The Lost Church. In the Times of the End. In todays world we see many, Members, Clergy and Ministers, who have lost their first love and have gone after strange spirits. Many have lied, manipulated and deceived their congregations and each other. Saying that righteousness is within the individual. We see this change has come upon many that say they are Christs but denigh the very Father that Sent Him. De-nighing the Son is De-nighing the Father.
Rev 3:15-17; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: . These are those that are lost within themselves, believing that they are righteous and just, but cannot justify themselves before God.
The Blind leading the Blind.
When you go within a Church, you must question the doctrine that is being taught, if they say its all right and not to worry, Leave and seek out another. We must be vigilant to the doctrine that is being taught so that we are not out of the will and laws of God.
Jesus stated of man made doctrine; ”Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” From Smiths Dictionary we see a few definitions that I wish to expound upon. Another quality in leaven is noticed in the Bible, namely, its secretly penetrating and diffusive power. In this respect it was emblematic of moral influence generally, whether good or bad; and hence our Saviour adopts it as illustrating the growth of the kingdom of heaven in the individual heart and in the world at large: because
(1) its source is from without;
(2) it is secret in its operation;
(3) it spreads by contact of particle with particle;
On the Hypocritical Side we see;
(1) its source is from without; This is man made doctrine. A doctrine is a rule of conduct among Church Believers not necessarily Church members, and yes there is a difference. What is man made doctrine? A doctrine may be true or false; it may be a mere tenet or opinion.(Webster.) I’m going to use the definition, Opinion. When a man of God starts using his own opinion on the validity of any scripture in the Bible, he has erred from the faith. For example, Calling any earthly man, Father., Ordaining a woman to any position that usurps authority over a man, I.E. Priest, Deacons, Pastors, etc. ”Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” Any source used, by any minister of the Gospel, that is contrary to sound doctrine must be removed from the Church and never taught. Just because a man says that He believes in Jesus doesn’t necessarily mean that that person is saved. Jam 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
(2) it is secret in its operation; Simulation; a feigning to be what one is not; or dissimulation, a concealment of one’s real character or motives. More generally, hypocrisy is simulation, or the assuming of a false appearance of virtue or religion; a deceitful show of a good character, in morals or religion; a counterfeiting of religion. To be able to deceive many have used words to attack what we know is to be the truth. Many will use the word; Phraseology, to hide their lack of wisdom and knowledge. Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
There is a concealment of their true motives. Their good character may hide deep dark secrets, as we have seen over the years, Jim Jones, David Koresh, The Bakers, and lately Hager. Websters speaks of motives as; That which incites to action; that which determines the choice, or moves the will. Thus we speak of good motives, and bad motives; strong and weak motives. The motive to continue at rest is ease or satisfaction; the motive to change is uneasiness, or the prospect of good.
We must questions many of the motives that are being introduced upon the Church. Many of these motives are easy to see but many more are being hid in the use of the Gospel. Examples of this are in many televangelist broad casts. When anyone preaches Hell Fire and Brimstone, stating the world will end soon, then ask you for your money to build their own glory upon this earth, there is something wrong. The slight of hand and the slight of a word here and there, is a red flag that all should recognize.
(3) it spreads by contact of particle with particle; The strong and the week, the wise and the unwise. Many eating from the alter of the burnt sacrifice and those that don’t. “ I shall eat no meat if it offends my brother, the weak.” 1Co 8:10 -13; For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
In 1Co 8:10 -13, we see another example of the Blind leading the Blind, we also see a warning. The lost Church, in these end days, according to Christ and Prophecy will and is, turning their back on sound doctrine and turning toward the sinful elements of society, as to not offend nor cause an uproar among the people. Many Churches have become afraid of the elements of Satan that try to infiltrate the body of the Church. The best example of this today is equal rights for homosexuals. What a man does outside the Church is one thing but to say that their lifestyle has a right to be recognized as righteous within the Church is another.
Sinners and the lost are welcome within the Church, but their membership in the Church, their Salvation and calling, must be based on the Laws of God and not the opinion of the A.C.L.U. Nor the laws of man. We will all give account of our actions. The Bible tells us in Phi 4:6, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God., we are to be bold and steadfast in our profession of faith.
Eph 4:13-14; Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Rev 3:9-10; Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. The Church’s that are upon the rock, must start coming together as one, no more fighting after man made doctrine, no more being afraid of prophecy, no more being afraid of laws and lawyers, that have not the truth in them, no more being afraid of world opinion, no more being afraid of Satan. We must all stand together, Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, and all the rest. The lost Church isn’t truly lost just confused. The Lost Church must remove their self interest and seek out the will of God concerning the Church. The rich Churches must help the poor, those with knowledge must share that knowledge, without seeking payment, and those that build grand temples must go back to the time of innocence. For every thing we see is temporal and not eternal, it will all burn and decay. Ars.
