A Mile Wide and a 1/4 Inch Deep
If you were to look on the surface of modern evangelical Christianity today you might think that there is a renewal taking place. Nothing could be further from the truth however. The explosion of mega churches, the growth of the Christian publishing industry, Christian themed movies, etc., are deceiving indicators as to the health of the church of Jesus Christ today. Modern day evangelical Christianity is a mile wide and a1/4 inch deep.
Sure if you were to look at the church from the waters edge it is quite a site to behold; large and intimidating in appearance. But dive into 1/4 inch deep waters and you soon realize the peril the church is in. The pure and solid teaching of God's word has been replaced by weak man- centered topical messages. If you were to read Christian literature or listen to most sermons today you would think that man's greatest need was to be happy in this life. That friends, is not our greatest need. If it were than our poor brothers and sisters in China and other closed countries got a raw deal.
I am reminded of the words of Craig Wood who shared his testimony with us a few weeks ago. Craig suffers from a serious and painful skin disease. When asked what was one of the greatest lessons God has taught him through his suffering he said it was that "we should not make this our Heaven." Craig is right. But that is precisely what the church today is encouraging people to do. The focus today has shifted away from God and onto self.
We are no longer confronted with the ugliness of our sin and the holiness of God. You often hear of God's grace and mercy but never hear about His wrath. Ironically, you cannot understand the depths of God's grace and mercy until you have a proper understanding of terribleness of His wrath. What good is it to tell a person about the salvation God offers without telling them what they are being saved from? Are they saved from their bad marriage? The pain of a wandering child? Their low "self-esteem?" Of course not. They are saved from the wrath of God which is poured out upon them because of their sin (Rom. 1:18). On the day of judgment all other issues or problems will pale in comparison to the problem of our sin.
In spite of all of this Christian leaders boast of great successes, likening what is happening today to a second reformation! These leaders tout poll numbers which show the majority (in the 90% range) of Americans proclaim to be Christian. Another interesting note however is that only 36% of Americans believe in the bodily resurrection of believers. I often wonder if the average Christian today (I am referring to people who have been believers for at least 5 years) could explain the meaning of the following words or phrases found in Scripture: Atonement, propitiation, new covenant. etc. I would also speculate that these words are rarley used or explained from the vast majority of pulpits today.
The church today sees its sheer size as a sign of health. That kind of thinking is as foolish as mistaking a large waist size as a sign of physical fitness.
When I consider the state of the church in America today I cannot help but remember the words to the church at Laodicea recorded in Revelation 3:17-19 “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.”
God bless,
Pastor Duane
Sure if you were to look at the church from the waters edge it is quite a site to behold; large and intimidating in appearance. But dive into 1/4 inch deep waters and you soon realize the peril the church is in. The pure and solid teaching of God's word has been replaced by weak man- centered topical messages. If you were to read Christian literature or listen to most sermons today you would think that man's greatest need was to be happy in this life. That friends, is not our greatest need. If it were than our poor brothers and sisters in China and other closed countries got a raw deal.
I am reminded of the words of Craig Wood who shared his testimony with us a few weeks ago. Craig suffers from a serious and painful skin disease. When asked what was one of the greatest lessons God has taught him through his suffering he said it was that "we should not make this our Heaven." Craig is right. But that is precisely what the church today is encouraging people to do. The focus today has shifted away from God and onto self.
We are no longer confronted with the ugliness of our sin and the holiness of God. You often hear of God's grace and mercy but never hear about His wrath. Ironically, you cannot understand the depths of God's grace and mercy until you have a proper understanding of terribleness of His wrath. What good is it to tell a person about the salvation God offers without telling them what they are being saved from? Are they saved from their bad marriage? The pain of a wandering child? Their low "self-esteem?" Of course not. They are saved from the wrath of God which is poured out upon them because of their sin (Rom. 1:18). On the day of judgment all other issues or problems will pale in comparison to the problem of our sin.
In spite of all of this Christian leaders boast of great successes, likening what is happening today to a second reformation! These leaders tout poll numbers which show the majority (in the 90% range) of Americans proclaim to be Christian. Another interesting note however is that only 36% of Americans believe in the bodily resurrection of believers. I often wonder if the average Christian today (I am referring to people who have been believers for at least 5 years) could explain the meaning of the following words or phrases found in Scripture: Atonement, propitiation, new covenant. etc. I would also speculate that these words are rarley used or explained from the vast majority of pulpits today.
The church today sees its sheer size as a sign of health. That kind of thinking is as foolish as mistaking a large waist size as a sign of physical fitness.
When I consider the state of the church in America today I cannot help but remember the words to the church at Laodicea recorded in Revelation 3:17-19 “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.”
God bless,
Pastor Duane
posted by Duane @ 12:51 PM
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