Sometimes, when it’s warm, I sit by this pond and listen to God. It’s a great blessing to have so much peace around me, but the real peace needs to come from within or it can never last.
I got the title to this post from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a man of the organized church of Germany at the time of the rise of the Third Reich, and later a martyr for the Lord Jesus Christ. He said,
“If the train is going the wrong way, it does no good to run down the hall in the opposite direction.”
He was speaking of the established church of Germany, which was becoming more and more dominated by the administration of Adolph Hitler. We are a long way from that, but so was the German church at one time. When Bonhoeffer began to raise the alarm, most thought him, well, an alarmist. I suppose he was, but the thing is . . . he was right.
The situation in the USA is different from the situation in pre-WWII Germany, but we could, in time, see more parallels than one might anticipate. The church is being expected to mold itself into an image acceptable to the world. Sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn’t.
A cleric in Great Britain was recently arrested for including homosexuality in this list of sins compiled by Paul in 1Co 6:9-10 “Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: no sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom.” The man was quoting the bible and he was arrested for it! If this is happening in GB, it can’t be far away in the USA, particularly under the current administration. Granted the church has brought some of this on itself by fighting against sin in the world when she should have confined her battle to snatching people from the fire and seeing that she herself and all her members were undefiled.
Still, the time is coming when it will no longer be permissible to speak truth in the visible church. Those who follow The Truth will be forced to go underground. Those who do not follow the truth will betray those who do. As in Germany, it will seem that believers are leaving the church when in fact, they are at last finding the true church.
Here are a few posts I’ve found around WordPress that talk about this. You should read them–you’ll be amazed and blessed. Read them prayerfully and see what God might say to you through these brothers and sisters. If you’ve seen other similar words anywhere, I’d like to hear about them.
First, Nathan’s: Jesus is Our Priest
and About Authority (I just added this one–it’s excellent, but I’d forgotten where I saw it and now here it is!)
Next Rachel’s: Breaking the Bondage
And Frank’s: God is Calling the Remnant out of the Established Church
And a bonus: The Latter Rain (The Remnants’ Journey to the Valley of Acacias)
And on The Age to Come The State of the Nation–just posted, regarding the increasing persecution of the church in Great Britain
M’Kayla’s post on the Wheat and the Tares: The Result of Sleeping Workers
And finally, my own, which I reposted a couple of days ago:
A New Word from an Ancient Prophecy: Isaiah 32
I don’t completely DISagree with what you’ve said here, Cindy, but I don’t completely agree either. I think that to some extent, the church is reaping the harvest she’s sown so far as speaking Truth is concerned. The world views the church as an entity more interested in breaking the world to our will rather than as an entity seeking to offer life to the world. (I really hope that makes sense) Christians in general have so often stepped out and hurt people with truth and convicting people of sin because they feel that the bible gives them a carte blanche to do pretty much anything in the name of the Father. That means that those of us who speak out in love, who are trying to bring life to the world with compassion instead of conviction, are stuck picking of the pieces and dealing with the backlash. AS horrible as it is that the priest was arrested for hate speech in the UK, I’m not at all surprised that it happened.
I hope I’m understanding you, Pen. Are you saying that the church is reaping persecution because of speaking the truth it heard from God, but that the church has also misused the truth to condemn sinners rather than offering them life? If so, I agree with you 100%.
It’s not for us to condemn sinners for sinning. The Holy Spirit gets the job of persuading sinners they need to repent–not us. We can’t do that. We’re not God.
On the other hand, it would be wrong of us to lie and say that sin is not sin–thus deceiving people and robbing them of the knowledge they need to make a decision. We can’t be friends to the world (clinging to it and our worldly lives) and also be friends to God. Friendship with the world is enmity with God. By ‘the world,’ I believe the world system is meant, not the world’s inhabitants. Jesus was friend to sinners, and we should be also.
Does this make sense? I’m not sure where we disagree–or maybe you haven’t mentioned it.
Blessings, Cindy
Additional thoughts about the way the church needs to present itself to help heal the wounds and avoid hurting more people. http://wp.me/pRIWc-2p
Hey, Pen
I just read the post you linked, and it’s excellent. Thanks!
