A Forsaken Church.
Revelation 3:14-22
Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
If we truly believed in the Bible, we would accept the Book of Revelation as the testimony of Jesus Christ, a message to the churches. This is a profound statement in itself because many religious groups no longer include the Book of Revelation in their Bible study. One reason being, this book does not present a picture of smiling masses, "dancing and prancing in the sunshine" and enjoying the sellable attributes of blessing and favor of God. The Book of Revelation depicts a time of great turmoil and Judgment It does not present the fodder for a motivational and spiritual uplifting message filled with earthly blessing that so many of us are in search. The Book of Revelation addresses a church or organism in its final state of apathy. The church of the Laodiceans as depicted in the Book of Revelation possessed no spiritual value, it was a church that gloried in its earthly possessions.
Usually when I attempt to deliver a lecture on the fallibility of the church there is an attempt to dilute the message by one group that says, the church is not an organization, it is an organism. Now the stage is set for one group to say, "He knows what he is talking about", and another group to say, "He don't know what he is talking about." The church as defined in the Greek language is an assembly that makes up the Body or Bride of Jesus Christ. The English interpretation provided the latitude to convert an organism into an organization. As we well know an organization can have many different independent branches, but a body or organism cannot survive with independent branches. The major question we should be asking is the church has morphed into an organization, how will all of this be reconciled with the Kingdom of God?
The emergence of new doctrines based upon sculptured biblical verses, surgically removed from the context in which they were spoken has allowed for the proliferation of the word of God at an alarming rate. This type of broad interpretation allows for ministers to contradict each while each claiming to have a fresh new message from God. There is a definite question that the indoctrinated few need to address. As long as this question is not addressed and the knowledge of good and evil continue to increase, Christianity will find itself to be a victim of its own irrationality acts.
Usually when I attempt to deliver a lecture on the fallibility of the church there is an attempt to dilute the message by one group that says, the church is not an organization, it is an organism. Now the stage is set for one group to say, "He knows what he is talking about", and another group to say, "He don't know what he is talking about." The church as defined in the Greek language is an assembly that makes up the Body or Bride of Jesus Christ. The English interpretation provided the latitude to convert an organism into an organization. As we well know an organization can have many different independent branches, but a body or organism cannot survive with independent branches. The major question we should be asking is the church has morphed into an organization, how will all of this be reconciled with the Kingdom of God?
The emergence of new doctrines based upon sculptured biblical verses, surgically removed from the context in which they were spoken has allowed for the proliferation of the word of God at an alarming rate. This type of broad interpretation allows for ministers to contradict each while each claiming to have a fresh new message from God. There is a definite question that the indoctrinated few need to address. As long as this question is not addressed and the knowledge of good and evil continue to increase, Christianity will find itself to be a victim of its own irrationality acts.
When asked about the Book of Revelation, the religious elite will quickly respond that it is a dated Book and John was writing to the churches that existed in his lifetime. Some even have the audacity to question the veracity of the Book, indicating that it should not have been included in the Holy Scripture. Yet, to the simplest mind, Revelation is Jesus message to the churches and it gives us a chronological view of the church from conception to its final moments here on earth. The acceptance of the symbolic and simple message of Revelation is often contradictive to the amplified view of man's perceived purpose and his idea of the final conclusion of things. Revelation presents a view of Heaven that is different from many excepted ideas of Heaven.
In the beginning of the Book of Revelation, Jesus addressed his message to the seven churches. The English word is church, in the Greek it reference a group or assembly. Here again, we can spend a great amount of time to no avail debating the relevancy of the use of the word, "church". It is easy to disregard these letters based upon the fact that these churches no longer exist. If we apply the symbology of the Bible, seven being God's number of completion, we would readily see that the seven churches represent the churches throughout the church age. The question that we should seek to answer through Bible Study, is what church age are we living in today?
Careful documentation has shown the progression of the church as an organism, the body of Christ, down through the ages. The most adherent students of the Bible will conclude that the church as a body has split into many different organizations. What was documented in the Greek has been amplified in the English forming many different organizations that lack the possibility of forming a cohesive body in Heaven or on Earth. Thus the church as we know it today is a contradiction in its self. Many religious scholars have concluded that we are living in the age of the church of the Laodiceans., the seventh church age.
Revelation 3:14-22 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
At this juncture, I like it invoke the story of, "The Emperor's New Clothes". it is a short tale by Hans Christian Andersen about two weavers who promise an Emperor a new suit of clothes that is invisible to those unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent. When the Emperor parades before his subjects in his new clothes, a child cries out, "But he isn't wearing anything at all!" It was not because they were blind that they allowed themselves to be deceived. They were more concern about being looked upon favorably by their peers. It was their desire to be a part of the organization. Those that were close to the Emperor did not want to appear unfit for their position. Too often, in the church we are willing to go along with anything as long as someone says, "God said it."
