I've been thinking heavily over the past day or two about the church, my city, and the evil surrounding it all. I guess I'm kind of on the verge of anger and just deep saddness. One of the things I hate so deeply is the division in the church. I hate it. I hate bad theologies that had good meaning (and are even true to an extent). I hate evil. I hate the church's passive stance on evil. When I say passive, I mean they pray a little here and there (does anyone even show up for "prayer meetings"?), but other than that it's just sweep under the rug. Evil's out there, but we're just supposed to pretend we don't see it — or pretend it's not really that bad.
Here's the truth: there are thousands of people (many church people included) that are in a sea. They're drowning. How can I say this? They're going to hell. Hell. What can I do? This city loves religion. They cherish it like a fat guy cherish's birthday cake. Just tradition: nothing more, nothing less. They go to school, work, and just life in general and they have absolutely no fruits (of the spirit). They're so blinded. They think all they have to do is say "Jesus I lub u, come into me hert". THAT'S NOT WHAT BEING A CHRISTIAN IS!
One theological element I'm talking about here is that of "once saved, always saved". It's enveloped this city. They live by it. It's sending them to hell, too. They're dying because a church wants membership. All the while, the enemy is sitting back — enjoying the blind ignorance of the people.
It makes me want to cry. I hate it. Then there's denominations. I'll be overjoyed when it's not "what denomination are you" and instead "are you a Christian, saved by Christ Jesus". The church isn't the baptist denomination. It isn't the Methodist church. Stop playing church politics. Church isn't a place for politics. Period. Politics plays such a large role in church. I've saw over the years how politics ruin things.
"Once saved, always saved" can be true — to an extent. Once you're saved, you have to give your life to God. You'll always be saved IF you keep that. It's an if-then-else. Not just a simple if. If you give God your life and remain in him, then you're always saved; else you're not and you're not of God. If-then-else. Remember that.
It's like throwing a life-preserver over a boat and then when the person who needed saving gets the preserver the thrower just lets go of the string and the boat leaves. What good is it then?! That's just like planting a seed and never giving it water. Perhaps another ship will come by, but what if they don't?
In other words, you just planted a seed in that person's heart that they're "eternally secure". You've just lied to them. Now they're going off drifting — doing all the things of the world, not set apart at all. When they die they'll say: "I thought once I was saved, I was always saved". They'll be denied because of an eternal lie. Very, very bad.
I've came to the conclusion that this city can't be saved until religion is first broken. Maybe I'm wrong, I accept it if I am. Until the walls of religion are broken in this city, it's going to be that much harder to reach the unsaved saved. They think they're saved — but they aren't. I'm not judging people. Those who are really, genuinely seeking God (even though they do screw up all the time) — I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about the ones who think they're saved, but they can live however they want to during the week.
On the subject of denomination's, we need to live this song by Disciple, I Just Know. Who cares if we get in the aisles and dance? Who care's if someone worships a little different? Who cares if we pace during worship. Who cares if we raise our hands? I love a quote I heard a few days ago: "dignity is NOT a fruit of the spirit".
Something else that I never really thought of — back in Jesus day a lot of babies were slaughtered. The enemy knew Jesus was the one who was to defeat him so he wanted him to die. He missed, but a great sin had been committed and a lot of innocent babies were slaughtered. The enemy has been trying to do it again through what's called "abortion".
Revolution. I've heard that word used by several people over the past few weeks. Non-Christians are throwing around the word, as are Christians. All I can say is this — if the non-Christians get their way — there's going to be chaos. Entire chaos. Like riot chaos. There's only a few more years. The politics have to go. The pride has to go. The church has to get back to what it's meant to do — lead people to Jesus.
We — this generation — are tired of luke-warm church. We want meat. We're tired of milk. We're tired of shallow sermons. We're tired of shallow people. We've saw more, we know more, we think more. We're ready to have a dirty faith — a faith that goes all out for Jesus. We're tired of little games. We're ready for truth. We're hungry for truth. It's not impossible — it may just mean that some peoples egos may get hurt. A little more humbleness never hurt anyone (minus the one being humbled). It's a bloody field, are we going to go and help the sick? Or are we just going to watch them die? It's a yes or no question. Not a yes, maybe, or no.