Going to Hell?

 Going To Hell? 

The apostle Paul wrote,

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.

Perhaps its because we are in an information age and we see more things happening because of it. But I think not. I believe our society is degrading. People are becoming lovers of self.

In his book "Essentials in Christian Faith" John B. Harrington, published in 1958, there is a quote that could have been written yesterday.

It's from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:

"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.'"

Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution. 

Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."

What Gallico is speaking about is what the apostle Paul predicted. In 2Timothy 4:3,4. And the solution to the problem. The only solution is the Love of God.

Sadly the church particularly here in North America where I live is turning away from its first love. Especially in the light of the current political situation in the United states many claiming to be Christians are becoming political. 

They are putting political figures ahead of God. Claiming political leaders are Christians when their actions prove otherwise. Bringing Gods word into disrepute.

If ever there was a time for revival within the Church it is now.

I believe that each individual who claims to be a Christian needs to look at themselves and ask God to show them what it is to be Christian in 2021.

For if they don’t and they continue in a way that is not pleasing to God they will one day here the words of Jesus who said,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  

“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”Matthew 7:21-23

Please think about it.

Revival or else

 Revival or else

In the book of Revelations we read Jesus speaking to the church Ephesus,

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.  

Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place" Revelations 2:4,5.

In his book "Essentials in Christian Faith" John B. Harrington, published in 1958, there is a quote that could have been written yesterday.

It's from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:

"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.'"

Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution. 

Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."

What Paul Gallico wanted in 1948 and what the people of the world are looking for in 2020 are what Christ offers. Jesus said,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.

Sadly however the Church here in North America has become ‘religious’. It as the apostle Paul predicted when he wrote,

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God."2 Timothy 3:1-4.

If ever there was a time in the history of the church here in North America to repent it is now. For the church in its current state has lost the moral high ground. People know more about what the church is against than what it is for. 

The message of Gods love, mercy and understanding is lost in the cacophony of preachers, evangelist and others claiming to be Christian who spend more time condemning others than showing Gods love and mercy.

Thus I believe more than ever the Church in North America from the pulpit to the pew needs to repent like never before.

Please think about it.

Failing Christ.

Failing Christ
Jesus said,
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18,19.
Many modern businesses have what they call mission statements. If Jesus ever had such a mission statement. The above quote would be it.
In today’s 24/7 society people are looking for precisely what Jesus is offering, something beyond the materialism and secularism western society offers. They may not know what it is but they know it is there somewhere.
I firmly believe that what they are looking for is the freedom Christ has to offer. They however through no fault of their own are missing that opportunity.
Sometime ago I came across a book entitled "Essentials in Christian Faith" by John B. Harrington, published in 1958, although it could have been written yesterday. It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
   "A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
  Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution. 
  Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... 
For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."
If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than he was in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with brimstone.
   When I speak I can only truthfully speak of what I see first hand about Christians and the North American society in which I live.
The way I see it the Christian church has slowly let secularism politics and other things of the world into its doors.
So much so in many cases Christians have for lack of a better term “become religious”. They are known for what they are against and not for what they are for. 
Another Paul writing to a member of the first century church wrote the following,
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" 2 Timothy 3:1-4
All of these things the apostle Paul mentions have quietly slipped into the church today and church leaders are failing to correct the wrongs being done in the name of Jesus, in the name of God. Thus the church is failing in it’s mandate.
The church often talks of the need for revival and if ever there was a time for revival it is now. Revival however come with a price. It comes from within. Starting by going back to the basics. Going to God in prayer and asking Him to show where things have gone astray. At the same time there is a need to go back to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles to study the scriptures and put them into practice.
All of the great reformers of the church have done this. In doing so they caused great debate and conflict within the church. It at times has even resulted in the deaths of many servants of God. The result however was a return to the true teaching of the scriptures.
Jesus said,
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18,19.
This is the mission statement of Jesus. This should be the mission statement of the church today in the twenty-first century. A statement we must take to heart. For if we do not we are failing Christ.
Please think about it.