In a time of unprecedented sin and rampant worldly hedonism, we as a church must repent for our complacency and stagnancy. We are at a time when we must repent not only to stay or temper God’s hand of judgment, but more so to know Him and become like Him (see James 4:7-12). The saddest thing in this whole issue is not the reality of a nation and a Church under judgment, but a Church who no longer recognizes and represents through character, actions, and lifestyle the Loving, Holy God of the universe. We are missing out on daily opportunities to know our God more deeply. The current acts of judgment we see in our world are both consequences of our sin and invitations to repentance.
The main consequence of our current state, however, is a God who is unknown by His children. If Eternal Life (the ultimate reward) is “knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent (John 17:3),” then at this time we are living without reward, without life. Outside of this sad truth, any other judgment, although serious and something we must allow to drive us back to the Father, is secondary. The thing we should be most troubled by and which should shake us to our very core is that, like the Athenians (Acts 17:22-23), we as a church are worshiping in the pantheon of our lives, and in the midst of all our other gods we have a small altar known as Sunday committed to a God that is virtually unknown. “Be appalled, oh heavens, at this and shudder (Jer. 2:12)” the people called by the very name of Christ now worship Him as an unknown God.
No wonder Jesus wept over Jerusalem. They did not recognize God when He came to them. Are we so different?
They Love Jesus; They Don’t Like the Church
Published February 28, 2008 Comments on the Church Leave a CommentKathy Franklin emailed me a great article this week regarding a generation who is in love with their Savior, but who has become disenfranchised with His bride, the Church. I would encourage you to read it. I have placed a link to it at the end of this post.
My favorite quote in the article from one young pastor is, “So many people live their lives avoiding hell instead of seeking the kingdom of God.” Another quote in the article that hit me square between the eyes is, “Christians have become political, judgmental, intolerant, weak, religious, angry, and without balance. Christianity has become a nice Sunday drive. Where is the living God, the Holy Spirit, and amazing Jesus, the love, the compassion, the holiness? This type of life, how I yearn for that.”
It is true we must view the Church through the lens of the grace of God and realize it is not perfect. And we must NEVER forsake the Church (read Hebrews 10:24-25). However, we who have ears to hear must heed this word as the seven churches in Revelation were called to “listen.” We have become satisfied with where we are, but where we are is nowhere to be satisfied with. I see many of the things the seven churches in Revelation were guilty of present in the 21st century American Church. Let not our lamp-stand, our effectiveness, be permanently taken away. We have already lost much of our effectiveness to the current world we live in. It is crucial that we return to our First Love to regain our intimate relationship with Christ and our effectiveness in reaching the world.
Click HERE to read the article.