Monday, June 01, 2009
These Lying Times....The Missing Church ( Part 1 )
These Lying Times....The Missing Church ( Part 1 )
by Carl G Loy
6/1/09
An old minister in Louisiana was once quoted as saying, "If you preach the Word of God they will either get right or get out." Apparently, the Word of God is not often preached for they have not gotten right and they have not gotten out, at least not in the mega churches. In fact church growth is the name of the game, not the Word of God. While there are claims that church attendance is declining, the churches not preaching the Word of God are experiencing unprecedented growth and the money is rolling in.
Some churches are more popular than others. Perhaps those dying churches are the ones where the Word of God was preached, but it wasn't a popular Jesus that was preached. Perhaps they didn't get right and they left. Sound doctrine is just not comfortable for most. Who are these Christians that shy away from the Word of God, who don't want to hear about sin and its' consequences, who don't want to hear about repentance, about hell, about the requirements to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ? I suggest that they are Christians in name only. Regardless, many are found in the popular churches where they are not confronted with the Word of God. They have sought entertainment and feel-good messages from the pulpit, having their ears tickled and their worries soothed. The pick and play gospel that ignores the Truth of God's Word satisfies the sinful. No convictions requiring repentance, no uncomfortable moments; just God so Loved the World, paid the price; just believe and all is forgiven.
America, claimed by many to be a Christian nation, a nation, whose capital city with it's many government buildings of great splendor, which are adorned with gods and goddesses, prohibits even the mention of Jesus Christ wherever it can. America, where elaborate church buildings are found on many street corners and whose rural landscape is dotted with churches, seems to be missing the true Church where the whole Word of God is preached. The Christian influence that existed in America at the time of her founding is today rarely found. As a result, where the righteous are diminished, evil has flourished. The Word of God that was once preached is mostly absent in today's churches. It's just not popular and popularity is required for growth and for donations.
Another old pastor years ago proclaimed that Christ preached His Message for three years and was crucified and that he had been preaching that same message for thirty years, yet nothing happened, and he thought something had to be wrong. Perhaps what was wrong was that so few listened he wasn't considered a threat. You see, one can preach that Message all day long and as long as no one pays any attention, no one cares. It is when people pay attention and try to heed that Message that things can become risky. Many were listening to the Message that Jesus Preached. It got Him killed. That same Message is getting others killed today in some foreign lands. We think we are a Christian nation because we don't see that experience in America. We don't see it because, for one thing, that Message is not much preached and when it is, few pay attention, and secondly, the media does not tell us the truth when those who do proclaim His Message are persecuted. The incorporated church is a compromised church and cannot in that status preach God's Word in total. What it does preach is a distorted message, one that is approved by both government and its' members, and the world. The true Church preaching His Message is mostly missing in America. As a result, many are the Christians who are not really born-again believers. They are believers, but they have never experienced salvation because they've never really heard the Word of God and neither have they studied His Word for themselves. Unfortunately, too many Christians read words with preconceived ideas about what they mean, much of it based on what man has told them it means. Many Christians can't even tell you why they believe what they believe as it relates to God's Word. That is evidence of the missing church in America.
I am reminded of the story that was told about 50 years ago about an atheist who was going to attend a country church revival, where the evangelist was said to be a hellfire and brimstone preacher. When asked why in the world he was going, he replied, "Because I love to see all those hypocrites squirm." That won't happen in today's watered down preaching. We don't want to feel guilty. Guilt means repentance is required. Repentance requires asking for forgiveness. But that is not all. Forgiveness is not haphazardly given. It requires that we turn away from that sinful nature, and sin no more. Repetitious sin is an indication that we did not truly repent, that we are not really one of His Children. Repentance with Forgiveness also requires that we take up His Cross daily and follow Him. It may mean the loss of wealth and much hardship. It may mean the loss of relationships. We may experience ridicule and persecution.
