Are
you indeed saved? -Click here
1. Firm Foundation built on Solid Doctrine.
2. Weak and crumbling Pillars built on man's philosophies and the ways of
this world.
A father and his son were walking down a road
and came upon an old abandoned building that looked as if the least bit of
disturbance would cause it to cave in. The son was very interested in entering
the building. Curiosity was pulling at his little imagination as to "what was
inside"! The boy quickly darted from his father's side and placing one foot on
the threshold, he stuck his head just inside the door opening of this teetering
structure. The boys father realizing at that moment that his son was actually
contemplating going into the crumbling building, without hesitation, cried out
"Don't go in there! It's not safe! You could get hurt or killed!" Immediately,
the boy shivered for a second, because he suddenly realized the reality of what
his father had just said. After returning to his father's side, the son
apologized for his indiscretion. All
would agree, that a loving father in his right mind would NEVER encourage his
son to enter a building without structural integrity. In fact, the Father's
warning to the son to get away and flee from the sagging building is the loving
reaction. In the PHYSICAL REALM this truth seems so obvious to us. Christians
today need to realize the same truth in the SPIRITUAL REALM. Doctrinal integrity
is equally as important when it comes to our spiritual well being and our
spiritual safety! Let's take a close look at the church you attend and ask
yourself, "Is it Doctrinally Solid or are the foundation weak and the pillars
crumbling? Should you even stay in such a spiritually weakened
structure?"
1. The Gospel Presentation:
Is the gospel being presented clearly at
the church you attend? Are you hearing a message that says that "all have sinned
and come short of the glory of God" (His Holy standard)? Are people being told
from the pulpit that eternal salvation is only possible through Jesus Christ
because He shed His blood and gave His body to suffer for our sins, in our
place? Does the preaching clearly point out that those, without Jesus Christ as
their savior, will end up in Hell? Are you being told that salvation is not of
works (Eph. 2:8 & 9) and that no one could ever work their way into a Holy
God's favor? Are you being told that faith in Jesus Christ saves you from
eternal Hell and that no church, church membership or institution saves you from
God's wrath? Are the leaders in the church speaking out against the false
gospels of our day? The apostles show us that speaking out is not optional:
(Gal. 1:6-8, "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you
in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there
are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if
we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have
preached to you, let him be accursed"). If you're not hearing a CLEAR
presentation of the gospel from your leaders, you are in a church that is no
longer spiritually sound and it's time to get out!
Are
you indeed saved? -Click here
2. Sin is Sin:
God's word NEVER EVER condones sin, nor
should the pastors, ministers or teachers in churches today! Our Holy God is so
seriously set against sin, that He created an eternal place of punishment called
Hell and sent His only Son to die a horrible death on the Cross for our sins. If
the church you're in, is dancing around the sins of our society and not dealing
with sins within the church, you are in a church without doctrinal integrity and
in a church that does not take God's Holy standards seriously. If you're hearing
messages that never deal with the prohibitions and commandments of God according
to His word, then the pillars of your church have fallen and it's time to run to
a church with doctrinal integrity.
More on the sins of our Society!
-Click here
3. Commands are Commands: The Bible needs to be the absolute
authority for every group of believers. If it is not, then you are in a
teetering structure, doctrinally. Are the pastors and ministers "Preaching the
Word" (2Timothy. 4:2)? The messages you hear should be causing you to turn in
your Bible as you follow along. The sermons you hear should be filled with what
God has to say and not with what man has to say! Let me focus on just a few of
God's commands that are typically ignored in many churches today: "You be Holy",
are the people being provoked and encouraged from the pulpit to live godly lives
free from sin and worldly vices? Are men being encouraged to lead their families
(Eph. 5:23 "For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the
church")? Are women teaching and leading over men in your church? If so, realize
this is strictly forbidden in Scripture (1Timothy 2:12, "And I do not permit a
woman to teach or to have authority over a man"). Is abortion and many other
sins of our society condemned by your leaders? They should be! If God's Word is
not the absolute authority in the church you attend, you're in a assembly that
has caved in Doctrinally and it's time to get serious about the commands of God
and find a church that stands firm on God's Truths. 4. Are the people being edified? So many churches today have become
entertaining centers for Christians and unbelievers. This kind of church
philosophy is dangerous and contrary to God's Word. The book of Ephesians
(4:7-14) reveals to us that the purpose of the local church is to build up the
believers so they can; 1. be equipped with God's word in order to minister to
other believers and unbelievers, and, 2. so they can be equipped with God's Word
in order to be strong doctrinally (notice Eph. 4:14 "we should no longer be
children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by
the trickery of men"). If the church you attend is not provoking you to grow
spiritually, to serve God in the church and to keep yourself from sin, then you
are in a church that has abandoned God's intended purpose for the local
assembly! Finally! Bringing glory to God must be the primary goal of the Church.
We are not to be pleasers of men and their flesh, through all types of worldly
entertainment in the house of God. All to many modern churches have welcomed
worldliness right into God's church. Let us all be reminded of the Zeal of the
Lord Jesus when He cleansed the Temple and cast our those things that offended
God's Holiness. If your church will not be cleansed doctrinally and practically,
then "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what
is unclean, And I will receive you"(2Cor. 6:17). Dear friend, if we can help
you, please contact us. We'll do all that we can to help you find a Solid Church
that stands firmly on God's absolute Truths. Even if you don't live in Illinois, we'll do what we can to help.
For more on this subject-Click
here.
For more on the purpose of the
church -Click here!
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