While the Church Was Sleeping

While the Church was sleeping the Supreme Court just made Same-Sex relationships equal to what God created between Men and Women in marriage. While the Church was entertaining it's youth, the youth of our nation began to see that homosexuals looked just like the people in the church. They saw that homosexuals were nice, seemed committed, and just as in "love" as the couples in church. This happened while the Church was tickling ears, trying to be socially relevant, being seeker-sensitive, talking about social justice, and making Jesus look like a weak-minded man that was separate from God's character. While the Church was acting like a place where only the happy apply, and not the hurting, the world was the hospital for the sick, and dying.

Am I speaking too much truth for you and you think we shouldn't talk against the church? Well, that's nothing! While the Church was sleeping with other men and women besides their husbands or wives, the world saw that the Church was in the World AND OF IT!

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgement, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. Romans 12:1-3

I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. John 17:15-19

Many are talking about how awful the court ruling is and blaming the Supreme Court, but the Church wants to look outward and not inward for what has happened in this country. I've been in 5 churches in the last 24 years, and everyone of them but 1 have had Pastors that have had affairs. One of those we never officially joined, but that Pastor had an affair and committed suicide several years after we left. The other church I will talk about in a future blog post, but I will say that it was all about social justice and had leaders that taught the first 6 chapters of Genesis weren't true. Many have said they're so upset with how others talk about the Bride of Christ, but weren't the Epistles written to the churches and isn't Revelation about warnings to the future churches? The problem is the Bride of Christ has left it's first love, and aren't preparing for the BrideGroom to come!!

I've made quite a list of problems with the church, and want to address them here:

1) The Church has been entertaining it's youth. What is the world about? The world is about entertaining youth, and feeding their flesh. The world knows that if they have the mind of our youth, then they have their mind as adults.  We are putting them together with other youth, using the same music and entertainment as the world, and hoping for the best. Meanwhile, the youth have seen that the Church looks a lot like the world, and really don't have a need for it. We have set the bar so low for our youth, and congratulations Church they've reached it! What was the message from Paul to Timothy, the young Pastor he had left in Ephesus, and had been a disciple of Paul from the age of probably around 16?

Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 1 Timothy 4:12-13

2) The Church has been tickling ears for generations. They've been playing the Cheers theme song, yes literally I heard that song played in a church. They've been preaching and teaching what people have wanted to hear, instead of what they needed to hear. They have married many couples who are living together without any counsel to how that goes against what God's best is for marriage, and relationships. What does God think when people who get a divorce are isolated and the Church just throws them out? Why throw them out when you didn't teach that fornication is wrong in the first place, and it's the church that made allowance for sin to take root? Then the Church wonders why the world considers it hypocrites today!

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn way their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:2-5

3) The Church has been trying to be socially relevant, but ultimately rendering themselves irrelevant. They've been trying to fit evolution into Genesis for years (because of the fear of what the world will say), and trying to water down the verses on sin including adultery and homosexuality. They have brought the world into the Church, with the most popular cultural things like popular songs, movies, etc. Those outside of the church have been using the talking points of the Church for years to make the case for sin!! We have rendered the Bible irrelevant if the first 6 chapters of the Book of Genesis aren't true, than how can any of it be trusted? Jesus Himself quoted directly from Genesis. It wasn't any different back then either, as He was actually responding to a "trick question" by the Pharisees about divorce.

Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?" And He answered and said, "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, 'FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH'? (capital letters are not my own emphasis, but NASB) Matthew 19:3-5

4) The Church has been seeker-sensitive, which is basically the same as tickling ears, but it's just focusing the tickling to try to reach a certain social class or demographic group of people. Many of the churches in the mid '90's were geared toward the Baby Boomers, in order to try to get them back to church. The prosperity gospel is focused to reach the poor/middle class, and black liberation theology is focused toward blacks. Many churches went as far as to remove anything offensive like crosses from the church. The cross is offensive to us ALL, as it reminds us of the brutal punishment we deserved for our sin!

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, and Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3: 10-17

5) The Church has been preaching about social justice, which many aren't aware that it's the code word for the Government's redistribution of wealth. How many people are always talking about Separation of Church & State that actually is not found in our Constitution? Well, this is a way to get into the Church through the back door to have a State run Church. Jesus was extremely clear about this when He said to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's. It is the work of God through the church to the poor, and not the work of the Government. We whine about giving to the Church though, and see the government as worthy of our tithes and offerings (while the church has used the tithes for bigger buildings rather than the poor). We have set up the Government as an idol that will rescue us rather than God as our provider and protector! That brings me to the Church asking for permission from the Government to be tax-exempt, by applying for 501c3. A church doesn't have to have a 501c3 status to be tax-exempt, and they shouldn't because then they are under the rule of the government as to what they can and can't teach or preach. All a church has to do is say they have a congregation that follows a religious doctrine, baptize people, marry people, and perform funeral services to be tax-exempt.

6) The Church has been making Jesus look like a weak man that just went around spreading a message for us to love everyone. We have become a red letter Church that only listens to the Words of Jesus, teaching that He was different and separate from God. There are other's that just teach the first 5 books of the Bible as well, but even that isn't as dangerous as taking only the Words of Jesus as truth and not looking at the fullness of God's Word. Jesus quoted the Old Testament over and over again. He also was the very character of God that is taught throughout the Old and New Testament. Have you ever heard those outside the Church say that Jesus never talked about homosexuality? How do you think they got that argument?