That's what God's Word tells us, but that is not the God's Word you are going to find preached in most churches. How many times will you hear, that except ye be born again, ye cannot enter the Kingdom of God; that you are hell-bound? Hell is little preached, yet hell, a consuming fire, is mentioned in various ways far more than is Heaven. Yet, there are those who claim that this is all myth; that it just means separation from God. It is surprising how many Christians don't believe in hell, or the devil, that believe in re-incarnation, even. These distorted beliefs ferment and grow because the Word of God is not preached. The true church, the one preaching the Word of God, is mostly missing in America.
Many will no doubt argue that the church is very much alive; that His Word is preached from many pulpits in America. We know that His Word tells us that there will always be a Remnant, but It also says that the time will come when most will stray and will be influenced by false teaching. I think we are there. Today, the serious Truth of the Teachings of Jesus Christ would offend the sensitivities of the unrighteous. Government would not be amused. What Jesus Preached was revolutionary and not politically correct. In order to make Jesus acceptable in today's churches, His Message is often taken out of context, or made to appear to apply to those ancient times and not applicable for today. God is not amused. His Word details the wrath that will befall these false teachers.
A lady recently told me that the Bible was written by men and subject to human error. Yet she claims to be a Christian who believes that the Bible was inspired. It's just that all of it is not true. She couldn't explain how she knew what was true and what was not, except that just common sense told you some things couldn't be true. What convinced her that some of the Bible was inspired? Some things she had read, she said. Weren't these written by man, I asked. Well, yes, but they were scholarly men. This happened to be from a conversation with a retired grade school teacher. She is a good person, but she has been blinded to the Word of God, probably never having heard it as It should be heard preached. She attended church, but she missed out on the Word of God from the true church, the missing church.
The true Christian can be easily recognized. An obsessive desire to please God and to hear and study and understand His Word cannot be hidden. Within them resides the church that is missing on the landscape, and it can be seen in them. In this sense the missing church can still be found, but as a body of Followers faithfully receiving His Truth on a regular basis, rare is it found. The church preaching the Word of God is missing.
by Carl G Loy
6/1/09
An old minister in Louisiana was once quoted as saying, "If you preach the Word of God they will either get right or get out." Apparently, the Word of God is not often preached for they have not gotten right and they have not gotten out, at least not in the mega churches. In fact church growth is the name of the game, not the Word of God. While there are claims that church attendance is declining, the churches not preaching the Word of God are experiencing unprecedented growth and the money is rolling in.
Some churches are more popular than others. Perhaps those dying churches are the ones where the Word of God was preached, but it wasn't a popular Jesus that was preached. Perhaps they didn't get right and they left. Sound doctrine is just not comfortable for most. Who are these Christians that shy away from the Word of God, who don't want to hear about sin and its' consequences, who don't want to hear about repentance, about hell, about the requirements to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ? I suggest that they are Christians in name only. Regardless, many are found in the popular churches where they are not confronted with the Word of God. They have sought entertainment and feel-good messages from the pulpit, having their ears tickled and their worries soothed. The pick and play gospel that ignores the Truth of God's Word satisfies the sinful. No convictions requiring repentance, no uncomfortable moments; just God so Loved the World, paid the price; just believe and all is forgiven.
America, claimed by many to be a Christian nation, a nation, whose capital city with it's many government buildings of great splendor, which are adorned with gods and goddesses, prohibits even the mention of Jesus Christ wherever it can. America, where elaborate church buildings are found on many street corners and whose rural landscape is dotted with churches, seems to be missing the true Church where the whole Word of God is preached. The Christian influence that existed in America at the time of her founding is today rarely found. As a result, where the righteous are diminished, evil has flourished. The Word of God that was once preached is mostly absent in today's churches. It's just not popular and popularity is required for growth and for donations.