In the news, natural disasters are raging, fires, storms, mudslides and even the seas are casting it did upon the beaches worldwide. Our national leaders have instituted programs that are leading the world down a path of moral decay. Mass murder and suicide are a steady diet in the news media. New churches are being built, new ministers are coming forward and more people are said to be praying than ever before, and God is not answering these prayers. Like the little boy said about the emperor, "But he isn't wearing anything at all!" Like Jesus said to the church, "... and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: "
The foundation of the church and the Bible is becoming more and more divided. The foundation of most ministries is how to get stuff from God. The foundation of the Bible is the preparation for the return of Jesus and the establishment of his Kingdom. The individual church as an organization attempt to establish itself as a sacred institution of God, yet it fails to adhere to the rules and regulations set by God. One person in set up as the supreme ruler of God's people, a thing Jesus frown upon is the preferred order. Men setting themselves up as rulers of God people is a travesty. Revelation 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Often there are organizations within a church organization whose sole purpose is to collect money for another group higher up the pyramid. The blessing and favors, the tools of indoctrination are used and no one dare question it. How many people have the gall to openly state, "I ask God for a car and he didn't give it to me?" In a pyramid scheme the individual that fail to reap the promises of the group will often blame themselves.
In a pyramid scheme, an organization or church compels individuals to make a payment and join. In exchange, the organization promises its new members a return on its money through favors and blessings. The directors of the organization or the head of the churches (those at the top of the pyramid) also receive a share of these payments. For the directors, the scheme is potentially lucrative -- whether or not they do any work, the organization's membership has a strong incentive to continue recruiting and funneling money to the top of the pyramid. This is defined as the blessing of God.
Such organizations seldom involve sales of products or services with real value. Without creating any goods or services, the only ways for a pyramid scheme to generate revenue are to recruit more members or solicit more money from current members. Eventually, recruiting is no longer possible and the plurality of members is unable to profit from the scheme, thus the organization collapses.
At this juncture, I like it invoke the story of, "The Emperor's New Clothes". it is a short tale by Hans Christian Andersen about two weavers who promise an Emperor a new suit of clothes that is invisible to those unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent. When the Emperor parades before his subjects in his new clothes, a child cries out, "But he isn't wearing anything at all!" It was not because they were blind that they allowed themselves to be deceived. They were more concern about being looked upon favorably by their peers. It was their desire to be a part of the organization. Those that were close to the Emperor did not want to appear unfit for their position. Too often, in the church we are willing to go along with anything as long as someone says, "God said it."
In the news, natural disasters are raging, fires, storms, mudslides and even the seas are casting it did upon the beaches worldwide. Our national leaders have instituted programs that are leading the world down a path of moral decay. Mass murder and suicide are a steady diet in the news media. New churches are being built, new ministers are coming forward and more people are said to be praying than ever before, and God is not answering these prayers. Like the little boy said about the emperor, "But he isn't wearing anything at all!" Like Jesus said to the church, "... and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: "
The foundation of the church and the Bible is becoming more and more divided. The foundation of most ministries is how to get stuff from God. The foundation of the Bible is the preparation for the return of Jesus and the establishment of his Kingdom. The individual church as an organization attempt to establish itself as a sacred institution of God, yet it fails to adhere to the rules and regulations set by God. One person in set up as the supreme ruler of God's people, a thing Jesus frown upon is the preferred order. Men setting themselves up as rulers of God people is a travesty. Revelation 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Often there are organizations within a church organization whose sole purpose is to collect money for another group higher up the pyramid. The blessing and favors, the tools of indoctrination are used and no one dare question it. How many people have the gall to openly state, "I ask God for a car and he didn't give it to me?" In a pyramid scheme the individual that fail to reap the promises of the group will often blame themselves.
In a pyramid scheme, an organization or church compels individuals to make a payment and join. In exchange, the organization promises its new members a return on its money through favors and blessings. The directors of the organization or the head of the churches (those at the top of the pyramid) also receive a share of these payments. For the directors, the scheme is potentially lucrative -- whether or not they do any work, the organization's membership has a strong incentive to continue recruiting and funneling money to the top of the pyramid. This is defined as the blessing of God.
Such organizations seldom involve sales of products or services with real value. Without creating any goods or services, the only ways for a pyramid scheme to generate revenue are to recruit more members or solicit more money from current members. Eventually, recruiting is no longer possible and the plurality of members is unable to profit from the scheme, thus the organization collapses.
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