The Church on Shifting Sand

Looking around us today, we can easily see that the values of Christian Character are shifting slowly out to sea. A look at why this is happening might start with an analysis of this present Church Age - "the last days." In 2 Timothy 2:5, we are offered a preview of just what we may expect. It explains that, "They will keep up the outward appearance of religion, but will have rejected the inner power of it." A warning to "keep away from people like that" is provided. We are told of the irreligious outbreak of these last times, in 1 Timothy 4:1, with a message translated from the Spirit of God who warns, "…during the last times, some will desert the faith and pay attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines that come from devils, seduced by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are branded as though with a red-hot iron."

Meology vs. Theology

What has changed is that there is a contemporary liberalism that has crept into the Church. Instead of Christians gaining freedom of spirit through the willful binding of their flesh (John 6:63; Romans 8:2), they are becoming once again willing prisoners in bondage to desires of the flesh (Romans 7:23). I have even heard Christians explain that they want to be Christian, however they just want to have fun. Yet, they forget that self-indulgence is the spirit that is in direct competition for our souls and it is always in opposition to the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:17). It is difficult for contemporary Christians to accept that they cannot sit on the fence that God has erected between right and wrong. This is precisely what the Lord points out to the Laodicean Church (Revelation 3:15-16), which is the Church of the last age. Contemporary Christians will not be able to test their liberalism in the fire of judgment if it continues to adapt its ways with the worldly lifestyle model.

In essence, it boils down to a problem of, or perhaps a lack of, Godly character. The character that God desires models itself on Jesus Christ. The character that God abhors is the character that is modeled on the ways of this world. We are instructed not to model our behavior on the contemporary world, but to let the renewing of our minds transform us, so that we may discern for ourselves what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and mature (Romans 12:2).

Personality vs. Character

So, what is it that contemporary molded Christians are accepting from the world that should be conformed to the Lord? Instead of being concerned about forming in them the Lord's "character," which is a spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), these Christians are concerned with their "personality." The catchword for personality today is self-esteem, which culminates in self-centeredness, avariciousness, boastfulness, arrogance, rudeness, disobedience to parents, ungratefulness and irreligiousness (2 Timothy 3:2).

Customs vs. Tradition

Instead of standing firm and keeping the traditions that they have learned from the fathers of faith, either through being taught or by reading it in scripture (2 Thessalonians 2:15), the Church has been caught up in the "customs" of their time. They have done this to the point where they honor Christ only in lip service while their hearts are on what is "cool" today. This has led to a form of modern-day reverence that is worthless in the eyes of God. The principles and lessons learned from these time-conscious truisms are the artful replacement of sound principles with concepts that are merely human (Matthew 15:8-9). These new-found principles have replaced principles that were designed to be kept just as they are (1 Corinthians 11:2). To alter the traditions is to alter the cause for which they were established (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). In most cases, denying the traditions is denying the God who established them (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2).

Conformity vs. Consecration

Instead of coming to Christ with the conviction of becoming "consecrated" unto Him, the contemporary Church chooses to ignore their sin rather than breaking away from it. This is to live a lie by claiming to be a Christian while attempting to remain in the old ways of the world and sin (1 John 4:6). This church cannot model itself on the customs of the world, conforming to its style of life, and be also conformed to Christ at the same time. Buy "conformity" with the world, the Church no longer is able to know what God calls good, acceptable and mature (Romans 12:2).

Forgiveness vs. Repentance

It is no longer acceptable, in the contemporary Church to require "repentance" of its members. If the pastor does say something about the congregation's sin, he immediately softens the blow with a joke, intimating that the sin is not so bad, because we all do it (Acts 2:37). Repentance is replaced with the psychological need for "forgiveness" in peoples' lives. They seem to ignore the fact that sin was the reason that forgiveness was necessary. Doing this allows the sinners to forget the reason that they are forgiven at all... namely Jesus (Matthew 9:13).

Permissiveness vs. Discipline

Instead of looking at a life devoted to Christ, as an act of discipline and a keeping away from sin (2 Corinthians 10:5), the contemporary Christian Church wants to teach on the freedom that people have as Christians. They want Christ's sacrifice to be the end of their responsibility. They want the Christian life to be completely "permissive" and free from responsibility or accountability to anyone. Christ says that in the last days the Church will want to be prosperous and have everything that it desires. It will believe that it has gold and silver piled up in heaven, but will actually be wretched, poor, blind and naked with goods that will not stand up to the test by fire (Revelation 3:17).

Emotionalism vs. Obedience

The contemporary Church replaces "obedience" which is the keeping of God's commandments thereby showing their love for Jesus (John 14:21) with "emotionalism" which does not effect God's response in any way. It is only a temporary feel good (Isaiah 1:15-17).

Prosperity vs. Sacrifice

The contemporary Church does not understand the concept that the Christian must undergo some suffering to be broken with their sin and that this "sacrifice" is actually part of God's plan (1 Peter 4:1). There is an unconscious desire to teach that the good Christian is one who is "prosperous" in worldly wealth, not understanding fully that this road is not wherein true wealth lies (Luke 12:15).

Praise vs. Prayer

It is much easier for the contemporary Church to praise the Lord, day after day, without having to show any obedience to whom they are praising. They are led to believe that saying "Lord, Lord" will bring Him instantly into their presence like a genie in a bottle (Luke 6:46). However, the Lord declares that we must wholeheartedly search for Him before He will allow Himself to be found. This is accomplished through "prayer" (Jeremiah 29:13).

Pluralism vs. Absolutes

The contemporary Church is swept away by the modern "pluralistic" society. The warning is that preaching a gospel that is different from the Apostles is cursed by God (Galatians 1:9). Instead, we are to realize an "absolute" God whose Word never changes in any shade of meaning from the beginning of time through eternity (2 Peter 1:19).

Sentimentalism vs. Agape

The type of love that the contemporary Church understands is temporal in nature, full of "sentimentalism" that to a certain extent ends up being false and defrauding (Matthew 15:8). However, the love that is God, that the Church is called to be a part of, is referred to as "agape" and is not all just talk, is never jealous, boastful, or conceited. This love does not get offended or get even, and find joy in the truth. This type of love will make allowances, trust hope and endure. In short, agape love is eternal (as is God) and is the essential element that the Church needs to become perfect (1 Corinthians 13:1-8).

Glamour vs. Modesty

A very prevalent thing that we see in the contemporary Church is a concentration on "glamour," from its magnificent buildings to the extravagant dress of its occupants. Its women walk with their heads up high, their hair braided, enticing with their eyes. They wear pendants, bracelets, trinkets, necklaces, perfume, and painted nails. Their dresses are short and their low necklines turn the eyes of men. They are painted with rouge and lip gloss and eye makeup. All this is an abomination to God (Isaiah 3:16-24). Whereas God calls women to wear suitable clothes and to be dressed quietly and "modestly," without braided hair or gold jewelry or expensive clothes, their adornment is to do the good works that are proper for women who claim to be religious (1 Timothy 2:9-10).

Neutral vs. Strict

The contemporary Church needs to recognize and heed these errors. Those people who profess to be Christians should take no part in the pitfalls and false practices of this modern age (Ephesians 5:11). It is exactly like building a church on "shifting sand" instead of the foundation God provided for us. It will not hold up to the torrent of end-time deceivers. Additionally, it would be a sin to take a "neutral" position on the subject of the contemporary Church and to allow the destruction of something intended for God's purpose (Judges 5:23).