Post by Les Brewer on Jul 5, 2012 8:41:54 GMT
John Wolf
Calvary's Cross Ministries
Preaching Christ Crucified
From the Pastor's desk...
Good morning and God bless you all.
...
"For the time has come that judgement must begin at the house of God;And if it first begin at us,what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved,where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear." (I Pet.4:17-18,KJV)
Pretty strong words,wouldn't you say,coming from one of the first three Apostles of our Lord? It seems these same words are long over due in the House of God these days.
I try very hard not to be critical of the things that I observe going on in the House of God in these last days,but,just from a practical perspective,one can only wonder what the Lord must be thinking of His children.The church has allowed so much of worldly thinking to creep in through the doors and,the pastors are bringing most of it in,or allowing it to be brought in,I shudder to think,should the Lord tarry His return,where will the church be in 50 more years.
I've been on the receiving end of responses to questions I've asked about why some things are being allowed to enter in,an I can tell you,it would dumbfound you with some of the answers I've gotten.I often wonder sometimes,if the Lord is not up there in heaven scratching His head over some of our decisions.The biggest thorn in the flesh that pesters my side,is the total lack of discernment that many of the laity and much of the leadership shows towards things that are worldly and sinful,that is allowed to pass as something to draw people in to the church.Many churches are like restaurants now,anything you want they will offer it to the congregation just to keep them coming back.
"If you want coffee and donuts while listening to a sermon that will not convict or correct,then by all means,come pay us a visit,we will cater to your needs." or "If you like,you really don't have to listen to a sermon,you can sit at a table in the sanctuary with your friends,and discuss how great the nightclub was that you went to the night before,with your friends."
I'm being a little silly,but I think you understand where I'm coming from.I've read the N.T. approximately 200 times,in the last 33 years,and I've yet to find a verse or text that says we must make the church appealing to the world,in order to attract people.Hey,I have a thought.Why not just repent and come back to the preaching of the true gospel,under the anointing of the Holy Spirit,call sin,sin and righteousness,righteousness,and let God be God,and convict us once again of sin in the camp.Let's come back to mourning over our sins and this nations sins,and turn back to God,instead of acting like the Hebrew children who had just been delivered from Egypt,and realized they loved Egypt to much to let it all go? Yes,for those who recognize the fact that America needs revival,we need even further to recognize America will not get it until the Church gets it.As the Church goes,so goes the Nation.
I'm reminded of the verse in Proverbs 14:34,"Righteousness exalts a nation,but sin is a reproach to any people."
I pray that I would be able to continually search my own heart,with God's help,and to root out any sin or unrighteousness that is in there.The Scriptures say in I Cor.11:31,"For if we would judge ourselves,we should not be judged." Let us draw near to God with a true (honest) heart, and allow Him to show us the things we need to root out, that we may shine as bright lights in the Kingdom of the Son of His love......God bless you all.....love ,John.
Calvary's Cross Ministries
Preaching Christ Crucified
From the Pastor's desk...
Good morning and God bless you all.
...
"For the time has come that judgement must begin at the house of God;And if it first begin at us,what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved,where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear." (I Pet.4:17-18,KJV)
Pretty strong words,wouldn't you say,coming from one of the first three Apostles of our Lord? It seems these same words are long over due in the House of God these days.
I try very hard not to be critical of the things that I observe going on in the House of God in these last days,but,just from a practical perspective,one can only wonder what the Lord must be thinking of His children.The church has allowed so much of worldly thinking to creep in through the doors and,the pastors are bringing most of it in,or allowing it to be brought in,I shudder to think,should the Lord tarry His return,where will the church be in 50 more years.
I've been on the receiving end of responses to questions I've asked about why some things are being allowed to enter in,an I can tell you,it would dumbfound you with some of the answers I've gotten.I often wonder sometimes,if the Lord is not up there in heaven scratching His head over some of our decisions.The biggest thorn in the flesh that pesters my side,is the total lack of discernment that many of the laity and much of the leadership shows towards things that are worldly and sinful,that is allowed to pass as something to draw people in to the church.Many churches are like restaurants now,anything you want they will offer it to the congregation just to keep them coming back.
"If you want coffee and donuts while listening to a sermon that will not convict or correct,then by all means,come pay us a visit,we will cater to your needs." or "If you like,you really don't have to listen to a sermon,you can sit at a table in the sanctuary with your friends,and discuss how great the nightclub was that you went to the night before,with your friends."
I'm being a little silly,but I think you understand where I'm coming from.I've read the N.T. approximately 200 times,in the last 33 years,and I've yet to find a verse or text that says we must make the church appealing to the world,in order to attract people.Hey,I have a thought.Why not just repent and come back to the preaching of the true gospel,under the anointing of the Holy Spirit,call sin,sin and righteousness,righteousness,and let God be God,and convict us once again of sin in the camp.Let's come back to mourning over our sins and this nations sins,and turn back to God,instead of acting like the Hebrew children who had just been delivered from Egypt,and realized they loved Egypt to much to let it all go? Yes,for those who recognize the fact that America needs revival,we need even further to recognize America will not get it until the Church gets it.As the Church goes,so goes the Nation.
I'm reminded of the verse in Proverbs 14:34,"Righteousness exalts a nation,but sin is a reproach to any people."
I pray that I would be able to continually search my own heart,with God's help,and to root out any sin or unrighteousness that is in there.The Scriptures say in I Cor.11:31,"For if we would judge ourselves,we should not be judged." Let us draw near to God with a true (honest) heart, and allow Him to show us the things we need to root out, that we may shine as bright lights in the Kingdom of the Son of His love......God bless you all.....love ,John.
