The True Failure

Mar 16:15  Then he told them, "As you go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to everyone.
Mar 16:16  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever doesn't believe will be condemned.
Mar 16:17  "These are the signs that will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
Mar 16:18  they will pick up snakes with their hands; even if they drink any deadly poison it will not hurt them; and they will place their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

I've been thinking(oh, boy) about the noticeable decay in our society. I have been people watching lately. What I've noticed is the lifelessness. So many people looks like the walking dead to me. Their eyes are dull, and they just look soul weary. Even the surrounding scenery looks sad. The restaurants and stores glass doors are dirty, even in area that used to be beautiful. The children are dressing dark or in apparel made for the opposite sex. Girls are dressing like boys and boys are dressing like girls far more frequently. I used to blame the decay of society on wickedness and moral corruption. Families are breaking up, and children are being reared by latch key, the internet, and television(horrible combination).

However, as bad as all those things are, the real problem is the church. We have walked away from the true gospel of Jesus Christ, and have adopted a watered-down, feel-good gospel. Not to mention we have turned it into our very own get rich quick scheme with the message of prosperity. No one wants to preach about a Holy God that without holiness we will not see. Or we took on the attitude of conservative, self-righteousness and superiority. Then theirs the liberal gospel of God loves us, and Jesus died for our sins, so there's no longer a need to repent. Live the way you want you're still a child of God. The truth is, only those that walk by the Spirit of God are truly His sons and daughters. The wages of sin is still death. Jesus did die for our sins. He paid the price to free us from death. He took took our sins to the grave. The church has lost it's balance. We have to get back to being centered in Christ and stop being self-centered.

I also believe that we have forgotten how to cry out to Abba in sincere prayer. It's time to rend our hearts and not our garments. A sinful- prayer lacking church- is a weak and ailing church. The world is failing because the church is failing. Wickedness has been here since the fall of mankind. Redemption is only two thousand years old. Jesus left us with instructions, and power(His Spirit) to help fulfill our commission. We walked away from His righteousness in pursuit of our own. We have failed society. We have failed the children, but worse of all, we have failed our Father. I've heard people complain about a God that would let people suffer. I heard all kind of hate speech against God. They don't know Him, but we do. How could you not love a God that stepped down from Glory, wrapped himself in human flesh and suffered and died in our place.

Sin still stinks in his nostrils. Judgment begins in the house of the Lord. I understand that scripture now. When my son was a baby, I don't see myself changing the dirty diaper of the kid next door when my son's diaper need changing. It's time to get back in balance with Abba. It's time to tell the truth without condemnation or compromise. Lets go back to the gospel in all it's simplicity. All of creation is groaning waiting on the sons of God to be revealed. Don't you see it?

Fearless