1Corinthians 10:6-7 reads: 6Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7Do not be idolaters as some of them were: as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. ESV (emphasis mine)
The passage from 1 Corinthians 10:1-22 certainly has been one to ponder lately as I examine the recesses of my own heart, looking to uproot the idles that have been planted. And I hope above all else that this blog entry will bless you as we ponder the passage and how it applies to us generally today.
In my short history in church (since 2001) I have been grieved at the lack of desire there really is to do as Jesus did, taught, and commanded us to do in light of scripture, namely, proclaim the Gospel to every creature. In most every church I have been a part of except a few, the major thrust was to coddle sinners, entertain backsliders, and develop a curriculum that would busy the participants with feasts of fellowship and gatherings for games.
Just lately, I have watched this movie (please spend the time to watch it) which has certainly clarified and intensified my fears for the churched, and has left me wondering what can really be done to bring Pastors (True Shepherds of God's elect, who prepare the meal each week with milk & meat; not those who fleece the flock), Prophets (the forth telling type; not charismatic wizards or extortionist magicians), Evangelists (those who rightly divide the word, preaching the Law & Gospel; not those who hypnotize hypocrites), and Teachers (those who teach the sound doctrines of grace, not those who tickle the ears of unregenerate best life now seekers) to realize their folly and take to heart the learning's of the past. Or at least understand that God is unleashing His judgement on the ungodly now and come out from them?
2 Peter 2:4-9
4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; 5if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8(for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); 9then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,
So Pastor, is your church a true church? So Teacher, do you teach the Word in context? So Evangelist, do you place yourself under your Pastor and faithfully proclaim the Law & Gospel?
We see that Noah was righteous and the fruit of it was his obedience to herald the Law being there was a judgement to come. Notice he didn't start a church to herald songs of AC/DC and turn a blind eye to debauchery during the service. He didn't start a youth group so that the neighborhood kids could learn better floor hockey skills. He didn't focus on building shelters for the homeless so that they could perish in the comfort of their own homes. He obviously preached to them of the terrors of God, hoping that a few would repent before it was to late.
We see Lot, greatly distressed by the actions of the ungodly of his time. God did spare him, but should He spare those who haven't even a twinge of urgency to warn the lost? Those who have no issue in their mind or souls about how we are to conduct ourselves in the world?
By faith in the one true God & Savior Jesus Christ they were spared! They (the men before the Christ came in the flesh) were spared because of what Jesus, the son of God would do, and because God had chose to reveal to them this salvation that would take place through Him. How about those of us who have been given the testimony of the revealed Son from Heaven? How much more should we, in Holy reverence, be grateful for what He has done and COME OUT!
So what will it be?
Playing or Proclaiming? Gospel or Games?
Let us pray God's people would stop endorsing the shenanigans and repent.
Kevin
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