More and more churches are falling away from biblical truth and teaching and compromising with the world and there may be churches near you who are abandoning the truth once delivered.
Abandoning the Faith
The growth of churches which are falling away from biblical truth and teaching and compromising with the world is growing exponentially and in fact, there may be churches near you who are abandoning the truth once delivered. Churches that are abandoning biblical doctrine to compromise with the world is nothing new for even in Jude’s day he “found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3). Why did it necessary for Jude to write about contending for the faith once originally delivered? It’s because “certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:4). They were changing the gospel into cheap grace and denying that Jesus is God and Lord. Some cults teach that Jesus was created which is heresy. Churches want to make Jesus more human and thus, more acceptable. If they teach about a Jesus Who is compromised and compromise with sin, then they can increase church attendance. That means more “offerings.”
Falling Away
Just as it was prophesied that a great falling away would come, the Apostle Paul also foresaw that many would depart from the faith delivered by Jesus Christ and passed on through the Apostles. We expect the world to get worse before Jesus’ return but we must expect that “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions” (Jude 1:18). What we don’t expect, but should, is churches that teach and preach or allow sexual immorality, so even in churches now, they are “following their own ungodly passions” (Jude 1:18) and not following the teaching about God’s judgment on the sexually immoral (Rev 21:8). Any pastor that marries same-sex couples is not in the church Jesus’ built. Satan has his own sinister ministers, and thus, Satan has his own churches too so beware!
The Altar of Pragmatism
Pragmatism has crept into the church today, even if the church is unaware of it, so what is pragmatism? It is essentially this; if it works most of the time for most of the people it must be right. If some program brings more people into the church, it must be right, but that’s not actually a good thing. If people come into the church for the wrong reasons and not for the desire of repentance and faith in Christ, but instead, they come to have their needs, comforts and wants met, they will never truly be saved. If they are simply pampered and catered to, then their faith will not be genuine. Pragmatism has produced more tares or false converts in the church than perhaps anything else.
Gifts over Fruits
Jesus said that we will know them by their fruits, not by their gifts. Spiritual gifts are given by God at His discretion and not everyone has the same gift. That would not make up a balanced Body of Christ. Those who covet gifts of the Spirit are more likely worshiping and glorifying the Holy Spirit and not Jesus. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would testify of Him and not bring attention to Himself (John 15:26). The Holy Spirit points to Jesus and to make know the things Jesus wants revealed to us. Anything that overshadows the fruits (like the gifts can and often do) does not give others a means to identify who Jesus’ disciples truly are. The greatest gift is love and that his how people will not who Jesus disciples really are (John 13:34-35). It is not by their gifts but by their fruits they will be known, chief among the fruits will be love (1 John 2). Even so, some churches teach that unless you speak in tongues, you are not saved. They elevate the gifts over the Gift Giver and worship the Holy Spirit and not Jesus Christ. That’s sin!
Biblical Model
I get a lot of junk mail, much of it telling me how to grow the church. These types of programs almost always try to grow the church by means not seen in the Bible. They want you to buy their supplements and training materials to help “you build the church.” This totally ignores what Jesus said that He would build His church (Matt 16:18). He never told Peter, “Peter, you and I are going to build My church together.” He never told that to anyone. It is His church and He will build it, so it is not Peter’s church nor is it my church. It is His church and He is the Head and He says “He” will build it or grow it, not me or anyone else or any program. God alone gives the increase (Acts 2:47), but He is pleased to use us as a means to do so. He could build it without us, but we can’t build it without Him.
Women Pastors, Apostles & Prophets
Even though the Bible forbids women to be ordained as pastors (Titus 1; 1 Tim 3), there are twice as many women pastors being ordained today than men. Even though it’s contrary to biblical truth and doctrine, it wins many people to the church and they build the church upon an unbiblical pastorate and spurn the teachings of Scripture. That’s a serious fall from Scripture. And it is compromising God’s requirements for elders, deacons and pastors.
Conclusion
One church I know requires members to tithe to have the right to vote on church boards. Legalism is deadly poison to the church too because no works could ever save us (Eph 2:8-9). Where pastors preach expository preaching from Scripture you will find the best churches and most sound doctrine. I am thankful that my wife, Martha and I, are in a rock-solid church here in Kansas.
I pray you’ve already trusted in Christ and discover what God’s will is for your life; what He has called you to do (Matt 25:35-36; 28:18-20). If you have still not trusted in Christ, God will say no to you regarding your entering into the Kingdom. Repent today and trust in Christ or face God’s judgment after death (Heb 9:27) or at Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), whichever comes first.