And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13

If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him. Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? John 14:7-9

7) The Church has been a place where only the happy shall apply. We have condemned the grieving (well allowed to grieve for a designated amount of time), the depressed, the hurting, and ultimately the lost. We have condemned those who use anti-depressants without having anything to offer instead but "I'll pray for you". While we are called to be a real hospital for the wounded soul, we are actually the ones that are doing the wounding. We have condemned birth control without giving any alternatives, especially not being there when they have multiple kids. This is where a real rebuke comes to the church!! We have been the ones that have wounded, as thousands of those who have been sexually abused haven't gotten the apology they needed, haven't gotten the help they needed, many times have been the ones that are blamed for the abuse, and they haven't disciplined the perpetrators like the Church needed to do! Many who are promiscuous today or have homosexual tendencies are this way because of the abuse that took place by many ministers or members of the Church!

So that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 1 Corinthians 12:25-26

How can the Church turn this around?:

1) Repent - All Churches, which includes all the members of the Bride of Christ has been a part of this either directly or indirectly! Therefore, don't look at the person next to you at church or the minister on the pulpit when you think of who needs to repent. We must all repent for what we have said, or haven't said that has contributed to the destruction of TRUTH!!

I know you're still saying you didn't do anything wrong, but did you have any type of sexual relationship before marriage, have you seen any porn (which includes anyone nude and having sex on a computer, or TV), did you have an abortion, have you not forgiven others, have you been a glutton, have you gossiped, or have you flirted or thought of others sexually other than your husband or wife? Most of all we have ALL been silent about abuses that have gone on in the Church! This is why the Church looks exactly like the World, and who needs the Church when it's just like the World. The World seems much more loving because it doesn't condemn you for your sin!

And My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 2 Chronicles 7:14-16 

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:10

2) Teach the unadulterated word of God, and be ready to be persecuted for it! Do it unapologetically, and be a student yourself of God's Word and Truth! Don't rely on the Pastor to give you meat, but if your pastor isn't giving you meat then change Pastors. I'm going to step on a lot of toes, but believe me I know this by experience 5 times over. If your Pastor is a story teller, than he's not a pastor. If your Pastor is a figure head, then he's not your pastor. If your Pastor is a public motivational speaker, then he's not a pastor. If your Pastor is on a large screen, but untouchable to you then he's not a pastor.

The word pastor means shepherd, and a shepherd can't help his sheep on a large screen. A Shepherd is with his sheep to lead and guide them through the dangers the sheep may face. We do have the Lord as our ultimate Shepherd, so don't get me wrong that they aren't to replace the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit in our lives. If you have a man or woman that stands up at the front of a building or on a large screen and only teaches/preaches topically about the Bible, but doesn't teach expository or exegesis in which they explain theology text by text of the written word of God then find another Church! If you can't find such a church, then pray about if you should start a home Bible Study/church with families of like minds! You will never grow in the fullness of Christ through topical only teaching!

If your Pastor talks about how many members it has as a good thing, then run! Find a church that is about growing it's members deep, and not wide!

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 1 Timothy 5:17

Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness. 2 Timothy 2:14-16

3) Pray without ceasing! How much do we talk before we pray? How much do we try to find other solutions before we pray? Pray first, then second, and then third. Pray because "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" Ephesians 6:12. I read something the other day that said we can't expect God to show up in schools when we kicked him out for 50 years, or something to that effect. I think this is so wrong, because it's the fact that we haven't asked Him into the Church is the REAL problem! We must invite God to come and work in our church on a "without ceasing" basis!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

4) Parents of the CHURCH, don't leave the teaching up to the church, schools, VBS, or any other institution to teach your kids the truth of the Bible! Teach them continually about the truths of God's Word in every activity that you do and make time for devotionals in your home even if they are just once or twice a week! Pray with your children and for your children, and live it out for them to the best that you can! Pray about who will teach your kids, and where they will be educated! That includes where they would go to college or even if they should go to college as not all need to go to college to use what God has given them. It's about continual education, and we need to instill that into our children!

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Deuteronomy 4:9 

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 11:19

5) Don't be discouraged! See this as an opportunity to stand for righteousness, and for the world to really see that the Church is willing to stand even through persecution. The Church of the United States of America is really not even able to compare it's persecution with what is going on with Christians around the world today! Stand up for the persecuted church in every part, as when one part of the Church is persecuted the entire church is persecuted! Give your business to those who are willing to stand up for Truth wherever you find the opportunity! Prayerfully find ways to share the Gospel with boldness! Whether that is through giving tracts, giving Bibles, and giving to other ministries that share the gospel. Let's MAKE the world our mission field again, which includes the hard mission fields. Let's be the first to love the unloveable, and standing up for the defenseless. Whatever we do as the Church let's do it for the Lord! Whether it's playing sports, preaching, giving, parenting, teaching, or whatever we are doing let's give Him all the Glory!

Haven't I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:16-17

I know the title is "While the Church was sleeping", but actually it would have been better had we just had a sleeping church. What we've had in many cases is worse than sleeping, as we've had a hurtful, unforgiving, idol worshipping, and irrelevant Church. If we choose not to repent, and follow these other things than the best wish we can ask and pray for our future generations is to have a sleeping church!