So, you’re here again today for a visit at the kitchen table. I’m having a cup of tea… because of some recent health problems, I’m making some radical changes. Yes… sniffle, sniffle, one of them includes drastically reducing coffee consumption — caffeine, really, and anything that contributes to high blood-pressure and high cholesterol. I have a little elevation of one and a lot of the latter.
So, I’m trying not to get too caught up in the going’s on. But it’s really difficult to ignore blatant apostacy. I mean, as I have written a number of times in the past, it’s expected that the world will decline, degrade and decay. And it’s really not unexpected that the most effective way or place for the devil to move is to have a slow and steady, multi-pronged attack against and within the church — either subtly, boldly, directly or indirectly. Watch for it — you’ll see: it’s happening! It’s really happening. And I’m not talking about trends of worship style in what most mainstream Christians mean when they refer to church — the meetings that happen on Sunday mornings — or for the very contemporary: Saturday evening. Because, contrary to common misconceptions — what happens on Sunday mornings (or Saturday evenings) isn’t church — it might be a meeting of the church, but it’s not church. Church is not a place or event but a body of believers — and people do a lot of things for or against ‘the church’ because of what they think of the event (or location) that happens on Sunday mornings — or what’s happening to the building ‘the church’ meets in.
The Proverbs (27.12 & 22.3)
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
A combination of local and national headlines and news stories, recent ‘church’ news and clips, and recent scripture studies have me just shaking my head again and again. I’m grieved over the slip ‘n slide of the church in America. Just read titles of books in the “christian” bookstore or read anything by “progressive” christians and you’ll see the blast of decay. I’ve been trying to make a point to not be caught up in all the verbiage and mess of politics and global garbage and all the emergent lies — I really have been looking for glimpses of fruit — sweet fruit. So, truly, it’s with near anguish I consider the pitiful decline of the church... the shameful view or portrayal of God and His Word — the utter lack of wisdom, knowledge and understanding of God’s Word coupled with the arrogance and carelessness of so-called “pastors” and “preachers” of the Word.
So… here at the kitchen table this afternoon I’ve been reviewing some different mails that have come in, newsletters and links that have been suggested. I think of the different things going on and I marvel at the stunning actions, remarks and positions being made or taken by notorious ‘mega church’ pastors and ‘leaders’ today. People are flocking after many of these illustrious individuals and I would hazard to guess they don’t really even know what these men are actually saying — and truly, it’s a lack of understanding what the Bible really says and their simple acceptance of whatever’s being bandied about.
I had no idea that Frank Navasky was so down-to-earth… You read his stuff, you think he’s going to be so obscure and abstruse. He’s always talking about Heidigger and Foucault and I have no idea what any of it’s about, really.”
This is a line from the movie, You’ve Got Mail, and the character was gushing over reporter, Frank Navasky’s work. It seems to me that that’s how many Christians are behaving toward *many* of the mainstream church ‘leaders’ today — just gushing. It’s amazing… and what’s so astonishing about it all is that I truly believe a lot of them don’t even know they’re being totally duped by these ‘pastors.’
- In the “you-just-can’t-make-this-stuff-up” category, consider this: a local church is giving away money to its congregants —or, actually, anyone…
“People who take the money aren’t required to be members, and it doesn’t matter if they’ve never been to the church before, Ehoff said. He’s not worried about losing the odd $100, and expects most families to bring in a profit.”
They say the plan is biblical… a loaves and fishes sort of deal. I’m trying to be charitable here, I am. I really am. But I’ve just gotta say — this. is. unbelievable. and. it’s. sad. Considering the justification of what really is looking a lot like gambling… justifying their decision because of Jesus’ parable of the talents and also His miracle of feeding thousands with five loaves and two fish. And to make it applicable to their situation?!?!!?!!?!! So… in three months the folks will return the money and any profit they miraculously make — hmmmm… it’s like a game — each member needing a $40,000. miracle. Only… it’s not a game — the church needs a f.o.u.r m.i.l.l.i.o.n. d.o.l.l.a.r. “miracle” for their expansion bcz their bank loan fell through. It’s like they might as well just check in with the government and its form of miracle-making… you know: money out of thin air — but it’s really money that’s not even theirs to budget, grab and spend.
I know I am sounding critical — and believe me, I do not want to be harsh—I so want to be loving here. I just must say — this seems to me to be sooooo lacking true faith, trust and obedience in, for and to the LORD — our Living LORD God. It’s just unconscionable.
I keep wondering… will the church wake up and see?
