7/15/2019 0 Comments Why Is the Church Silent?“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. There are so many issues within modern society which come against the very nature of God and His plan for the salvation of mankind. Yet, you would never know it by listening to the preaching in America. Some may acknowledge these things as true brushing it aside as things which ‘must come to pass’ for God’s Word to be fulfilled. Still, how many feel the burden for the Word of the Lord? Is it possible to feel this burden and remain silent while these things take place? If you are part of a schism in the body, can you be certain that you are, in fact part of the body? “And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.”-Ezekiel 9:4 The martyrs felt this burden and were glad to take part in the suffering of the body. They chose to “suffer affliction with the people of God,” rather “than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.[1]” What of the church in modern day America? Sadly, we see at least as many “Christians” defending Islam as those denouncing its violent ways. They do this out of a poor understanding of the love of God. It is in no way ‘loving’ to allow an idolater to go on in their idolatry. The same thing can be said of the sins of homosexuality, transgenderism and abortion. God spoken very clearly on these issues, and yet many mainline denominations are voting against God on these issues. [1] Hb. 11:25 “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.”-Isaiah 58:1 The pattern of the Apostles preaching was simple. They pointed out the transgression of the people. When the people were thoroughly convinced of their crimes, they cried, “What must I do to be saved?” We have no precedent from the book of Acts to tell people that God loves them. Love is much better understood when shown rather than spoken of. So, it is better to tell a person the truth, while reminding them of the mercy of God, as Jesus said, the truth will set you free. There are churches who march with sodomites in their “Pride Parades”. Can anyone really say these churches are not part of the schism Paul mentioned in I Corinthians 12? These churches will curse a preacher of righteousness, they obviously do not ‘sigh or cry for all the abominations that be done’. Can they truly trust that Jesus will save them from their sins on judgment day? Will God allow them to go on forever blaspheming His name and strengthening the hand of the wicked? Is there not a set day of justice and judgment? Why are we not calling these churches to repentance? Could it be we have not considered the suffering they are headed to, more importantly to which they are leading others? There are transgenders in the public library all over America. Those of us who stand against these things are slandered day and night. Sadly, the most seething statements come from those who profess to know Christ. The least of these, the children of this nation, need protection from these brute beasts and yet there seems to be more consideration for the beasts. As one who has felt the pain of slander and rejection, this article is being written from a deep sense of compassion towards them that profess Christ and defend monsters. The very Word of God is standing firmly against these professions, for “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.[1]” This should cause a suffering in a saint, as well as, righteous indignation, that is a holy anger. This is an anger that is not rooted in vengeance; it is not a result of our own rejection, nor the ensuing persecution which often comes from standing against the world. It is grounded fully in the love of God and a deep sense of contending for His Name[2]. This is what David describes as a “perfect hatred” in Psalm 139[3]. Consider what Jesus said about having a single eye, that is a solitary focus on the Gospel. [1] Ti. 1:16 [2] Ez. 36:22 [3] Ps. 139:21-22 “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. Take heed—be careful, this admonition is just as strong as the one we gave from Paul earlier in this article. If we are not careful, we will find ourselves part of the schism that is dividing and rendering the apparent body of Christ seemingly powerless. To be clear, in the words of Paul in his first letter to Corinth[1], Is Christ divided? No, those who take part in these schisms in the body will find themselves without an excuse on judgment day. God hates those that sew discord among brethren so much so that he calls it an abomination above the other six things He declares to hate[2]. Those who truly love God will obey Him; they will feel the burden for His Word, and they will suffer with those who are suffering at the hands of the world. As the martyrs are being killed in faraway lands for holding fast the Name of Jesus, so are the least of these being senselessly murdered in abortion centers right in our neighborhoods. The true saint of God will not remain, for long, oblivious to either one. They are our neighbors; they are those for whom Christ died. God is calling for us to stand in the gap for them. If we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength we will hear this call and act accordingly. This is loving our neighbor as ourselves. Why is the church silent? Because most of the church today is not actually part of the body of Christ. Much of today’s teaching looks down at suffering as if it is somehow ungodly. They give lip service in honoring Christian martyrs, but they quickly dismiss any notion that they may be called to suffer like them. Instead of focusing on the equipping of saints (as Jesus taught His own disciples) they instead teach financial courses or relationship advice or any number of distractions which have replaced true holiness. No one is really called to come out from among the world. So, when persecution arises among the saints the majority goes right along with the world. Why is the church silent? Because they are taught that it is okay to live in daily sin. Jesus never taught this. He preached very clearly; and we should understand it to be one of His staple statements, that if our eye causes us to sin it is better to pluck it out! When people are living in daily sin, they have no power to stand against the sins of others. Yet this is clear, as it is written in Matthew, “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's thy brother's eye.” If we would rightly divide this chapter, we would take this as a commandment. The same chapter tells us that only those that do the will of God will enter heaven. Active sin stifles the anointing of God and hinders the ability to make any lasting change in the world or society. Why is the church silent? Because many do not really walk in the belief that they have been cleansed of their former sins[3]. We see this often while ministering at the abortion mills, those who have been involved in an abortion (either had one or paid for one) are often the most critical of the ministry. This is because of the guilt they feel whenever the subject comes up. The fact that they feel this guilt is evidence that they have yet to truly give it fully to Christ that they may be forgiven. This guilt creates an ungodly pity for the sinner which works against true compassion. This ungodly pity was likely at the root of Absalom’s rebellion (read I Samuel 13-15). King David was compromised by the sin he had fell into with Bathsheba, so much so, that when Amnon raped his own sister David was unable to carry out the proper judgment upon him. This caused a root of bitterness to form in Absalom which we never see any evidence of healing. Had David carried out justice swiftly, perhaps the whole rebellion would have never happened. Hope deferred makes the heart grow sick, and this ungodly pity denies many of hope. This sickness effects both the victim, and the perpetrator of the crime. It should be obvious how it denies the victim resolution, let us look at the latter. The law of God is written on our heart evenly. Considering this truth, we should understand that shame and guilt are a reality to anyone doing wrong. They must suppress this truth in unrighteousness or yield in repentance. The latter is the only hope they have towards true healing. When this healing is avoided for too long the heart becomes hardened, and those with hard hearts produce others just like them. [1] I Co.1:13 [2] Pr. 6:16-19 [3] I Pt.1:9 “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”-Ecclesiastes 8:11 This is the reason we cry out in the streets! All day long they blaspheme the Name of God and make a stumbling block of His great mercy. Jonah said, “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy[1].” The blood of Jesus is able to cleanse ALL sin, so he who covers his sin is not wise. It is better to confess and forsake our sins that we might meet Jesus at the cross. Why is the church silent? Because this is not the forgiveness that is being taught inside her walls. They have sold the truth for a form of godliness and vain philosophies of men. We are told to buy the truth and sell it not! Learn the truth and let it make you free!
If you are truly free, you will contend for the faith as your eye will be single. You will love God and your neighbor! You will be willing, per the martyrs’ example, to lay down your life for that truth. This is the legacy they left to us, what will we leave behind? Why is the church silent? She isn’t she is speaking and all who have ears to hear are standing in response. It is time to come out from among this wicked world. It is time take your rightful place in the body of Christ! [1] Jh. 2:8
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