What God Doesn't Know...
Jeremiah 2-4
[Disclaimer: In this blog, i have used the term "whore" to describe the severity of the condition of the Church in America. If you are offended by this term, i apologize, but it must be said.]
As in any adulterous affair, the one committing the indiscretion usually makes good to cover up her infidelity in hopes that her husband will not become wise to it. She makes excuses, hides the little favors she receives from her lover, keeps their conversations and rendezvous in the secret places of her heart. Slowly her husband becomes more aware of her unfaithfulness. He finds a note here, an article of clothing there, or simply notices that she has become more closed off to him day by day. He reaches out to her with loving arms and sweet words, but they are shoved away because she has ceased to love the one that chose her to be his bride forever. His heart is broken and yet he loves her still. He is willing to do anything to keep her, even die for her.
The prostitute however makes herself available to any and all who pay the right price. She sells herself to whom she pleases, or to the one who pleases her. She may claim to be faithful to one, but no matter what price he pays, she will always seek after another and another. Her lust will never be satisfied. She will constantly follow after anyone who seems worthy of her time or shows her even the slightest interest. She parades herself around with revealing garments, exposing that which is supposed to be sacred. Over time, it becomes apparent that she is indeed a whore. Her appearance that was once pretty has become distorted and ugly. Her usefulness to her suitors becomes cheap as she sells herself for less and less. She is no longer a woman and definitely not a bride. She is an object. She is dead inside and will soon also be dead outside.
i have just described two kinds of "Church" in America. The first is the true Bride of Christ. There are times when she [through her individual members] has wandered away into another's arms. Her Husband [Christ] calls her back. He reminds her the price He paid for her, and she repents. She comes home to Him and clings to Him even tighter than before. She is amazed at His love for her so much that she does not wander anymore. Her home is with Him, and her adultery is over.
The second "Church" is the one that is becoming more common that we are willing to admit. Bearing witness to this, i give just a small example: i have seen and heard those who claim to be Christians who lovingly cling to the satanic holiday known as Halloween. They reminisce about parties where men dressed as women and how they decorate their children's bedrooms with ghosts, vampires, and even a coffin! They seem to be lovers of death and yet claim to be alive in Christ! [For you nay-sayers out there, do some research about the history and meaning of Halloween and you'll see that no Christian should like this holiday.]
But on a larger scale, the modern "church-growth, purpose-driven, mega-church" movements have fallen into the second category. "There is no fear of God before their eyes" [Rom. 3:18]. They talk all about God's love and forgiveness as if that's all He says about Himself. They do not know the God of the Bible, for He is a jealous God who punishes sinners for their sin [Ex. 20:5]. They do not preach the full counsel of God [Acts 20:20-21, 27]. Their congregations seek preachers who will not pierce their hearts with the Word [Acts 2:37; Heb. 4:12] because it sounds "negative" or "confrontational."
They want unrepentant sinners to feel welcome and comfortable in their congregations, mostly because they are unrepentant themselves! God has raised up men to lead the Church onward in His statutes and to openly declare His Word, but like Israel, they have killed the prophets He sent them [Jer. 2:30]. They sought men [and women] who would tell them only what makes them feel good and tickles their ears [2 Tim. 4:3-4]. They want someone to tell them a good story on Sunday, leave them alone the rest of the week, and never confront them with the holiness of God. For when one is confronted with the holiness of God, he is destroyed [Is. 6:1-5].
God wants to destroy us! He wants to do so either in His wrath [Rom. 2:5] or His grace [Rom. 9:15-16; Eph. 2:8-9]. So which one will you be? Are an adulterous bride who must come home to her Husband, repent, and be made pure and clean by the Word [Eph. 5:26-27]? Or are you simply the whore, unrepentant and a lover of your sin that God hates so much?
[Disclaimer: In this blog, i have used the term "whore" to describe the severity of the condition of the Church in America. If you are offended by this term, i apologize, but it must be said.]
As in any adulterous affair, the one committing the indiscretion usually makes good to cover up her infidelity in hopes that her husband will not become wise to it. She makes excuses, hides the little favors she receives from her lover, keeps their conversations and rendezvous in the secret places of her heart. Slowly her husband becomes more aware of her unfaithfulness. He finds a note here, an article of clothing there, or simply notices that she has become more closed off to him day by day. He reaches out to her with loving arms and sweet words, but they are shoved away because she has ceased to love the one that chose her to be his bride forever. His heart is broken and yet he loves her still. He is willing to do anything to keep her, even die for her.
The prostitute however makes herself available to any and all who pay the right price. She sells herself to whom she pleases, or to the one who pleases her. She may claim to be faithful to one, but no matter what price he pays, she will always seek after another and another. Her lust will never be satisfied. She will constantly follow after anyone who seems worthy of her time or shows her even the slightest interest. She parades herself around with revealing garments, exposing that which is supposed to be sacred. Over time, it becomes apparent that she is indeed a whore. Her appearance that was once pretty has become distorted and ugly. Her usefulness to her suitors becomes cheap as she sells herself for less and less. She is no longer a woman and definitely not a bride. She is an object. She is dead inside and will soon also be dead outside.
i have just described two kinds of "Church" in America. The first is the true Bride of Christ. There are times when she [through her individual members] has wandered away into another's arms. Her Husband [Christ] calls her back. He reminds her the price He paid for her, and she repents. She comes home to Him and clings to Him even tighter than before. She is amazed at His love for her so much that she does not wander anymore. Her home is with Him, and her adultery is over.
The second "Church" is the one that is becoming more common that we are willing to admit. Bearing witness to this, i give just a small example: i have seen and heard those who claim to be Christians who lovingly cling to the satanic holiday known as Halloween. They reminisce about parties where men dressed as women and how they decorate their children's bedrooms with ghosts, vampires, and even a coffin! They seem to be lovers of death and yet claim to be alive in Christ! [For you nay-sayers out there, do some research about the history and meaning of Halloween and you'll see that no Christian should like this holiday.]
But on a larger scale, the modern "church-growth, purpose-driven, mega-church" movements have fallen into the second category. "There is no fear of God before their eyes" [Rom. 3:18]. They talk all about God's love and forgiveness as if that's all He says about Himself. They do not know the God of the Bible, for He is a jealous God who punishes sinners for their sin [Ex. 20:5]. They do not preach the full counsel of God [Acts 20:20-21, 27]. Their congregations seek preachers who will not pierce their hearts with the Word [Acts 2:37; Heb. 4:12] because it sounds "negative" or "confrontational."
They want unrepentant sinners to feel welcome and comfortable in their congregations, mostly because they are unrepentant themselves! God has raised up men to lead the Church onward in His statutes and to openly declare His Word, but like Israel, they have killed the prophets He sent them [Jer. 2:30]. They sought men [and women] who would tell them only what makes them feel good and tickles their ears [2 Tim. 4:3-4]. They want someone to tell them a good story on Sunday, leave them alone the rest of the week, and never confront them with the holiness of God. For when one is confronted with the holiness of God, he is destroyed [Is. 6:1-5].
God wants to destroy us! He wants to do so either in His wrath [Rom. 2:5] or His grace [Rom. 9:15-16; Eph. 2:8-9]. So which one will you be? Are an adulterous bride who must come home to her Husband, repent, and be made pure and clean by the Word [Eph. 5:26-27]? Or are you simply the whore, unrepentant and a lover of your sin that God hates so much?
posted by slave2Messiah at
7:56 AM
1 Comments:
Thank you for this excellent post. We all need this stark reminder of the adultery of straying from God and His Word.
By
Dave Baker, At
4:51 PM
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