Tuesday, January 11, 2011

the church circus

It's been forever since I've wrote anything! These past few weeks have been so crazy hectic. The LORD has done such a work in and through me. I worked full time at KindCare Learning Center and am now resting and relaxing until the big move in 2 weeks! Ah, I am so excited. As I have been learning more about the truth of the Word and yearning to grow deeper, the Lord has opened my eyes to some things I just need to share. I know many people feel this way, and I know many other people think it's no big deal. My challenge to you is that you would truly sit and pray about these things..that the Lord would open your eyes as well.

I have been doing some studying of the Word and reading different books, and I came across a book called "Radical" by David Platt. It's a pretty awesome book and I encourage you to check it out. I feel like, as the years go on, the churches in America have moved away from holiness, simplicity of the Gospel and truth... and they have turned their churches into circuses. What do I mean? I see churches using plays and stage shows, some churches make you feel as if you're walking into a night club, other churches have Pastors who are either women, or men who try to act "cool" to attract the younger generation, yet in their "coolness" they are being blasphemous, downright crude, and they twist the words of Jesus to make it something appealing rather than truth.

I think that the REAL cool thing to do, would just preach the good news to us blatant and how it is in the Word, don't you? You're way cooler if you actually preach the truth rather than water it down or change words into others to make the younger generation cool. I know of a few churches who spend their time trying to get bigger congregations rather than spending time praying and using the Word as their tool to attract true believers. I am sick and tired of watching the churches in America turn into freak shows and circuses just to attract people.

If you aren't simply preaching the gospel then you're not attracting true believers, you're attracting people who most likely only go to your church so they can 'feel good' and be warm and fuzzy inside. Now, don't get me wrong. The TRUTH of the Gospel and of Jesus can often times make you comforted, peaceful and joyful..yes. But, there is another part of the Gospel that talks about sin, hell, wrath and repentance. Have you heard of it? I fear that many people who go to these 'feel good' churches never hear much about sin and hell because their pastors don't want them to have to hear the ugly truth. Well, sometimes the truth IS ugly. Yet, we need to know about how we were created IN sin. We are ugly, wretched humans. Let me just say, the true gospel message is taught when you also learn of the wrath of God, the reality of sin, and the truth of our ugliness and how we need to repent. Pastor's who refuse to teach on such things just aren't teaching their flocks the truth. I'm sorry but it's the truth.

You see churches around America where Pastor's only talk about how to get rich, how to feel happy, how to make sure you are successful. Where in the Bible does it say you need to be rich, happy, and successful in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Actually, the Word talks a lot about how as true followers of Jesus Christ we will be hated, mocked, and sometimes poor for Christ. Is this a loss? Rather..I find it a gain. I don't care if you take away my possessions, my money, my friends & family, or my success... just give me Jesus. Who could want anything else? Honestly.. Jesus is all you need. So enough talk of this 'successful Christian life' junk. Does God bless those believers who obey the commands and are true to Christ and His gospel? Sure, He does..but the Christian life isn't all about roses and daisies, sorry to say. We will have persecutions, trials and perils. These things make us stronger in Christ. These obstacles make us trust in Him more. What would our walks with Christ be without such? I would find it boring. I would find it rather pointless.

I am saddened to see the path the churches in America are going. I must say: there are several to many churches with Pastor's preaching the TRUTH of the Gospel and sticking to the holiness and severity of Christ, but unfortunately... you can't find many. Bigger churches are NOT always better. Just from experience, I've come to find the smaller churches are usually the ones who are the most loving, they are the ones who walk with Christ the most, and most of them have a congregation willing to serve and put their lives on the line for Jesus every day. Now, I'm not knocking mega-churches or big churches in general. You may be able to find good in them... I just haven't found one unfortunately.

I'm sad to see the church being turned into a place that appeals to youth. I'm sad to see the church in America looking like dance clubs instead of old fashion steeples and pews. I'm saddened to see that most Christians in Asia are being killed every day for their faith and walk with Jesus. They need to meet underground and in private because of the risk of losing their life...yet as Americans, we have the blessing of meeting freely but we have abused the simplicity and holiness of the true Word of God.

In Galatians Paul warns us about teachers such as these. In the Word it says:

"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." Galatians 1:6-10

We are not here to attract people to the Gospel in any other way than to simply speak the truth of it. The job of the church is not to water down the Word, or become "cooler" by adding their own words to it, or taking words out, or changing things. Who are we seriously pleasing? People? Or God?

I fear what judgment day will be to many churches and Pastor's once we see Jesus face to face. Aside from that, I truly wonder how the Lord handles this now.

Praying that we as true believers would find churches who truly preach on the holiness and severity of Christ. We are not in this world to be cool or to gain popularity. We are here to further the Kingdom of God.