Isaiah Wouldn't Be Popular With A "Seeker-Friendly Church"

"Therefore in that day the LORD God of hosts called you to weeping, to wailing, to shaving the head, and to wearing sackcloth.

Instead, there is gaiety and gladness, killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die.'

But the LORD of hosts revealed Himself to me, 'Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you until you die,' says the LORD God of hosts."

Isaiah 22:12-14

This text speaks volumes as to what the Church ought to be doing these days. Instead of the "mega-church" people-pleasing "outreach," the Church should be mourning her sins. They crucified the Lord of Glory, Jesus Christ. It is our sin that required His suffering and death. The Father would not be appeased without His death on our behalf.

Unworthy, unlovable, sinful creatures we are. Yet, God in His unfathomable love put to death His own Son in order to redeem for Himself a people made up of liars, thieves, murderers, adulterers, fornicators, blasphemers, and God-haters [Romans 5:6-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11].

The sensuality and hedonistic festivities of the modern church, all done in the name of evangelism, are nothing more than the local church attempting to become a socialite headquarters that spends more time making you feel good [especially about who you are, because "God loves you just the way you are..."] rather than having an accurate knowledge of who God is [holy, sovereign Lord of all creation], what we are [vile sinners who are nothing but rebellious against Him], and how hot His wrath really does burn against sinners!

Take this passage from Isaiah and compare it to what you see your local churches doing these days:

"And the dogs are greedy, they are not satisfied [there's never enough people attending church or its events, so they must make it bigger and better]. And they are shepherds who have no understanding [they have unbiblical theology and methodology, some who are genuinely misled]; they have all turned to their own way [pragmatism leads to self-reliance; if they're creative enough or have the freshest ideas, they run with it, regardless if it's ], each one to his unjust gain [numbers increase, tithes and material possessions increase, not to mention a "name that they are alive"], to the last one.

'Come,' they say, 'let us get wine, and let us drink heavily of strong drink [enough is never enough, and it is through sensual pleasures that they attract the lost and keep them...lost]; and tomorrow will be like today, only more so [they see no judgment from God coming to them for their actions; most likely because they have refused to preach and teach God's judgment against sin and have become numb to it]."

Isaiah 56:11-12

When the local church [especially the pastors] finally wake up to the reality of God and the real reason why Christ died [not to make us "better people" but to purchase a people for His Father and MAKE THEM RIGHTEOUS!!!], then will they cease the pageantry and MTV-style "evange-tainment" [sans nudity, although most of the mega-church types talk about sex more than any other topic, and sans curse words...uh, in most churches anyway].

At the end of the day [this one is for you pastors], you must ask yourself one question:
"Did i have fun, or did i glorify the LORD my God?"

[Yes, i can already hear those who will argue: "but Christianity can be fun too!" But the "fun" that comes from being a Christian is the joy flowing from doing all you do to the glory of God the Father - 1 Corinthians 10:31 - and having to resort to entertainment in order to find joy means you have a seriously low, and i would say blasphemous, view of who God really is.]