Can we Pick and Choose?

Many years ago while studying at the University of North Dakota; I had a Physics professor who claimed to be a Christian. I can still

Remember his provocative statement to the class. When you go through a cafeteria, you take only the foods that are agreeable and savory to your palate. The ones that don’t appear appetizing or maybe you have never tasted them before; you pass up and don’t accept.”

Now here is where it got divisive. He went on to say, “The Bible is like that. As you read through it some things are appealing and comforting to you while others repulse you. Accept the things that appeal to you and reject the things that don’t.”

I can still remember the interesting class discussions that transpired while we were supposed to be studying Physics.

Little did I know that within 40 years, that exact philosophy would be the status quo in today’s churches and not the exception as it was in those days.

As one sits in America’s churches today, you have the opportunity to hear the humanistic gospel, the social gospel, the permissive gospel, the prosperity gospel, the emergent gospel, The Purpose Driven Gospel, Your Best Life Now gospel, the church growth gospel, the seeker-sensitive gospel, the who are you to judge gospel (After all, everyone goes to Heaven anyway), the homosexual gospel, as long as you were baptized gospel, the only believe gospel, and the God loves you unconditionally and forgives you unconditionally gospel. Oh, did I mention the politically correct gospel?

My, my, what have we come to? We ask ourselves these days, “Why are people leaving our churches in droves these days?” Every major denomination in loosing people and some are loosing lots of them, and we are asking why?”  According to Christia research, between 65 and 75 churches are closed every week in the US.  Thoses are permanent closings.

Maybe the question that we should be asking is why would people want to attend our churches? What did the church offer in the past that is missing now?

I believe that most people realize that the all the world has to offer is promises that it cannot deliver. They also realize that there is nothing within themselves that can fill the empty void and longing they are feeling as they search for a fulfilling life.

Where do they look? Some people look to the church for the only power that can change an empty life into a full abundant life, and what do they find? They find an array of gospels that I mentioned above and sadly every one of these phony gospels are void of the power that they are searching for. Most of them leave in frustration (and in droves I might add) and return to hopelessness. Many leave to preserve the faith that they do have and have their own devotion time at home on Sunday mornings and others gather a few likeminded believers together and form a home church.

Here is the serious footnote to all of this change that we have seen in today’s churches.

Revelation chapter 21 and 22 is very explicit on the kinds of people who have no hope because as John puts it, “Their place will be in the fiery lake of burning brimstone.”

But this is not the group of folks that I am writing about. What about all of the “Progressive” Christian leaders who have so thoughtlessly pushed for the doctrinal changes that we have mentioned.

John also addresses that issue in Revelation chapter 22 where he says, “And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”

So, the big question on my mind is, “How is it possible to return to the “Gospel of the Kingdom,” that the early apostles preached with power and conviction?

I think that the only answer and it is not a popular one, is tough times and lots of them.

Ruth and I have visited many churches in Africa where finding enough food for today doesn’t leave much time or interest to embrace any other gospel than the one that teaches, “Live for Me, and I will supple all of your needs.” Mathew 6:28-34

How in the World did we get into this mess? You may say, “It is our governmental leaders that we elected.” If the “other party” was in power, they would straighten out this mess. Listen; let me give you a definition of politics that your third grader can understand. Politics is doing what is necessary to keep me and my party in power. It is all about me, my, and I. We all know what power does to a person, it corrupts. So, good luck if you are looking to your political leaders to get us out of this mess.

So, to what do we look for hope? Better to say to WHOM do we look for hope. I believe that it was the churches who got us into this mess when they began to preach the “CAFETERIA GOSPEL” that I mentioned above.

When the CHURCH gets on its knees and repents, things will change, but if that doesn’t happen, like they say in Louisiana, “Ya ain’t seen nuttin yet.”