Hi Cindy. You address an issue here that’s of the utmost importance. When churches abandon their primary mission of reaching the lost and adopt a political agenda, it’s a disaster in the making. In the past, I was one who blindly followed a political agenda. Once this mindset is in place, a person can be easily manipulated; even to the point of thinking that they are doing God service while innocents are being marginalized. It’s imperative that we follow Jesus completely and properly discern the goings on in our ambience.
You have linked to some very good posts. Some of the ones on Franks site, I’ve linked to as well in the past. He has covered the issue of going through tribulation extensively. I know that the time will come when all true saints will have to abandon the formal structures that we refer to as “the church.”
Blessings always in Jesus name.
timbob
Hi, Timbob
You’re so right–I’ve been there, too, thinking that taking our “rightful place” in the political system could ever fix this nation–how foolish! Our rightful place is in the Kingdom of God. Sure, God may lead some to involve themselves in politics–I wouldn’t rule that out–but I’m glad it’s not me. The thing we have to look forward to is the return of Jesus.
Meanwhile, we’re to be about the Father’s business. This doesn’t include making sure that people in the world don’t commit the particular sins we find most offensive. Yes, we are to judge those within the church, but those outside the church, God judges. That’s not to say we aren’t expected to do what we can to protect the helpless, but preventing sinners from sinning–or condemning them for it–is simply none of our business.
Love you, Bro–so glad to have you here.
Cindy
Cindy – this is a great post. I see more and more of the church falling under the sway of evil. It isn’t easily detected by most – because people are focused on “the good” the church does despite itself. But when you read the Word you see what the prophets are prophesying about happening. I think eventually those with a love for the truth will leave because the truth will be so twisted – which it already is in so many ways. Twisting is an effective tool of Satan’s for those who don’t cling to the Truth.
Thanks for putting this out there and raising awareness.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ”
Rachel
Thanks, Rachel
You’re right. It’s hard to condemn the organized church because it actually does do a lot of good. Most of us owe our introduction to our Lord to the organized church, even if it took us (me, anyway) a very long time to recover from the misinformation that went along with that introduction. (Am I recovered yet? Dunno. Probably not yet.) đŸ˜‰
Nevertheless, the good that it houses will eventually be forced to compromise or leave because of ever increasing government/societal interference in the church. I do see that happening in the not-so-distant future. And if all the true believers leave–the remnant–what will be left? One shudders at the thought.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Cindy
Hi Cindy – it professes to do good – but I think especially these days – we have to look at good from God’s definition not ours. I don’t really know that there is much truly “good” left – at least this is what I feel according to God’s Word.
I think it is very compromised.
Could it be this calling out people hear is the beginning of the separation of the wheat and tares? Those who are truly seeking and abiding in the Word seem to be hearing the call. And seeking to abide in truth because of a love for the truth. Just a thought.
Rachel
Right after I commented I read this blog post – about the wheat and tares – crazy how God does that – perhaps a confirmation?!
Rachel
Hello Cindy – that was very quick, seeing as I’m not posting regularly đŸ™‚ I see Timbob popped by as well – it’s a small world I guess!
I agree with your post, there is certainly a time to be ‘alarmist’ – Ezekiel was:
Ch 3 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.
Hi, Peter–I’m subscribed, so I KNOW when you post. đŸ˜†
PS is the link for A New Word from an Ancient Prophecy: Isaiah 32 correct? It doesn’t seem to be yours?
Oops! Thanks for pointing that out, Peter. It’s fixed now.
PPS I wonder about:
Granted the church has brought some of this on itself by fighting against sin in the world when she should have confined her battle to snatching people from the fire and seeing that she herself and all her members were undefiled.
Perhaps that does not have to be an either/or – the latter embraces the former. And there is also a need for the church to be salt and light in the world, a light that is placed on a table to be seen by all. Just my 2p.
