WASHING YOUR HANDS 2

 

WASHING YOUR HANDS 2

I Tim. 4:1-5

It used to be that when one said they went to church, there was at least a general idea of what they were being taught, not so much anymore we. The church has become a smorgasbord of different kinds of beliefs. Under the umbrella of the church, you will find those whose beliefs are conservative and those who are liberal. Some stand for Biblical truths, others don’t even know what the Bible says. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find churches that stand on the firm foundation of the Word of God.

In the church, we find some people who have clearly abandoned the faith. They may think that faith is no longer relevant or even a necessity for getting into heaven. They may believe that their own goodness is all that is needed. They live like the devil through the week and go to church to make themselves feel better. They abandon the faith because they have failed to live it and think it is impossible and old-fashioned.

In the church, we find those who clearly follow deceiving spirits. They adjust the Bible to suit what they are comfortable with. They rarely, if ever, open their Bibles, if they even have one. They develop an image of God that fits their lifestyle instead of fitting their lifestyle to God. The live for the pleasures of this life with little thought to the eternal. They become the center of the universe instead of God. They live as if they are Lord of life, instead of Christ. They follow the popular, charismatic, and powerful instead of the humble servants of God.

In the church, some people have clearly seared their consciences. For some, the line between right and wrong is muddied with no clear standard to live by. They consider what is right to be only what is right for them. Sin no longer is what God says it is. They buy into the culture’s way of seeing things to the point that they no longer are able to feel remorse over sins committed. They will argue against what the Bible declares and strive to justify themselves for their actions. They rationalize that it’s okay to do whatever everyone else is doing. They so condition themselves to think as the world thinks that they no longer are able to feel conviction over sin.

Is it any wonder why most people no longer attend church? Most churches have nothing more to offer them than the world does. The church cannot stand strong against the culture of this world because the church has nothing to stand for.

Let us not wash our hands from the church. Let us fervently pray for her. Let us be so committed to Christ that the church has to take notice and change. If we aren’t part of the solution, we are part of the problem.