By Jim Miller
Gray, Maine
We have all heard the phrase Dumbing Down America, I have come to believe that this has also gone on in the Lords church for many, many years now. The dumbing down of the church has had a frightening effect. Christians used to be able to rattle off Book, chapter and verse for the things they believe without batting an eye. Today however we are lucky if they can even get the verse correct when quoting it.
Over the years congregations have come to rely on the preacher knowing his Bible and teaching it properly and thus many never even cracked open their Bible to see if what is being taught is even correct. A failure to even study on their own has made it possible for the wolves dressed as sheep to creep in and teach error unchecked.
The adoption of denominational practices is rampant among Gods people because of the lack of study on the part of the members of the Lords church. This is one of if not the biggest reasons that churches are falling off into liberal apostasy today.
Here in the northeast where I live a man is hard pressed to find a sound congregation. It is disheartening to those who seek to worship God in spirit and truth not to be able to worship with others as they should. Well spoken men who teach nothing but the love and mercy of God and only those things pleasing to the ear have crept in and brought with them denominational practices that look like good things and teach that surely if it is good it is acceptable to God whether there is authority for that given practice or not.
Folks I am not one seeking to win a popularity contest and because I feel we must stand on the truth of Gods word no more and no less I have made many enemies over the years. You can't be afraid to stand on Gods word because you will lose friends or be called names. You have to put these men out of the church and go back to doing things in the manner God has stated if you want to be saved and make it to heaven when that time comes.
There is no room for apathy and looking the other way in the Lords church. The idea that you can allow a little error in and then say well I just won't take part in that bit is unacceptable. Gal 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
Gal 5:8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
Gal 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
We all make errors in judgement but when it is brought to our attention by others or by the word we have to change. We must stand and be willing to say, WAIT this is wrong and we need to stop this now. We can't worry about losing a friend or being called names or even being ostracized by those around us because we stand on the truth of Gods word. Who here reading this now would trade their soul for popularity for temporary things of this earth? Have we been dumbed down to the point that we no longer can see error at all?
Christians are not called to peace they are called into battle. We have been given armor and the sword. Each and every one of us must determine if we are going to fight the good fight Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
We need desperately to realize that the wolves are not just at the door but have entered in and are devouring the truth and making shipwreck of our assemblies. We must teach those who are blindly following error the truth and bring them back as James said Jas 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
Jas 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Ask yourself am I a soldier or a captive? Your soul depends on it.
