I Can't Go To Church!

I CAN’T GO TO CHURCH!

Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

IT IS A WONDER ANYONE WOULD GO TO CHURCH IF THEY WATCH THE PEOPLE? CHURCH IS NOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE IT IS ABOUT THE GOD OF THE PEOPLE!

TEXT:

Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou

that judgest doest the same things.

I. I CAN’T GO TO CHURCH, THE PREACHER DOES NOT DO

AS I EXPECT!

A. Many Bible preachers had to do some bold and innovative things during their ministry. People have disagreed with the preacher, his message, and his method.

B. Miriam and Aaron judged their preacher brother and their sister- in -law.

They were right in their own eyes, thus they were right?

Numbers 12 God says, they were wrong! More than that, they will pay.

Numbers 12:14 And the Lord said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the

camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. 15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

C. Whether they cooked over dung, or were known as a weeping preacher they had a hard road to walk. Some looked great danger in the face and the ENEMY OF THE MESSAGE tried to cause great fear for their life.

D. One king did not like the message or the messengers and had over half the known preachers killed in one day.

E. The preachers often looked at the powers to be and had to warn them.

F.The queen said the preacher will be dead before the sun goes down?

The preacher said, HONEY, THE DOGS ARE GOING TO LICK YOUR BLOOD OFF THE GROUND.

G. John the Baptist stood against adultery and angered the powers to be and they buried his body without a head.

II. WE DEMAND SMOOTH WORDS, AND EASY MESSAGES.

Isaiah 30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

NAMAAN ALMOST MISSED HIS HEALING BECAUSE THE PREACHER

DID NOT DO AS HE EXPECTED!

A .If the message is not popular, often the messenger will not be. There seems a cry, PREACH IT EASY!

B. Preach smooth things, short and to the point --- make us feel good!

C. Preachers tend to want to please people.

We fear numbers and budget cuts, and our society demands tolerance.

D. I heard recently where a preacher made a promise to the people if they would come to the service --- the service would be no longer than 45 minutes from start to finish.

Come to find out the crowds never increased, the compromise and lack of attendance was not because of the time or it was not about the length of the service, that was an excuse.

E. The problem was unfaithfulness.

III. IF THE PEOPLE ARE UNFAITHFUL LET’S JUST CALL OFF CHURCH? TODAY MANY THINK THE LORD’S DAY IS FAMILY DAY OR RECREATIONAL DAY, A DAY OF REST.

Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

A. Have you ever heard the drug people’s call, let’s just legalize drugs, and we won’t have our prisons full of dope dealers?

Of course? How safe would our cities be then?

If this is wrong, let’s just make it right!

THIS ATTITUDE IS SPILLING INTO THE CHURCH?

B. In the USA we are having many churches dismiss services.

I have heard some churches dismiss all summer services, and mail the message and a tithe envelope to the house.

C. Some will not go this far, but they will dismiss for many other reasons.

No service Christmas, no night service Super Bowl Sunday, no service on Mother’s Day, it is a family day, no service on Memorial Day, none of the 4th of July, and many, many more.

D. ONCE WE START LOWERING THE STANDARD, COMPROMISE BECOMES EASIER!

E. Our priority systems are wrong.

F. A rock singer exposed herself on big screen TV’s set up in the middle of God’s sanctuary?

G. I can tell you of a church that dismisses service any time UK (Kentucky)is playing basket ball on Sunday or Wednesday’s. WHAT IS IMPORTANT?

The preacher claims the right to see the game if the men are not coming to service. I ponder what is backslidding?

IV. THE PRIMARY REASON FOR THE LORD’S DAY IS NOT REST NOR RECREATION. IT IS WORSHIP AND PRAISE!

Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

A. I am not saying you have to go to church! Legalism and dictation and force are not good reasons to go to church.