Another old pastor years ago proclaimed that Christ preached His Message for three years and was crucified and that he had been preaching that same message for thirty years, yet nothing happened, and he thought something had to be wrong. Perhaps what was wrong was that so few listened he wasn't considered a threat. You see, one can preach that Message all day long and as long as no one pays any attention, no one cares. It is when people pay attention and try to heed that Message that things can become risky. Many were listening to the Message that Jesus Preached. It got Him killed. That same Message is getting others killed today in some foreign lands. We think we are a Christian nation because we don't see that experience in America. We don't see it because, for one thing, that Message is not much preached and when it is, few pay attention, and secondly, the media does not tell us the truth when those who do proclaim His Message are persecuted. The incorporated church is a compromised church and cannot in that status preach God's Word in total. What it does preach is a distorted message, one that is approved by both government and its' members, and the world. The true Church preaching His Message is mostly missing in America. As a result, many are the Christians who are not really born-again believers. They are believers, but they have never experienced salvation because they've never really heard the Word of God and neither have they studied His Word for themselves. Unfortunately, too many Christians read words with preconceived ideas about what they mean, much of it based on what man has told them it means. Many Christians can't even tell you why they believe what they believe as it relates to God's Word. That is evidence of the missing church in America.
I am reminded of the story that was told about 50 years ago about an atheist who was going to attend a country church revival, where the evangelist was said to be a hellfire and brimstone preacher. When asked why in the world he was going, he replied, "Because I love to see all those hypocrites squirm." That won't happen in today's watered down preaching. We don't want to feel guilty. Guilt means repentance is required. Repentance requires asking for forgiveness. But that is not all. Forgiveness is not haphazardly given. It requires that we turn away from that sinful nature, and sin no more. Repetitious sin is an indication that we did not truly repent, that we are not really one of His Children. Repentance with Forgiveness also requires that we take up His Cross daily and follow Him. It may mean the loss of wealth and much hardship. It may mean the loss of relationships. We may experience ridicule and persecution.
That's what God's Word tells us, but that is not the God's Word you are going to find preached in most churches. How many times will you hear, that except ye be born again, ye cannot enter the Kingdom of God; that you are hell-bound? Hell is little preached, yet hell, a consuming fire, is mentioned in various ways far more than is Heaven. Yet, there are those who claim that this is all myth; that it just means separation from God. It is surprising how many Christians don't believe in hell, or the devil, that believe in re-incarnation, even. These distorted beliefs ferment and grow because the Word of God is not preached. The true church, the one preaching the Word of God, is mostly missing in America.
Many will no doubt argue that the church is very much alive; that His Word is preached from many pulpits in America. We know that His Word tells us that there will always be a Remnant, but It also says that the time will come when most will stray and will be influenced by false teaching. I think we are there. Today, the serious Truth of the Teachings of Jesus Christ would offend the sensitivities of the unrighteous. Government would not be amused. What Jesus Preached was revolutionary and not politically correct. In order to make Jesus acceptable in today's churches, His Message is often taken out of context, or made to appear to apply to those ancient times and not applicable for today. God is not amused. His Word details the wrath that will befall these false teachers.
A lady recently told me that the Bible was written by men and subject to human error. Yet she claims to be a Christian who believes that the Bible was inspired. It's just that all of it is not true. She couldn't explain how she knew what was true and what was not, except that just common sense told you some things couldn't be true. What convinced her that some of the Bible was inspired? Some things she had read, she said. Weren't these written by man, I asked. Well, yes, but they were scholarly men. This happened to be from a conversation with a retired grade school teacher. She is a good person, but she has been blinded to the Word of God, probably never having heard it as It should be heard preached. She attended church, but she missed out on the Word of God from the true church, the missing church.
The true Christian can be easily recognized. An obsessive desire to please God and to hear and study and understand His Word cannot be hidden. Within them resides the church that is missing on the landscape, and it can be seen in them. In this sense the missing church can still be found, but as a body of Followers faithfully receiving His Truth on a regular basis, rare is it found. The church preaching the Word of God is missing.
