Wow! Eye opening!
While listening to the Lord He showed me quite the comparison for the modern church. It's so blatant and obvious yet sick and sly!
Many churches today correlate growth with "increase", right? For many it's about numbers... membership, attendance, salvations (repeating a prayer), baptisms, dedications and so on. "So what?" you might say, "they kept record at Pentecost and when Jesus fed the multitudes by miracles". Yes! They did. But was it the same meaning behind it then as it is now?
Let's take a look!
Today congregations all across America and even many around the world have adapted to "business structure" from planning, meetings, Finances, name it! Being in business for nearly 12 years, it's quite easy to see.
Many say, "that's not so bad, it all works to the good". Does it though? Whose good? Man's good or God's good?
Going deeper, not once did Jesus and His disciples "plan". If Jesus held a "business meeting", please correct me. Truly, I welcome it.
Deeper still, here's the portrait He painted for me.
In order for these churches to "grow in number" they've had to compromise. By this I mean little by little letting the world's ways creep in. Adding this, adding that, music styles change, ploys to bring people in change, adding teachings and doctrines, all this in essence is welcoming sin.
Ok with that said, in comparison, we can look at one of the most deadly ailments to hit a human body, CANCER! What does cancer do? Does it not mimic the very cells it attacks? Yes! Oh but there's growth! Not exactly a healthy growth, actually it's quite opposite.
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Matthew 7:15
Sadly the compromise within the church is no different than cancerous cells. Cell by cell, church by church, the good as God intended deteriorates. Each compromise allowed weakens the solid foundation it may have been initially been built upon.
The craziest part is, we've been warned by Christ Himself of this apostasy! This great falling away from His Truth! There's growth alright, a deadly compromise and it's spiritual cancer to the soul.
He said, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before." Matthew 24:24-25
In essence, these things boil down to "another Jesus" being preached, embraced One who cannot save, cannot heal, cannot restore and one who does not live, cannot hear, cannot love, does not confront sin and is not the only begotten Son of the Living God!
Indeed we are living in the last days before the Son of God is sent for His perfect and spotless Bride. Upon that day, many of these so called churches will be just as full of lost, confused and hurting people as there is now!
If you've been apart of a church for some time I can guarantee apart from the indwelling Holy Spirit you will NOT recognize these things as harmful. It is God who grants the increase, yes, and without compromising Himself.
"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you," 2 Corinthians 6:17
Dare to take a step back from the known and allow the Almighty to show you His Truth? Is the gathering by which you routinely partake of truly apart of His set apart and chosen Bride or is it a dessert up "biblical" form of morality?
