The Pretending Church

Today, we have a pretending Church;

A people who pretend to be followers of Christ

Most of whom have no idea what it means to follow Christ.

Most Christians live the same as those in the world

They carry their Bibles of which they know little about.

They listen to preachers who tell them what their itching ears want to hear.

And they are satisfied with this spiritual poverty.

Their preachers may tell them they are “saved”

Because at some point they may have made a confession of “faith” in Christ,

If they are willing to go that far.

Their “faith” places no demands on them beyond attending church,

Giving into the offering, listening to sermons and taking the sacraments.

Few open their Bibles apart from Sunday.

Few have had a personal Day of Pentecost experience

Of being baptized, immersed in the Holy Spirit,

Let alone walking out their life in the power of the Spirit

Which is the only WAY to OVERCOME this world and the evil one who rules it.

In fact there is little or no mention of the Scriptural reality

That the world is ruled by Satan.

It is as if today things have changed and Satan no longer rules.

Christianity, today, is too “modern” for such a concept.

Christianity, today, ignores the fact that the reason Christ came

Was because Satan does rule the world

And that the only WAY out of this world ALIVE is the WAY of Christ.

The focus of Christianity today seems to be to teach “Christians”

How to live successfully in the world and not how to live for Christ.

Living for Christ is demanding, costly, sacrificing; may require suffering;

Will always bring persecution because the world hates Christ;

This world ruled by Satan hates Christ and those who follow Him,

Because He tells the world that what they do is EVIL.

To belong to Christ you must give up your life in this world;

If you do not give up your life in this world,

You do not belong to Christ.

The American Christian has come to believe that America is sanctified.

Today, however, America is an ungodly nation ruled by the godless.

This is evidenced in the laws and practice of the nation.

Christ Jesus came to a “Pretending Church”

Many of whom diligently studied the Scriptures,

But were ignorant of the heart of God.

They were anticipating the coming of their Messiah

But did not recognize Him when He came.

He did not “fit” the “image” they had come to believe

The “image” created by their teachers and religious leaders.

The One who would deliver them from Roman rule

And not the One who would save them from their sin.

They completely misinterpreted the Scripture in their diligent study.

They went after converts but when they found them

They made them twice as much son's of Hell as they were.

Today, the “Pretending Church” misinterprets the message of Christ

Or ignores it altogether.

Christ's message is made clear by His Teaching; all the red letter words.

The words of Christ are the basis for all Christian teaching;

For a follower of Christ, there is only One Teacher: Christ!

Most teaching today is devoid of the Spirit of God.

Most Christian leaders today do not seek above all else the Kingdom of God;

Most do not worship in Spirit and in TRUTH.

The culture today, demands ever increasing entertainment.

It helps to cover their spiritual poverty.

The Church has become a “religious” entertainment center

But the “religious” entertainment does not cover up spiritual poverty.

It tries to keep up with worldly entertainment with a “dash” of religion.

The “religion” part attempts to sanctify the entertainment part,

But it is all beside the POINT!

Christ and His words make clear the WAY to Salvation;

The only WAY to OVERCOME this world and the evil one who rules it,

Which is the whole POINT of this natural life God has given us.

Yet, in spite of the tragic condition of the Church today

There is a people devoted to Christ and His teaching;

There is a Bride for Christ; a Bride who has maintained Her First Love;

A Bride who has been crucified with Christ to this world;

And no longer lives, but it is Christ who lives in Her.

This LIFE that she lives, is by FAITH in the Son of God

And His Power at work in Her.

She has set Her heart on things above;

Her LIFE is hidden with Christ in God;

She has clothed Herself with the garments of Christ

And His Word dwells richly in Her.

Today, the world is raging against God, rushing toward oblivion. (Psalm 2)

America is being ground to powder because of her SIN against God.

Save yourself from this Corrupt Generation! (Acts 2:40)

As God has written, so shall it be! Hallelujah! Maranatha!

Father, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in Heaven!