Revelation 3:15-19 New International Version (NIV)
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.
Continuing in our series of abusing the role of leadership, the prophet Isaiah saw this problem and spoke against it in Isaiah 9:16, "For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed." Jesus referenced the problem, Matthew 15:14 "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." John admonishes us, 1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Where is that Christian element that is not afraid to stand up to these ambiguous claims of leadership and say, "enough is enough?"
In a progressive society, our presidents, community and church leaders build shrines to emphasize their role as leaders, even parent build stately homes that will outlast them. Church leaders acquire impressive titles and build stately tabernacles and even plan for their succession. What does this say concerning our vanity, our desire for recognition, our desire to stand out or our attachment with the things of this world? Now we are forced to ask the question, what is the trapping of a great leader, a big house, money, a special car, or is it a desire to serve, to make a difference, to make the world a better place? Was John the Baptist a great leader? How many people today would follow a John the Baptist type fellow into the wilderness to hear him preach? The Gospel John preached would be out of place in a setting where people flocked to be entertained and have their ego massaged.
The promise of wealth and worldly pleasures, an entrapment or temptation presented to Jesus by the Devil is exciting and empowering to man. Millions of people rush to assemblies to hear the Gospel of the Kingdom transformed by leaders into the Gospel of greed, The Gospel of prosperity and the Gospel of entertainment. We no longer come to church seeking to aid and assist our fellow man, we come to church looking for the blessing which is not scripture. We assembly like spoiled brats, adhering to the program, with uplifted hands, begging God for the blessing. We are indoctrinated into a belief that God is sitting on the sidelines just waiting to bless us. Collecting these make believe blessings have become a way of life to many. Is this is what it all about?
The book of Revelation, the book that contains the seven letters of Jesus to the seven representative churches is filled with insight and wisdom that is often overlooked. The imagery and the symbology often overshadow the message as we justify our lack of knowledge by saying, "I just want to be ready when he come." Revelation gives us a view of the church here on earth, the church in Heaven, and the final consummation of things. The problem with the book of Revelation is that it reveals things that we as humans are not prepared to accept. Revelation not only chronologize the history of the church, it reveals the flaws and problems of leadership among those who claim to be a part of the bride of Christ.
The first step to the abuse of leadership roles begins with the ability to justify the sins that exist within us. Justification can be through seeing and justifying or not able to see and justifying. In the old testament, King David did a royal job of justifying his sin, thus abusing his role of leadership. Abusing the role of leadership often result in one using the word of God to lift our self up, claiming that which do not belong to us and making promising in the name of God to obtain personal wealth and glory. Leadership in the vineyard of Christ should not be for personal gain, it should be about the saving of souls. Jesus promised that our reward would be in heaven. Using the Word of God to indoctrinate believers into a profound level of gullibility, teaching them to become prey and making merchandise of them is forbidden by the Holy scripture. 2 Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. The selling of salvation, miracles and blessing were never ordained by Jesus Christ.
The follows of Christ are often subjected to bondage in order to further the will of the so-called leaders. Often times whether a person goes to church or not is based upon whether they have an offering or not. Under the guise of praying for the givers, pastors will often stand at the offering table watching to see who gave what, a type of applied bondage. Paul in the book of Galatians addresses the subject of applied bondage. Galatians 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: Galatians 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
At any given time, there is a vast array of ministers and prophets offering a smorgasbord of blessings. To claim these blessings all you have to do is speak the word and ask for them. Whether it's healing or money there are those who are prepared to tell you how to get what you want from God. The fact that God is not moving in the direction that we are leading him does not figure into the equation. A silent God is a factor that we cannot entertain, yet there are many times in the scripture where God was silent. The works of God is marginalized, trivialized and converted into cliques for the sake of gaining followers. It is a well-known fact that followers translate into money and if you want to be blessed you have got to give money. We are now promised financial blessings over the internet, all we have to do is type "Amen".
Did Jesus, the Apostles or even Paul go about preaching a message of promised prosperity, or was the core message repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand? In many church settings, the leaders are speaking of all of the wonderful that God is doing, how God wants us to be happy and prosperous. Many leave these services in a mentality and financial quagmire that grew worst during the service. Many times I have sat through beautiful messages designed to teach me how to get what I want from God. The messages always centered around give more money and God will bless you. There are many who are no longer believing these message, but like the emperor and his suit of new clothes, they are ashamed or afraid to admit it.
In my lecturing, my travel and consultation, I am faced with a new and growing threat to the household of faith. It is a problem that even I am not prepared to fully address. The pandering, the pampering and the new direction of many churches and church leaders have left many of their elderly constituents standing at the crossroad of despair and confusion. The sadness of this is, these people have been made to question their faith in a time when they need it most. But, as good soldiers they have learned to suffer in silence. The beliefs, the things that they once held dear is being cast aside. The unfulfilled promises, the aches, and pains of life even the financial insecurity of growing old is discombobulating to those who made the church an integral part of their life. A 90 year old woman, after spending her life in the church, being preached and ministered to, looking out at a graveyard wondered out loud, "maybe this is all that it is." She had planted seeds, paid her tithes, paid her dues, gave in offerings and honored her pastors, was this the measure of her salvation? The ideology of Christians are rich in worldly goods and sinners are poor is a false illusion that is perpetuated by those who make merchandise of God's people.
The organizational structure of many organized churches has become oppressive in that it caters to the hierarchy of the organization rather than the needs of the local church, the need of the people or even the community. The members are severely taxed and must make financial contributions to men, women, and organizations on a local, district, state and international level. An elaborate pyramid scheme is enforced through indoctrinated procedures enforced through fear and intimidation. Scriptures are cast about that strike fear into the heart of those who even think that their leader has erred.
Jesus said in Revelation 3:19, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent."
Jesus said in Revelation 3:19, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent."
