Apostasy is happening in every denomination now. No church is exempt from this end-times phenomenon. This clearly shows that the time of the rapture is near. As Jesus said, “When you see these things begin to happen, you can know my return is at the very door.”
The quasi-Christian Catholic church is topsy-turvy with false doctrine and always was, but today the pope is taking it a step further with wanting to incorporate Islam and all other “faiths into a worldwide religion – just as the scriptures predicted would happen in the end times.
Protestant leaders are also failing to address the issue of sound doctrine; and because of this, many churches are going astray. The words of the Bible are being watered down, and many don’t even subscribe to its final authority anymore. “A house built on sand cannot endure,” and that goes for churches as well.
Today’s Christian church is mostly based on personality and charisma of the leaders and /or the so-called worship band. But it’s all smoke and mirrors (literally) – accompanied by strobe lights.
Meanwhile, corruption abides on the inside of the church like a raging cancer while, on the outside, atheists and agnostic perverts are beating war drums to destroy the Christian faith.
In the secular world, many incarcerated criminals are what is called “institutionalized” – they do everything by rote; like a zombie they eat, exercise and sleep at regimented hours of the day. And so, it is the same old-same old for many Christians going through a regimented life. Far too many Christians have been “institutionalized,” which is to say they live and thrive within the walls of the church building but are afraid of engaging secular society to bring others into the faith; and when they do, it is only to make a name for themselves, that they might be seen by men.
Many leaders have a degree, albeit our savior Christ Jesus worked as a carpenter and never held a theological degree, and neither did his disciples – save one – Paul. Those with degrees are looked upon with great favor, but the so-called Christian Universities have lost their moorings, and some just go there to fornicate and become indoctrinated with false teaching.
What Jesus and his other followers did have was the Holy Spirit – who leads into all truth. “But the anointing that you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone should teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you all things, and is true and is not a lie; and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”
In my forty years of church attendance, I have seen firsthand the many atrocities committed in the Christian church: blasphemy, self-aggrandizement, harlotry, adultery, course joking and lying.
The first one was a church in which the pastor and the music leader were making evil jokes about Jews. Being a young Christian, I thought that all Christians were sincere and true to the faith, especially pastors. Broken, I left and never went back.
Next, I attended a Calvary Chapel church for several years before it was found that the pastor was fornicating with several women in the congregation. After he was ousted, the former pastor went on to other things, saying that he felt he had “another church” in him. So, he may strike again. Later, I went back to see how the others were faring, and they were attending a program on how to invest your money in the kingdom of God! (Did you ever notice how the pastors wear their shirts outside their pants over their pot bellies and prefer to sit on a bar stool while preaching or teaching?) While there is nothing wrong with that – they have made it a contrived routine in hopes of identifying with the clueless masses.
Speaking for myself, I am presently looking for a good Bible-believing church once again, since my pastor has just resigned after 27 years of pastoring the same church. In this unfriendly church, he was the only one to talk to me sincerely and hug me back; all other self-absorbed leaders looked away. (These same people wanted to oust Chuck Colson of all people when he was still alive. They didn’t like the fact that he had taken the limelight away from them, although they did nothing to deserve it.) As a result of being hypocritical and hateful, the book of Luke 12:47 says, “…and those who knew their masters will and did not abide in it will receive may stripes….” I hope you’re not one of those.
With my church dissolving, I find myself looking for a new church home, knowing that I won’t find a perfect one.
If you, like me are having to look for a good church “home,” then make sure you ask to see their doctrinal statement and check out the congregation carefully. Does it jibe with what is written in scripture? Is Jesus the focal point of their doctrine? Is salvation by faith alone taught? Do they teach from the Bible? Do they have Bible classes that utilize the Bible and not man-made ideas and philosophies? The church should not baptize infants. Remember, too, that Allah the Moon god is not the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (the one true God). Are the church leaders friendly? Is the unadulterated Gospel preached? Do they have an altar call?
If you answered no to any one of these questions, then they are not teaching the truth but a doctrine of demons. “Now the Spirit speaks expressly that in the last days some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.” Also, “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils” (1 Cor 10:21).
Whatever you do – Do Not believe Jehovah’s Witnesses’ man-made teaching of having to earn your salvation. The same can be said for Mormons or Catholics or any other man-made cult.
No, we won’t find a perfect church or person, but we can strive to be all that God wants US to be by adhering to the written word of God – the Bible.
Once you receive Jesus into your heart and life, you will be able – through the Holy Spirit – to make sense of Forgiveness of Sin – Salvation and Eternal life – but only as you read and study biblical scripture.
YBIC
Jim Towers
write me at jt.filmmaker@yahoo.com www.thepropheciesmovieandbook.com and www.dropzonedelta.org