Other

---

The churches have gotten their priorities out of whack. Somewhere along the way, they lost sight of the Lord’s command regarding preaching the gospel and evangelizing the lost. And we are perpetuating this every week in churches around the country, and the world.

The mainstream church preaches Jesus like He’s some egotistical, desperate love junkie begging for followers, dying for our attention. He’s an easy-going hippie Jesus, a friend and pal, a cheerleader and safety net. He’s all about love and friendship. He’s desperate to bless you and give you everything you could ever want….if you’d just join His club. If you’ll repeat a scripted “sinner’s prayer and really mean it”, come to church every Sunday, learn the lingo, play the part, participate in the church functions and tithe regularly, you’ll be blessed beyond belief – for eternity! This is the Jesus that’s being preached to the lost and dying world. A genie in a bottle who needs us to like Him.

Does God need us? According to His Word, the answer is NO.

Acts 17:24-25 – The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things.
Psalm 8:4 – What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?
Psalm 144:3 – O Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You think of him?

In fact, God calls mankind worms in Job 25:6, grasshoppers in Isaiah 40:22, and says that our righteousness is like filthy rags in Isaiah 64:6. We were formed from dirt in Genesis 2:7 and 3:19. Who are we to assume that God needs us or that He owes us anything? And worse yet, that we can conform Him to the image we choose?

Take a look at the modern churches: 1) the worship-tainment rock bands with laser light shows and smoke machines, the high-tech audio and video providing a concert-like experience, the songs so vague they could fit any “god”; 2) the hipster, skinny-jeans wearing, mohawked youth pastors trying to identify with the cool kids; 3) the “head pastor” and the “first lady” pastor’s wife sitting on pedestals like mini gods, gathering adoring fans and faithful followers to themselves; 4) the 30-minute sermonettes about living your best life now, receiving material blessings galore, and feeling good about who you are; 5) the massive church buildings mortgaged to the hilt, that desperately rely on your tithes and offerings to remain open and operational. Is this the picture of the church that Jesus intended? Is this what He had in mind?

We preach love and blessing and favor and security to the masses simply for showing up and participating, even if just barely. It reminds me of the schools that give a trophy to every kid, just for being there, even if they lost. We do the very same thing in the churches. “I present you with this trophy of eternal salvation just for showing up on Sundays”. The churches now don’t care about spiritual fruit, growth in the Lord, and holiness – they care about numbers and money. Period. That’s the entire reason why the churches are preaching this phony, corny “Jesus” – for the money, and to keep as many rear-ends in the seats as possible. And how do they attract so many people? By offering feel-good entertainment, activities, and a sense of security because they’re participating…basically a PG-rated version of the world.

What’s the church supposed to preach? Well, let’s look at the command handed to the disciples by Jesus Himself:

Mark 16:15-16 – And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Go OUT into the world and preach the gospel. Hmm. So, if we’re supposed to be going out into the world to reach the lost with the gospel, then why are we erecting these huge church buildings, cramming them full of entertainment and activities, then throwing the doors open and saying, “Hello world, come on inside!”?? Why are we doing something different from what Jesus commanded? Who gave us that authority to override the Lord?

A.W. Tozer made a scathing comment regarding these man-made, man-serving churches:

“Any objections to the carryings on of our present golden-calf Christianity is met with the triumphant reply, “But we are winning them!”. And winning them to what? To true discipleship? To cross-carrying? To self-denial? To separation from the world? To crucifixion of the flesh? To holy living? To nobility of character? To a despising of the world’s treasures? To hard self-discipline? To love for God? To total commitment to Christ? Of course, the answer to all these questions is NO.”

That’s the modern church, folks. Preaching another gospel, tickling ears, catering to the desires of the flesh, conforming to the world, preaching heresies and half-truths, and contradicting the scriptures, all in order to “win them”. But what they’re winning people to is deception and ultimately destruction.

Take an honest look at your own church, and ask yourself if they’re winning souls to Jesus, or winning souls to a social club. And if it’s the latter…why do you stay???

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE