Are our Churches in America asleep or indifferent and why are some wasting away while others flourishing? Is it Apathy or Ignorance? Scripture says: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:4 KJV
I have read so many commentaries lately on just this subject lately and have gleaned many perspectives. It would appear that many place the blame or lack of participation on the congregation but truth is; it is really the lack of leadership in today's churches that has stagnated vigorous growth. Most of the work is being carried out by the pastors, some of whom compromise, water-down or distort The Word of God. They appear to have little back-up participation causing them an extreme depressive overload. In those churches, who do have leadership, it appears the same few are endlessly carrying out activities while bordering on Burnout. I have heard it said that the church “rises and falls” on leadership, just as with government. Is it the fault of the Leadership or the fault of apathetic people?
Who goes to Church these days? The passion of church attendance has been lost, Religion has become irrelevant and superfluous to a relationship with Christ. It would appear that worldly activities take precedence (Sunday sports, parties, barbecues, etc.). Sadly,some do so only out of obligation.
My heart was saddened as I drove to service this beautiful brisk fall morning only to notice the parking lot of a local bar/restaurant was packed, had it anything to do with the fact that it was November 1st? Unfortunately ours was not. Hebrews 10:25 AMP says: “not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching”. Here’s the Church, here is the steeple, open the doors, where are all the people? It is my stance that responsibility is two-fold, upon church leaders and church attendees. The model for the ‘True Church’ comes from The Word of God.
The New Testament church was ground breaking, spontaneous, full of life and life-changing. Comparing the “Acts of the Apostles” with the church that we see in America today, explains why the early church was so powerful and life-changing and how that effect has been lost over the course of church history. Currently our churches are now scripted, predictable, highly-polished, entertaining, but rarely life-changing!
Imagine if you will, Jesus Christ walking past your church building. Hearing the piano playing softly, He decides to step inside the church’s entryway to take a look. Would your church hold up to His standards? We see a multifaceted pattern of church options today, denomination- traditional, evangelical, charismatic, full gospel, Pentecostal, liberal, conservative, freewill, “spirit-led,” or transformed. Millions of Christians attending thousands of these different divisions. Denominations within denominations and Non-denominational.
With all these possibilities, how does today’s church goer choose? Is it through appeal desirability, location? Is it their beliefs, purpose, or goals? Or is it the many activities or programs? Which Church would Jesus choose and would he feel welcome? Searching through just one city, He might be presented with a myriad of different options all claiming to represent Him. He would expect them, of course, to have His appointed ministers, called and chosen who will of course profess His teachings, worship Him, teach His Word, demonstrate love, and exhibit obedience. Therefore, whatever Christ taught the original apostles, He would expect to find in His Church. Yet many today, have conflicting doctrines. The church may have changed its expectations but he has not! Heb. 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever” He has not changed, His expectations have not changed.”
I reminded of a story I once heard which I will try to paraphrase for you. Suppose Jesus entered in to your town this Sunday morning. Imagine Him entering into a church vestibule, tracts laid out on a table catches His eye. One is titled, Which Church Saves? and the text reads, “The Christian Church is divided into numerous denominations, there may be alteration in how each church worships or operates, but they are unified in the belief of profession of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.” I imagine He agonizes as He recalls His Word, Matt. 16:18 “I will build my church” not churches! I can see Him shaking His head, HE LEAVES.
Continuing on………Jesus notices a church tower named for an apostle, intrigued, He enters, passes a Library and entering in browses through a book explaining the church’s catechism and hierarchical government. Is it possible that He thinks, this church understands there is only one true church, Matt. 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
He questions a man currently leaving and they discuss the church doctrine as the man replies. “What about the pillars and the foundation of the truth? 1 Timothy 3:15 says that the pillar and foundation of the truth is the ‘church’. For us the Church serves as the "Hierarchy" on matters written in the Bible.” His heart sinks and He thinks this is NOT according to my Word but has been misperceived. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John” 1:1. “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning the firstborn from the dead that in all things he might have the preeminence. The focus is not division into many groups or organizations
I believe He would point out I Cor. 1:13 Paul’s record (Eph. 4:11-12; I Cor. 12:28) “that I gave some [to be], apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ” Jesus hears footsteps as a man in a long black robe approaches. He introduces himself as Father Kamares, He recalls telling His disciples: “Do not call anyone on earth [who guides you spiritually] your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” Matt.23:9 He points out in love, bids them farewell, HE LEAVES
Continuing on His journey He notices a sign reading KINGDOM TEMPLE upon it, surely this must be my temple. He learns that this church does not keep the popular religious holidays of Christmas and Easter, as they feel it is of a pagan origin as a point of doctrine. He asks the two men if they teach their members to observe the seven annual Holy Days, which He kept, and instructed His followers to keep, following an answer of No. He offers them to See Lev. 23; Matt. 26:17; John 2:23, 4:45, 7:2-8, 10, 14, 37. Bids them farewell, and HE LEAVES
Entering another church, a well-dressed young man greets Him, eager to welcome a newcomer and explain some of his church’s beliefs: tithing, baptism by immersion, laying on of hands. He also notes the organization of apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists as existed in the early Church with ordinances of the gospel: faith, repentance, baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit.
