It's normal....and what would be expected....we don't want to look too closely at why America has become what it has become. We want to defend ourselves and the efforts of many as to any responsibility....along with our pastors and brothers and sisters in Christ....and we want to hold fast to the memory of our traditions and the multitudinous sacrifices made....but these things do not help....they only soothe the rage at the very obvious reasons for our continuous demise.
The not-so-obvious reasons are harder to face. The Christian church....and evangelicalism in general....have failed in that they no longer influence the culture to any great degree. Society has changed us to its own model over the course of time. We are in no way a peculiar people any more. There were probably tens of thousands of born-again evangelicals at those bowl games of this past weekend.....deliriously happy on one side even as the nation crumbles.....broken-hearted on the other but not for America.
We cannot pray rightly for America until we recognize our own responsibility. I will on occasion read through very professional church websites....for various reasons....sometimes in advance of taking a trip....other times trying to find a church for a friend or relative to attend....and I don't weep outwardly....but I weep inwardly....at the essence of what these churches have become....and at the sermon titles if they are even listed which they are usually not....and at all the activities and ministries that have crowded out humility and pleadings for mercies from God.
I would recommend two books if you are interested:
Christ's Call To Reform The Church by John MacArthur and
Christless Christianity, The Alternative Gospel of the American Church by Michael Horton
Flee The Megachurch
We evangelicals once knew.....and not all that long ago....that God was going to judge America....but that strength in discernment is all gone....for we now think that God is going to bless America....to keep us winning.....with our best yet to come. We believe this because a false prophet has come into our midst.
We once knew that our hope could never be in man....in military strength....and financial riches.....but that discernment also is all gone. That bronze bull on Wall Street has become an idol every bit as much as the calf fashioned by Aaron.
We once knew that the outward appearance of a church building meant nothing....but today it means success. The bigger and more attractive-the more successful. Brothers and sisters....flee the megachurch....flee it's vain enticements....flee its seeker sensitive modern gospel. Look for a blood-bought pastor who weeps for this world. It is surely an arrogant and generalizing statement to make...."flee the megachurch'....I admit that....but we are far worse off than we even thought ourselves to be back when we knew we were about to be judged.
In Donald Trump we are giving to Caesar what belongs to God. Ultimately we are relying on ourselves. Our humility has been crushed. Christ is at the door. Look up....and listen.....for the thundering hooves of the four horses can be heard if you turn off talk radio....and even if Jesus were to tarry....consider this world....this violent world in our news every day....its technology and philosophy....and the greed that rules everywhere....for if you would then you might also see that surely it is not something to be desired....or to look forward to....and then you also might find yourself praying....Maranatha....come Lord Jesus!
Try this if you have known for some time that something is wrong in our pulpits today. Google 'Charles Spurgeon sermons'....(I pick Spurgeon but there are others....Martyn Lloyd-Lones would be another)....pick one sermon....any one....and listen to it this Lord's Day afternoon. Do the same next Lord's Day....Lord willing....and see if before long if you are not pleading with God to lead you to where you are to go. I can tell you now that it won't be easy....but you will get a little more knowledgeable every week....and a little stronger every week....and if God wills it....that He should have mercy on us....He will send those shepherds to us from elsewhere....or make them known to us if they are laboring right next to us....for they themselves are somewhere right now pleading for God to use them....pleading for God to send sheep....and the unsaved.
Be bold with God in your prayers once you see what has been withheld from us. By rights we should not be but yet He desires us to be. We have nothing to bring....nothing useful. The modern church basques in it's own beauty....and we have dust from the path all over us....but He loves the dust if it comes from the paths of old....traveled much by those before us. For if we refuse to rest in Vanity Church any longer....nor take the easier path anymore....then God will surely see us struggling.....and quickly send help.
The not-so-obvious reasons are harder to face. The Christian church....and evangelicalism in general....have failed in that they no longer influence the culture to any great degree. Society has changed us to its own model over the course of time. We are in no way a peculiar people any more. There were probably tens of thousands of born-again evangelicals at those bowl games of this past weekend.....deliriously happy on one side even as the nation crumbles.....broken-hearted on the other but not for America.
We cannot pray rightly for America until we recognize our own responsibility. I will on occasion read through very professional church websites....for various reasons....sometimes in advance of taking a trip....other times trying to find a church for a friend or relative to attend....and I don't weep outwardly....but I weep inwardly....at the essence of what these churches have become....and at the sermon titles if they are even listed which they are usually not....and at all the activities and ministries that have crowded out humility and pleadings for mercies from God.
I would recommend two books if you are interested:
Christ's Call To Reform The Church by John MacArthur and
Christless Christianity, The Alternative Gospel of the American Church by Michael Horton
Flee The Megachurch
We evangelicals once knew.....and not all that long ago....that God was going to judge America....but that strength in discernment is all gone....for we now think that God is going to bless America....to keep us winning.....with our best yet to come. We believe this because a false prophet has come into our midst.
We once knew that our hope could never be in man....in military strength....and financial riches.....but that discernment also is all gone. That bronze bull on Wall Street has become an idol every bit as much as the calf fashioned by Aaron.
We once knew that the outward appearance of a church building meant nothing....but today it means success. The bigger and more attractive-the more successful. Brothers and sisters....flee the megachurch....flee it's vain enticements....flee its seeker sensitive modern gospel. Look for a blood-bought pastor who weeps for this world. It is surely an arrogant and generalizing statement to make...."flee the megachurch'....I admit that....but we are far worse off than we even thought ourselves to be back when we knew we were about to be judged.
In Donald Trump we are giving to Caesar what belongs to God. Ultimately we are relying on ourselves. Our humility has been crushed. Christ is at the door. Look up....and listen.....for the thundering hooves of the four horses can be heard if you turn off talk radio....and even if Jesus were to tarry....consider this world....this violent world in our news every day....its technology and philosophy....and the greed that rules everywhere....for if you would then you might also see that surely it is not something to be desired....or to look forward to....and then you also might find yourself praying....Maranatha....come Lord Jesus!
Try this if you have known for some time that something is wrong in our pulpits today. Google 'Charles Spurgeon sermons'....(I pick Spurgeon but there are others....Martyn Lloyd-Lones would be another)....pick one sermon....any one....and listen to it this Lord's Day afternoon. Do the same next Lord's Day....Lord willing....and see if before long if you are not pleading with God to lead you to where you are to go. I can tell you now that it won't be easy....but you will get a little more knowledgeable every week....and a little stronger every week....and if God wills it....that He should have mercy on us....He will send those shepherds to us from elsewhere....or make them known to us if they are laboring right next to us....for they themselves are somewhere right now pleading for God to use them....pleading for God to send sheep....and the unsaved.
Be bold with God in your prayers once you see what has been withheld from us. By rights we should not be but yet He desires us to be. We have nothing to bring....nothing useful. The modern church basques in it's own beauty....and we have dust from the path all over us....but He loves the dust if it comes from the paths of old....traveled much by those before us. For if we refuse to rest in Vanity Church any longer....nor take the easier path anymore....then God will surely see us struggling.....and quickly send help.
