The religious world of today has chosen not to heed the words of Christ. They talk about Him, but few there are that listen to and follow His teaching. Jesus taught the people in parables, saying "let them that have ears hear." It is not understood for the most part, for it must be discerned by the Spirit and not the reasoning mind... [the Spirit gives understanding that our minds can then perceive and comprehend. The carnal mind cannot understand spiritual things without the Holy Spirit, for it is foolishness to our natural thinking.] Most people are not led by the Spirit, having never heard that inner voice. Compare what Jesus taught with what is taught in most churches today. Parts of what Jesus said are taken and used to reinforce men's doctrines, but are not what Jesus taught. I do not say this as a condemnation on all churches, for the adulteration of the Doctrine of Christ began immediately after His resurrection. The Apostle's and leaders of the early church were confronted with doctrines contrary to the truth, so it's no wonder that what we have received as being the 'Gospel of Christ' 2000 years later falls far short.
Social acceptance and approval may qualify us for acceptance among our fellow men, but will not gain God's approval. God is not impressed with our beautiful buildings, our talented music department, our programs and charities, or our membership plaques on the wall. All of our finery that we surround ourselves with is simply carnal, only serving to please and impress others. We are content to have a measure of Christianity, preferably accepting God's grace and forgiveness, without the balance of God's wrath against all ungodliness. We don't object to having enough Christianity in our churches to make us feel good during the few times a week that we come together and go through our programs and formalities.
I wonder if Jesus were to come to your Church... to attend one of your services... would He approve of how you practice and present His Gospel? We have ample examples all through the four Gospels of what the Lord said to the religious leaders of that day... and how they responded to Him. They crucified Him. Do we seriously believe that we are somehow different? That we are so much more intelligent and enlightened? If anything we have more responsibility for our condition. We have grown up with free access to the Word of God... the Holy Scriptures are available to us at any time. The masses in Jesus' day had to go to the synagogue to hear the scriptures read. How often do you get out your Bible and diligently search the scriptures for the answers to the problems in your life?
Thankfully, there are still some Churches out there that teach and practice the Gospel of Christ to the best of their ability, and from sincere hearts. But we must face it, that the mainstream religions in this country are little more than religious social clubs. Come Sunday morning turn on the televised church services and you will be bombarded with positive thinking, no repentance required messages about how good we are, how much God wants to pour out His blessings on us, any and everything BUT the Gospel of Christ. Political and social statements abound... but little to nothing of what Jesus said. Yet they still feel entitled to claim salvation, to name and claim the desires of their hearts. Today we hear little to nothing of sin, or taking us our cross, or holiness or sanctification. These subjects must not be socially acceptable anymore. Instead we have multitudes of activities, entertainments, and programs. The Churches of today operate with the same marketing principles that are employed in the business world. Operating budgets, profit margins, techniques to draw crowds and keep the people coming back for more. There is something very wrong with all of this.
When Jesus walked the earth... He often went into the synagogues and taught the people. He confronted the Scribes, the Pharisees and Sadducees... and called them "whited sepulcher's full of dead men's bones".. Matthew 23:27-28. He called them "fools" and "blind guides" and "hypocrites!" Never once during Jesus ministry here on earth did our Lord fail to state exactly the way things were. Never once did He try to gain approval or to appease those in leadership over the people. Leaders were in a position to teach and lead the masses to know God, but instead were padding their own pockets. Do you suppose that this could be going on in Christendom today? Have you ever wondered about all the different churches and denominations we have accumulated? Each claiming to 'have the truth and be the way?' Are we to imagine that there will be hundreds of 'second comings' to comply with all the different Pre-trib, Mid-trib, Post-trib teachings of men? I don't think so.
Something has to change. All these walls... divisions... and teachings men have devised, separating themselves from fellowship with one another have to come down. God has had the Master Plan since before the worlds were formed. He knows how and when to set things straight. It is time that we begin to earnestly seek to know Him in an intimate and personal way. That we stop trusting in and relying on anyone or thing other than God and His Son Jesus. It is time to ask that the Holy Spirit to open our understanding and lead us into all truth... He IS all TRUTH.
Our LORD instructed us....(these are Jesus words).
Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 7:1-2 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Matthew 7:6-8 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 10:38-39 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 11:25-30 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
Matthew 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
Matthew 12:36-37 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Matthew 15:8-9 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
These are just a few examples of what Jesus actually said. One day we will be standing alone before the judgment seat of Christ. What we do with our lives now, will determine whether we hear Him say on that day... "Well done, my good and faithful servant; enter into your rest"... or "Depart from me, I never knew you." This should be a sobering realization.
The Church today needs a 'wake-up call'... as do all the individual members of the Body of Christ. He completed His part, it is now up to us to complete ours. We need to stop seeing Jesus Christ through carnal eyes. He is not a babe in a manger. He is not hanging on a cross. He is our risen savior, seated at the right hand of God, with all power and majesty and authority.
Revelation 1:12-18 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
This is WHO we are called to follow! This is our example... the firstborn among many brethren. May we honestly examine our own hearts and minds, now, while there is still time. Eternity is a long time to have to carry regrets for what could have been... for what we might have accomplished had we only obeyed. We are called to lay down our life, just as Jesus did... and take up our cross daily and follow HIM. There will be no acceptable excuse... when we stand before the Throne of God.
If we think of our Christian walk in the sense of our span of life... it might go something like this...
As little children, time drags by and seems to take forever when there is something we are waiting for. We are locked into that sense of time's passing slowly for as long we are little. Compare that with how time is viewed in late life. It passes incredibly swiftly, our youth seems like it was but a blink of an eye. So it is with our struggles in our Christian walk. In the beginning it is a bumpy road... with our flesh rearing up every time we turn around it seems. But the further we progress in our walk, the struggle lessens, as we learn to rest in Him. Till we come to the place where we are no longer operating in our own strength... but in HIS... and then it is easy. When we fight and resist dying to self, we make it harder on ourselves. Jesus fully paid the price... He made the way. All we are required to do is to follow Him... believe and obey. Our Lord has offered us more than we can even comprehend. That we too, might become the Sons of God. How can we now fail to examine ourselves? Our driving motivation should be that we be all that He desires us to be. That we can be pleasing and bring pleasure to the One Who loved us while we were yet sinners. Let us press on...toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus!