I imagine He thought, I did command that tithes should be paid, It is written: “Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you give a tenth (tithe) of your mint and dill and cumin [focusing on minor matters], and have neglected the weightier [more important moral and spiritual] provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the [primary] things you ought to have done without neglecting the others. Matt. 23:23. And baptism is by immersion.
The young man continues, talking about the celebration of Holidays with parties, programs, decor and how many are attending Coffee hour before church, fellow shipping and relaxing with their coffee while enjoying worship. Christ concludes, “This church keeps man-made religious pagan holidays, instead of the Holy Days outlined in the Bible and it appears a great focus is on socializing and entertainment? Where is the Heart of True Worship??? HE LEAVES, wiping the tears that have surfaced.
The Search Continues. On Monday He enters a church holding a weekly Bible study at the moment a student is questioning; is adherence to the Ten Commandments required to receive eternal life? The leader answers “Well, while it is good to attempt to keep them, you do not have to keep the Commandments to receive eternal life. Jesus did away with those ‘Old Testament Laws’ and nailed them to the cross.” The words recorded in the book of Matthew come to Christ’s mind: “…if you wish to enter into eternal life, keep the commandments” Matt.17-19 “Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the [f]Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For I assure you and most solemnly say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke [of the pen] will pass from the Law until all things [which it foreshadows] are accomplished. 19 So whoever breaks one of the least [important] of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least [important] in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” HE LEAVES!
At this point I am sure that Jesus would be very discouraged at how the denominations have distorted the True Church but I believe He would continue His search. After traveling a few more blocks, he comes to the edge of the city and notices a gigantic building and a huge parking area filled to the brim, music blasting a minister running, jumping and yelling “Hallelujah, Praise God ,Can I get an amen?” Initially he thinks this church is on fire until he notices people falling over backward, writhing in the aisles and shaking uncontrollably. Some are laughing uncontrollably and several prophesying and speaking in tongues at once, yet, all Jesus hears is unintelligible gibberish. “This church is nothing but confusion, he utters audibly, God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. In My Church, all things are to be done decently and in order, but this is chaos!” It is written; “But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;…for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints” agonizing how The word has so been distorted, I Cor 14:30-33 HE LEAVES
In further travels He finds the preaching of the Gospel of healing, prosperity, stained-glass windows, statues of angels, directly contradicting the Second Commandment. Jesus taught during His earthly ministry the gospel of the kingdom—the good news of the coming world-ruling super-government that will bring peace and prosperity to all nations on Earth in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The one little church in the valley He entered after cutting wood , all mussed and disheveled, ignored or given snobbish stares, He left dismayed. Where was the Love? “Any church that does not bring the exact message that I did and tell people to change their lives is not the Church I built” Matt. 16:18.
Because churches today have veered with compromise so far from the True church they and failing to teach and observe the doctrines outlined in the Bible, then Jesus Christ would NOT choose it. It is that simple.
REVELATION DESCRIBES 7 CHURCHES, representing:
• 7 periods of time covers the 2000 years of church age
• 7 revelations and conditions of the church
• 7 battles to be won by Christians
• 7 rewards for being faithful
• 7 judgements for those who fail
• 7 expressions of Jesus as He revealed Himself
To Ephesus, “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first” Rev.2:2 NIV. He knows our works He knew theirs, however, He warned if they did not repent He would remove their candlestick not their pastor not the Angels but the candlestick [the church itself] out of its place. Today there is not a Christian church in any of those cities, they are Muslim areas with mosques.
To Pergamos, he had said in part: “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.” and Thyatira, “I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.” Rev. 2:19-20, To Sardis it also says: Rev 3:1 KJV “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.”
