A Form of Godliness

God's Word says...

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

The type of hypocrisy that the Apostle Paul is talking about in this passage of scripture is prevalent throughout Christendom today. Churches that have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. Ones that are more concerned with preaching a gospel of how to have your “Best Life Now” rather than seeking to reach out and change the world by the true preaching and teaching of the gospel of Christ. Those that are like the church of Laodicea (Revelation 3: 14-19), who think they are spiritually rich, but actually exist in a state of spiritual decay.

There is nothing more fulfilling or exhilarating than to be called by God into a specific vocation or ministry, and there is nothing more right or pleasing to God than living full-on for Jesus Christ. But these things don’t come from and are not exemplified by emotional religious rallies with slick speakers and upbeat modern music, and it definitely doesn’t come from off the cuff, improper biblical interpretation.

I’ve been in the pastoral ministry for over seventeen years, and during this time, the majority of churches and denominations that I have had dealings with were searching for a revival. The problem is that most take their definition of revival from the over-dramatic sensationalism of the theologically impaired tele-evangelists of our day. Furthermore, you will have no hard time finding preachers or teachers who link the term ‘revival’ and ‘experiencing God’ with emotionally charged rallies, psychosomatic or false healings, and large indoor crowds with contemporary Christian music, and people answering generic, watered down, man centered gospels, making their “decisions for Christ”.

This is of course a generalization, and not every church fits this mold, but I believe this to be the very epitome of the modern “Emerging Church.”

Beloved, true revival comes from right interpretation and understanding of God’s word through the power of His Holy Spirit. This is why the apostle Paul went on to say these words… “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry” (2 Timothy 4:2-5).

As a church, our job is to preach God’s word, not the cleverly designed ideas of man. When we do that plainly and accurately, forsaking all gimmicks, worldly methods and emotional manipulations a miraculous thing happens. God comes alongside of that otherwise foolish and boring preaching and teaching and He blesses it, and people’s lives are supernaturally transformed. Not just an emotionally manipulated and superficial change, but rather a real and radical transformation from the inside out. That’s true revival!

Unfortunately, today’s Christians are; as the prophet Amos so adequately put it, “…destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge…” (Hosea 4:6). Carnal men and women masquerading as ministers of the truth are calling the response that they get from preaching seeker-friendly messages and worldly philosophies, religion and revival. In reality God’s children are being devoured by cults, bamboozled by flim-flam artists posing as preachers and being misled by uneducated pastors who don’t love their God enough to commit themselves to study showing themselves “…approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

As a Church commissioned by God for the task of preaching the gospel to every creature and making disciples of all nations (Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 28:19-20), it is imperative that we not align ourselves with the emerging church movement that has a form of godliness but no real power.

The ACW’s vision is of reaching out to the world, promoting peace, unity and reconciliation to God. As large and as daunting as this task may seem, we need not be discouraged, but rather encouraged knowing that through Christ we can accomplish anything (Philippians 4:13), and that God has given us clear instruction through His Church and through His word in order to accomplish these things. The Apostle Paul says, “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved” (Philippians 3:17-21; 4:1).

The post-modern and emerging church movement, spearheaded by such people as Brian McLaren believe truth is relative, that there are no absolutes and they reject the law of non-contradiction. To them there is no right and wrong, and therefore they reject Orthodox Christianity for upholding those categories and making doctrinal assertions based on our faith. Whatever happened to Christians living by “…every word of God” (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4)?

Beloved, I am not just pointing a finger at the progenitors of this movement, but also at the people who receive them. Christians have been given a charge to “…believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). The Church has become Lazy and apathetic, if there were no audience to receive them, this movement would have no credence. What brought this about? Were we as a Church bored with God? Why are we looking for the “Secret Message of Jesus” (a book by Brian McLaren)? After two thousand years of Christianity we suddenly think that some guy found something we didn’t know?

The ball has been dropped and we as faithful men and women must pick it up again. The post-modern and emerging church is an abdication of Christian responsibility, conviction and a cave in of Christian courage. We possess God’s immutable truth, we do have the answer and we must proclaim it proudly. Yes it may offend some, but the preaching of the gospel is an offense to those who refuse to be held accountable by the Lord (1 Peter 2:8). Offensive or not, God’s truth is too important to be killed in the streets for the sake of peace.

Dear bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons and faithful laity of the ACW, let us endeavor always to truthfully preach the gospel, to be students of His word and to be faithful witnesses seeking to make radical changes in this world for Christ. Amen!

I remain your faithful servant in Christ,
+Ernest