Dr. Meg Hart
#idol #church #revival #newyear #remnant #Jesus #repentance #sin #compromise #holiness
As a new year approaches and the return of Jesus draws near, it’s time to break down the walls of idolatry within the Church. The Church cries for revival yet most are not willing to give up the pleasures of this world and are not willing to repent. “Know this: In the last days perilous times will come. Men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, slanderers, unrestrained, fierce, despisers of those who are good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Turn away from such people.” 2 Timothy 3:3-5
Sadly, this is an accurate depiction of the condition of the Church today.
Most churches have become social gatherings events rather than places of godly reverence and holiness. Coffee houses, catchy tunes, bright lights and custom-written scripted sermons spoken by “actors” on green screens have replaced places of worship, the movement of the Holy Spirit, teaching the Word of God, and prayer through the pastors who were called to shepherd their flocks. Congregants can pay top dollar or the latest smartphone, vacation or car, but shutter when asked to tithe or give to missions.
Even most Christian artists, actors, comedians and bands have blended in so well with the world, it’s hard to tell them apart. Jesus is nowhere to be found at these events. You see a whole lot of performance but not a whole lot of worship. There will be concert halls and stadiums filled to capacity, yet there is no presentation of the gospel, no altar call, no prayer team or no Bibles distributed. Rest assured though there will be plenty of hoodies, t-shirts, autographs and photo meet and greet opportunities to look forward to. Instead of leading people into worship and truth and telling them about Jesus, they focus on the number of fans they have on social media or what award they will win or what tour they will perform next. People are paying any price and will literally weep and scream at the chance to meet and get selfies with these Christian “celebrities” for that one moment, yet they were never introduced to Jesus who could give them forever.
Believers are falling away left and right due to self-harm, depression, pornography, adultery, addiction, and suicide, yet most of the Church won’t deal with sin head on and chooses to brush it all under the carpet of sloppy grace.
The majority of the Church has stayed silent as tolerance and acceptance of sin has overtaken the world. At the very moment of opposition or persecution followers have buckled under pressure, given in and fallen away.
If Jesus turned down the tables at the temple then, what would He do now?
Here are three ways followers of Christ can help destroy idolatry within the Church.
1) The Lord says, “My children, wake up from your compromise; I am looking for the remnant!”
We need to individually examine our own hearts and repent for any idols we have made of ourselves and others. “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God”. 2 Corinthians 6:14-16
2) The Lord says, “My children, speak out and fight for truth; I am looking for the remnant!”
We need to unashamedly and boldly speak up to the movers, shakers and decision makers to put Jesus back into the center of worship, or better yet, ask God to make us people of influence around the world. “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24
3) The Lord says, “My children, stand up for my Word and for Me; I am looking for the remnant!”
We need to fulfill the Great Commission and exemplify Jesus and the Bible through our words, thoughts and actions. No matter what temporary pain of we experience through rejection and persecution, there are eternal promises and awards gained. “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” Revelation 14:12-13
In the midst of the great falling away, let’s be the remnant who is willing to help the Church become a place of prayer and worship once again. Let's break down, crush and obliterate the high places of idolatry that have been erected in our hearts and within the Church. There are still churches, pastors, and followers of Jesus who are willing to remain faithful to Jesus. There are still people with platforms who are willing to keep their focus on Christ and the Gospel and not on themselves. There are still workers willing to harvest souls for the Kingdom. 2019 is the year when the Church can wake up, speak out and stand up for the only one deserving of all praise, glory, honor and worship—our Lord and Savior Jesus!
