| MONEY AND AMUSEMENTS In Laodicean "Churchianity" |
| Churchianity has become materially wealthy but is the most wretched, spiritually poor than it has ever been.
To the Church at Laodicea, the Lord Jesus said: Revelation 3:15-18 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see. A few weeks ago, I found an article in a very old book, Our Hope Magazine. It was written back in the year, 1900, concerning wasteful spending and amusements in Christendom. We have transcribed it here because we believe the message is so very important and is still current today. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Money and Amusements in Christendom Money has become the "golden calf" to which better things must yield. Christians are burdened with debt to build costly places for worship and keep them going in modern style, and then go begging the world for money to preach the Gospel of the Christ the world daily denies. Rented pews, constant solicitations for money, public giving, to be seen of men, entertainments, concerts, and worldly devices without number are the result. Men lower the precious Gospel of our Savior to the standard of dollars and cents. The early disciples took nothing of the Gentiles (3 John 7). The Church has become rich in buildings, colleges, and outward wealth, and is blinded to its poverty and its nakedness (Revelation 3:14-22). And how deaf it is to the knock of the Faithful and True Witness who stands not INSIDE, but OUTSIDE its doors, for how can Christ abide where these things are? Nominal Christendom will not listen to the voice of Christ calling them out of such things, but individual Christians will listen and Christ will come in to sup with them when they open the door. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches (Revelation 3:4-22). How long will Christians halt between two opinions? If we are to worship Baal let us be candid and say so, and not call it the worship of the Lord. If we desire to follow the teachings of our Lord, let us purge ourselves from evil and take our stand on His side (1 Kings 18:11). When Moses saw God in the burning bush, he was told to take the shoes off his feet, for the ground whereon he stood was holy ground. It was holy because God was there! Christ drove out the Temple with a scourge those who sold doves and changed money even though the doves were to be used in the offerings and feasts, which God commanded the Jews to keep. What will He say of us with our fairs and festivals, our suppers, and entertainments? "Take these things hence: make not My Father's house an house of merchandise" (John 2:16). These things bring the world in but drive the Spirit of Christ out. They drive away reverence and the sense of Christ's presence and authority, and promote the things of the world. Strife and petty jealousies are sure to abound. The assembly of the Lord's people was intended for better purposes. Christendom is in an idolatrous condition, sitting down to eat and rising up to play (1 Cor. 10:7); and all for money and other worldly reasons. The Word of God says that "Holiness becometh the house of the Lord forever," and that "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of His Saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him." Do not make the mistake, reader, of thinking our buildings are sacred, for "God no longer dwelleth in temples made with hands, but in these bodies of ours." It is not the building which is sacred, but God's people, where Christ meets in their midst; the Lord Jesus Christ's presence makes it a place for reverence. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How far the modern church has progressed since then! The man who wrote that article would probably faint to see the modern church today. What once was considered a shame by Biblical churches in the early 20th Century is today the "norm" in most mainline churches. The truth of the matter is that the modern-day "church" does not realize its sin. The average professing Christian sees nothing wrong with entertainment in the church. They see nothing wrong with begging money from the world, which denies the Savior. They see nothing wrong with wasting money-- because in the end, if they run out, they will simply beg for more! They are blind to reality. For the past hundred years, more leaven and yet even more leaven has been introduced into "churchianity" that "christians" no longer see clearly. Rev 3:19-22 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Is it any wonder that the Lord Jesus is knocking on the outside of the door of the modern church? They have shut Him out! They don't hear Him knocking because they are too busy with their entertainment to notice His knock at their door! Materially wealthy but poor, blind and naked. Lukewarm! May God's people wake up! Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. ©2008 Cobblestone Road Ministries All Rights Reserved ---------------------------------------------------- Further Reading: Laying Up Treasures In Heaven A Few Thoughts On Churchianity and Apostasy Beware of the Passion Play - At The "Holy Land Experience" Christian Theme Park What's Wrong With The Prosperity Gospel? Cease Not To Teach and Preach Jesus Christ More Apostasy In The Modern Church - Marching Toward Babylon Debating With Atheists?... We are called to Proclaim, not to debate with fools The Frightening Future Of "Christianity" -- Where Is The Gospel? The Heavy Burden of Being Purpose-Driven False Preachers - Passing out candy on the way to destruction Should Christians Watch Oprah? Unbiblical Things - Female Angels, Little Cherubs and "Jesus" Pictures and Films! |
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