truth, recognizing that God's design for marriage and sexuality remains unchanged since the dawn of creation: one biological man united with one biological woman, reflecting the pure relationship between God and Christ as Christ’s relationship to the church.
Furthermore, our obedience to Christ’s Great Commission to spread the gospel to the uttermost part of the earth is alarmingly feeble as our attention is primarily inward. Shockingly, annual national surveys reveal that a staggering 94% of our resources are directed towards self-serving endeavors within the United States, leaving the cries of the lost unheard around the world. And only 12% of funds go toward reaching our neighbors, those within our own communities. It's time for us to repent of our apathy and rekindle our commitment to fulfilling Christ’s command. The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few.
For years, national surveys have revealed a consistent truth: a staggering 95% of Christians are not actively participating in evangelism. This disheartening trend is mirrored in our local communities, where engagement remains alarmingly low. Inside the church, there's a prevalent apathy towards sharing the gospel with neighbors, let alone considering global missions. Excuses abound, as the majority cite reason after reason for their inability to spread the message of Christ within their own neighborhoods.
Christ’s warning in Revelation 3 serves as a wakeup call for our Laodicean generation. The Lord’s words are stark and precise: “…thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
Indeed, the time has arrived for a needed revival of true godliness within the body of Christ. Let us cast off the trappings of worldly conformity and embrace the transformative power of the Holy Ghost. May our hearts burn with a passion for the lost, and may our lives so shine before this darkened world, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in Heaven.
RETURN TO ALL BLOGS
It grieves my spirit to witness the downward transformation of many churches into mere reflections of worldly entertainment venues. Where once the reverence for God's holy presence was unmistakable, now we find darkened lights, live bands, and disco lights. But let us not be deceived by the allure of such diversions; for true worship is not found in dazzling spectacles before crowds but in the quiet total surrender of our lives before the Almighty.
Even more troubling is the erosion of biblical truth within the walls of our churches. Far too often, many churches overlook an understanding of history and ignorantly dismiss the authenticity of the Holy Bible without proper consideration. Many congregations are misled by storytellers who erroneously portray books like Job and Ester as mere fables. They instill doubt in their listeners regarding the very bedrock of our faith, even going as so far as to suggest that the gospel of Mark was plagiarized by Matthew and Luke. Worse still, they reduce the Holy Bible to a source of mere inspiration and self-esteem rather than recognizing its divine authority revealing the Lord Jesus Christ. Such falsehoods couldn’t be farther from the truth! Therefore, let us be reminded that every word of Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, equipping us to understand and serve God rightly.
Truly, we are witnessing a time when the moral decay outside in the world has seeped into the sanctuary, leading many to deviate and embrace perversions contrary to the Holy Bible. The murder of babies is tolerated. Sodomy is increasingly normalized, and the sanctity of marriage is distorted to fit the whims of cultural trends. What’s even more distressing is the acceptance of such perversions within many churches. Some even go as far as suggesting that figures like David and Jonathan were secretly involved in homosexual relationships. Nevertheless, let us stand firm in the truth, recognizing that God's design for marriage and sexuality remains unchanged since the dawn of creation: one biological man united with one biological woman, reflecting the pure relationship between God and Christ as Christ’s relationship to the church.
Furthermore, our obedience to Christ’s Great Commission to spread the gospel to the uttermost part of the earth is alarmingly feeble as our attention is primarily inward. Shockingly, annual national surveys reveal that a staggering 94% of our resources are directed towards self-serving endeavors within the United States, leaving the cries of the lost unheard around the world. And only 12% of funds go toward reaching our neighbors, those within our own communities. It's time for us to repent of our apathy and rekindle our commitment to fulfilling Christ’s command. The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few.
For years, national surveys have revealed a consistent truth: a staggering 95% of Christians are not actively participating in evangelism. This disheartening trend is mirrored in our local communities, where engagement remains alarmingly low. Inside the church, there's a prevalent apathy towards sharing the gospel with neighbors, let alone considering global missions. Excuses abound, as the majority cite reason after reason for their inability to spread the message of Christ within their own neighborhoods.
Christ’s warning in Revelation 3 serves as a wakeup call for our Laodicean generation. The Lord’s words are stark and precise: “…thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
Indeed, the time has arrived for a needed revival of true godliness within the body of Christ. Let us cast off the trappings of worldly conformity and embrace the transformative power of the Holy Ghost. May our hearts burn with a passion for the lost, and may our lives so shine before this darkened world, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in Heaven.
RETURN TO ALL BLOGS