It’s true that we’re supposed to be salt and light, but I’m not sure that looks like someone having a sign in their yard that says “The Wages of Sin is Death!” (Yes, I’ve seen this.) People know when they’re sinning. And if the Father is drawing them (without which no one can turn to Jesus), they know they need to turn from that.
The light of Jesus in us exposes sin by its nature. It doesn’t have to talk about sin, because when people come around us, they know. I’ve occasionally seen this happen, and it’s weird. People accuse you of condemning them when you haven’t even mentioned their sin, or so much as rolled your eyes or frowned–and they appear to believe they’re telling the truth. I’m not sure I’ve explained myself very well, but hopefully you can figure me out. đŸ˜‰
And regarding your link below–you’re right. The priest in GB was really just the most recent thing I’d heard.
Blessings, Cindy
Actually you’re not that far off in the states: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/10/prayers-answered/
Righto, off now đŸ™‚
Hi Cindy!
Very true! We are just a few away from this happening here. It’s all coming under “hate”. We who preach the Gospel need to be clear with our message. And we must not single out “homosexuals” as being at the top of the “sin” list. God hates sin. He doesn’t hate people. I always try to tell them that sin is the problem. Not homosexuals.
Thanks for the update!
Hi, Richard! Thanks for stopping by (And for adding me to your blogroll, too.)
You’re right–our freedom of speech is ebbing. It’s never had its equal anywhere in the world, and now we see it slipping away.
I don’t think we’ll be getting any grace from the government long-term for laying off specific sins. Maybe the real sin we needed to point out was always the rejection of so great a salvation. The other sins are just corollaries. Once a person dies in Christ and is raised with Him, the other sins lose their power over him (faster in some than in others, as we know, but God is faithful).
But yeah . . . if it’s not for pointing out sin, it’ll be for being “intolerant” by insisting that Jesus is the only way. So we’re not going to get out of this one. Still, as I said, God is faithful and He will supply the strength to stand when we have none.
Love you, Bro
Cindy
Hey, I just added you to my “blog roll”
Hahaha,
This is great! Cindy, this is the post that just keeps on growing, and what a post!
It is wonderful that we are all called together for much the same purposes, it is so cool to know that He is working with others in a similar fashion to what He is doing with me.
We really do have a lot on our plates and if I looked at that and considered how little I feel I am getting done I might despair. But He is quick to assure me that He is moving and bringing all of these things to pass.
The world around us is full of impossibilities.
We might look at our old atheist high school classmates and think, impossible!
We might see people driving with a cel phone to their ear, nearly hitting other cars, and people on bikes, caring for no one but themselves, and think, impossible!
We might meet our neighbors and endure an hour of their blathering about whatever cult like “church” or multi-level marketing scheme they are in and think,
impossible!
Thank God He is not guided by our assessment. I am glad it’s not just on my shoulders, if it were, I would cut my losses, quit now and take a nap, He is the one who is bringing about the impossible. And Bless Him, He is the one who will accomplish it.
Amen, Nathan. I am SO glad that He’s able to do the impossible. It gives me hope. And ultimately, He is our only and best and sure hope in everything. Praise God!
Thank you Cindy for visiting. I know how life can be soooo busy. Thank you for the compliment on the photo. I’m really enjoying experimenting with the pictures–just takes time. I get some good ideas of how to do things from Holy Experience, High Calling Blogs, and Claire b, to mention just a few.
I’ll post the orange loaf recipe on Friday, so you can make it for church.
In Him,
Janis
Hi, Cindy,
The recipes have been posted. Hope you get a chance to make them this weekend.
http://openmyearslord.blogspot.com/2010/05/by-request.html
In Him,
Janis
Thanks so much, Janis! I’ve saved them to Word and am looking forward to trying them out!
Blessings, Cindy
Cindy, I say a resounding “amen” to this post! (And you’ve stirred up a fire in my own heart).
We use our tongues so lightly. God gave us breath and the ability to speak for the purpose of praising Him. Part of praising Him is speaking the truth that sets men free–how we must wound Him with our backbiting, our complaining, and our universalist approach to His holiness.
Loved the quote about the train. Thank you so much for sharing!