"SIN IN THE CHURCH?"”
I try to keep up on the Christian news around the world. But it has been grieving my heart to know that the more I read Christian newspapers, magazines, and articles. I find that the Church needs to get its act together FROM THE PULPIT DOWN TO THE PEW.
Divorce is rampant in churches/ministries and pews. Yes, there is life after divorce, but in this day and age the children (as well as adults) are suffering greatly from it.
In the past year, I have heard that there have been false prophets in the pulpit, misuse of church funds, ministers addicted to pornography, children and teens being molested, adultery/fornication (even homosexuality) ALL FROM THE PULPIT! (and this is an incomplete list). What is going on? Some of these ministers are well-known, others are ministers of small ministries!
And the pew isn't any better; they, too, have ALL these sins. Some of these members are our Sunday school teachers, youth pastors, music ministers, “model church citizens”, etc. Sin and compromise ABOUND in many churches!!!
So the big question is WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
What can we do about it?
From my heart I will share what I feel the LORD has had me to share on this. While there are multiple reasons why, I believe two that are always present are: PRIDE and LACK OF FEAR OF (REVERENCE) GOD.
I’ll give some scriptures, your responsibility is to prayerfully read these scriptures {CAPS added for emphasis]:
Let’s look at what God’s Word says on PRIDE:
“Notwithstanding HEZEKIAH HUMBLED HIMSELF FOR THE PRIDE OF HIS HEART, [both] he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so THAT THE WRATH OF THE LORD CAME NOT UPON THEM IN THE DAYS OF HEZEKIAH.”
2 Chronicles 32:26
“THE FEAR OF THE LORD [IS] TO HATE EVIL: PRIDE, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the forward mouth, do I hate.” Proverbs 8:13
“[When] PRIDE COMETH, THEN COMETH SHAME: but with the lowly [is] wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2
“ONLY BY PRIDE COMETH CONTENTION: but with the well advised [is] wisdom.” Proverbs 13:10
“PRIDE [GOETH] BEFORE DESTRUCTION, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18
“A MAN'S PRIDE SHALL BRING HIM LOW: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.” Proverbs 29:23
“But when his heart was lifted up, and his MIND HARDENED IN PRIDE, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.” Daniel 5:20
“THE PRIDE OF THINE HEART HATH DECEIVED THEE, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation [is] high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?” Obadiah 1:3
“FOR FROM WITHIN, OUT OF THE HEART OF MEN, PROCEED evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, PRIDE, foolishness: ALL THESE EVIL THINGS COME FROM WITHIN, AND DEFILE THE MAN.”
Mark 7:21-23
“For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and THE PRIDE OF LIFE, IS NOT OF THE FATHER, BUT IS OF THE WORLD.” 1 John 2:16
Let’s look at some scripture on the FEAR (reverence, awe) OF THE LORD:
“MOREOVER THOU SHALT PROVIDE OUT OF ALL THE PEOPLE ABLE MEN, SUCH AS FEAR GOD, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place [such] over them, [to be] rulers of thousands, [and] rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.” Exodus 18:21
“YE SHALL WALK AFTER THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND FEAR HIM, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.” Deuteronomy 13:4
“And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may LEARN TO FEAR THE LORD HIS GOD, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them.”
Deuteronomy 17:19
“And [that] THEIR CHILDREN, which have not known [any thing], MAY HEAR, AND LEARN TO FEAR THE LORD YOUR GOD, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.” Deuteronomy 31:13
“That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it [is] mighty: that ye might FEAR THE LORD YOUR GOD FOREVER.” Joshua 4:24
“THEN SHALT THOU UNDERSTAND THE FEAR OF THE LORD, AND FIND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.” Proverbs 2:5
“LET US HEAR THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER: FEAR GOD, AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, PERFECTING HOLINESS IN THE FEAR OF GOD.” 2 Chronicles 7:1
“SUBMITTING YOURSELVES ONE TO ANOTHER IN THE FEAR OF GOD.” Ephesians 5:21
“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we MAY SERVE GOD ACCEPTABLY WITH REVERENCE AND GODLY FEAR.” Hebrews 12:28
Please note this is a devotion and, thus, does not have space to cover this subject thoroughly. Sermons and books could easily be written on them! Some are out there, some new ones are still needed!
My prayer to you (minister of the Gospel and fellowChristian) is that if there is sin (and don’t rationalize it as otherwise) in your life, a lack of true humility – but PRIDE ABUNDANT and/or you lack the healthy, scriptural FEAR OF THE LORD that you would be quick to repent! NOT REPENTING WILL SURELY BE TO YOUR DESTRUCTION, AND DELAYED REPENTANCE WILL HAVE ITS CONSEQUENCES.
It’s time, Church, to get serious. As Acts 17:6 states “…These that have TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN are come hither also.” WE NEED TO TURN THIS WORLD UPSIDE DOWN FOR CHRIST!!!
This has been a stronger word than most, but I say it in a spirit of LOVE for you, the Body of Christ. Remember, it’s NEVER too late to turn back to the LORD 100%. Don’t let sin keep you down but repent of it and let the LORD work in you TODAY!
In His love,
Jim (BibleFood@aol.com)