To the church of Philadelphia Rev 3: 7-8 “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name” He told them they would be kept from the hour of temptation and they were the only church for which God had no complaint and a church of brotherly love, weak but coming back to life. The Philadelphia condition can be encompassed in the words that Jesus spoke at the conclusion of this verse stating 'you have kept my word, and have not denied my name.’ The life of one who keeps the word of Christ, and does not deny His name, is a sweet smelling and pleasing sacrifice. Finally to the church of Laodicea in Rev. 3:13KJV it states: “I know thy works, that 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.”
Unfortunately, today Christians are not only Lukewarm but apathetic and rebellious. Satan has tools in his arsenal of weapons and he’s really been making good use of it here in America. I can’t think of anything more sinister, or more destructive than the spirit of Apathy. It causes depression, stifles our creativity, stunts our spiritual growth, and drains our energy. It can take hold in every area of life, if we allow it to continue to grow, it will completely immobilize us.
If Jesus came to your church would He find a TRUE Church? Would He find a live church with true worship? Would he find active participation, true preaching, love, and equality or would He find compromise, fence sitters, hypocrites, disunity, idolatry, fornication and lust? Would there be submissive obedient leadership or would He find a Spiritual White-out? It really is, in these times, something to think about.
Unfortunately a spiritual whiteout of unhealthy, unbalanced and, in some cases, unbiblical teaching is blinding the body of Christ in America, and it is quickly spreading around the world. Unwholesome, destructive teaching to the exclusion of some biblical truths is producing a dangerous imbalance that they lose all impact or effect, leaving people vulnerable and exposed. Paul warned so in 2 Tim 4:3-4 NKJV. “time will come when [believers] will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables”
I think this is mainly because the Churches of Today have developed an Overemphasis and false definition of Prosperity, an exaggerated view of Grace thinking they can live like the world with unmerited favor and mercy turning the Grace of Our God into a license for immorality. We have developed a Spirit of antinomianism, an “anything goes” mentality because Jesus has set us free. The problem is, Jesus didn’t set us free to sin; He set us free from sin. As has been said by Joyce Meyer many times, it is an “All About Me” attitude! Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” Matt. 16:24-25 KVJ.
We are living in a time when Americans are challenging the validity of The Word of God, and extremes such as removing text from Bible Versions. a time when they are rejecting the idea of a Hell, ignoring that Christ Died for our redemption to make a way unto a Holy Father in Heaven, why then did Jesus use such strong language in talking about the fire of hell and about people weeping and wailing and gnashing their teeth, Matt. 8:12 and why did He teach that “it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell” Matt. 5:29? And why do other New Testament writers warn us repeatedly about the wrath to come?
It appears this get-out-of-jail-free mentality is spreading along with the atheistic view that God is not real. Though these heartbreaking attitudes exist, true Christians and doers of The Word are not without the need for examination, not perfect. We have leaders but we are not prepared for the coming disasters to meet the needs of the lost as they come in, we are not without resources and laborers, but they are few. Those that are suffer from burnout and too much emphasis on the business of worldly activity instead of time spent seeking the Master for direction. Col 1:18 “Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.” NLT
The Pastor among his many responsibilities, is the Head of His Sheep. Pastoral leadership must have the skill to handle the many issues that arise, correctly. The church is not a business, nevertheless, it deals with people, programs, and projects as much as other organizations. Some churches are growing larger and larger, as their pastors face temptation to go beyond means to satisfy the congregational ambitions, desires and demands, and the result is failure. BUT, how can the Pastors, leaders, lead if there is not a congregation to disciple or the congregation is indifferent, non-participative, apathetic? God hates indifference as we have seen in Revelation. Yes America has removed God from our public schools, legalized Abortions, normalized homosexuality by legalizing same-sex marriage attempting to ban the words Under God or removing the Ten Commandments from Government buildings.
Why are Christians indifferent, failing to rise up against these things? Why are they silent as if in a dead sleep? Romans 11:8-10 AMP “God gave them a spirit of Stupor, Eyes that do not see and Ears that do not hear [a spiritual apathy that has continued] to this very day” Let their table (abundance) become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them. Let their eyes be darkened so that they do not see and make their backs bend [under their burden] forever. and in 2nd Thess.2-3 “Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians].”
Wake Up Church, Wake Up Christians and Wake Up America!!
