It happened again! ... Whilst out running about taking care of a few necessities, I ran across an old Christian acquaintance from the recent past. .. After some brief 'how are you' comments, the conversation drifted to what churches we were currently attending .. and as seems to be the more common answer of late, she stated that her & her family were NOT attending anywhere at this time. .. When I asked her why, she rattled off the same answer that most all do nowadays,   that there seems to be 'nowhere' out there that is teaching anything that has any appearance of biblical substance ... just the usual 'safe' stuff that has absolutely no relevance as to what is happening in the world today! ... How about you? .. Are you feeling empty? .. Do you feel that there just has to be so much more! .. Well if you do, you are most likely suffering from the 'itching ear' insomnia that has become so prevalent in our churches today. .. As with this encounter, I come into contact with so many folks that are experiencing this 'emptiness' that is now running rampant in our society. .. And sadly, this 'emptiness' .. this feeling of quiet desperation .. will only increase as we draw ever nearer to the soon-coming day of the Lord. ... 2 Timothy 4:3-4 says, "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. 4) They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." ... I know I refer to this particular passage a lot, but it clearly points out one of the primary causes of today's famine in our spiritual walks. .. Sadly, in an increasingly alarming number of our churches today, God's people are being told what they think they WANT to hear rather than what they NEED to hear. .. They are being spoon-fed warm milk .. the so-called 'soft doctrine' .. one that is free of any accusations for pretty much any & all kinds of lifestyles. .. Judgement of any kind is mostly absent from the messages coming from today's pulpits. .. What it boils down to is an incredibly dangerous attempt at 'consumer Christianity' .. to adjust the 'good news' of Jesus to fit most any lifestyle choices the 'consumer' might have. ...... Let me share just a couple of examples. .. Now I know naming names isn't 'in' today, but hey! .. When have I ever been worried about being 'in!?' ... That's the problem! .. Everybody wants to be 'in' .. even if it means selling out the truth. ... Anyway, the first one in line is Joel Osteen. .. His entire focus is based upon what we've just talked about .. a totally soft, non-judgemental, all-about-me doctrine .. how we can all become a better 'us' with a message totally void of any consequence of those who lead sinful lifestyles. .. In a recent TV interview, he was asked directly about about how he felt concerning the homosexual way of life. .. His comment was typical. .. He said that he had quite a few in his congregation and that he would NOT pass judgement on their way of life. ........ I will say the one thing he has accomplished in his ministry is fame & fortune. .. He has the largest Church in America that thoroughly enjoys his messages of 'safety' which most always totally avoid scriptural substance or judgement of wrong-doing. ...... Two more that are at the top of the 'apostate' list is the new Pope and Rick Warren. .. The Pope, for example, promotes 'many paths to Heaven' besides faith in Jesus Christ .. and Rick Warren is promoting 'Chrislam' .. a combination of Christianity & Islam that will lead to salvation! .. And tragically, people are falling for this nonsense in alarmingly increasing numbers! ... Why? .. Because nobody is teaching them the truth of the teachings of Jesus Christ! ... Let me say this. ... While I realize 'judgement preaching' is not popular in today's 'me' society, it is completely necessary for the salvation of mankind! .. Let's look to scripture for support of this statement. ...... Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah, Paul, and Jesus Christ Himself preached judgement in their messages. .. In fact, the word 'hell' is mentioned 12 times in the New Testament, 11 of which was by Jesus Himself! .. Can, or should we do any less? ... Simply, there is a consequence for a sinful way of life, and the appointed leaders of our churches need to lovingly point it out. .. According to scripture, they are REQUIRED to do so! ... Dr D.A. Criswell reminds us of the true character of a prophet of God ... " .. whenever there is a true prophet of God, he will preach judgement. These modern, so-called ministers of God speak all things nice. Modern methods admonish never to mention things negative. Ignore them and they will not exist. .... There is not any hell and there is not any devil and there is not any judgement of God. All that is now intellectually passe. ... We have evolved beyond that. So we stand up and speak of the love of Jesus, and we speak of peace, and we speak of all things pretty and beautiful. But the same book that tells us about the good tells us about the bad. The same revelation that speaks to us about heaven, speaks about hell." ....... So as leaders, if we avoid judgement teaching, we are misleading the people and therefore sinning before God! When talking about this, the warning of Jesus to the Laodicean Church most always comes to my mind. .. I'm referring specifically to the lukewarm condition of the 7th Church in Revelation 3:14-22. .. The teaching explains that this was a very wealthy church, pretty much in need of nothing. .. Sound familiar? .. But Jesus had a particularly specific message for these lukewarm, easy-going, seeker-sensitive folks .. "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. !7) 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." (Revelation 3:15-17) .. Wow! .. What an indictment! .. The Lord is saying, without ANY doubt, that being lukewarm .. that being 'sort of a Christian' .. passive, uncommitted, lazy in Spirit .. is a ticket straight to hell! ... "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign Lord, "when I will send a famine through the land - not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. 12) Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it." (Amos 8:11-12) ...... Referring back to the 'feeling empty' comment .. are you feeling this way? .. Is there something missing in your walk with the Lord? .. Well, it's most likely because you are neither attending any church, or are involved in one that is teaching 'ear candy' .. the word without substance. .. As I constantly say. the conditions of this old world are only going to deteriorate as we draw closer to the Lord's return .. and because of this, we ALL need our 'spiritual houses' built upon solid rock .. not sand. .. We need to hear ALL of God's Word, not just the stuff that makes us feel good, or conveniently goes along with our chosen lifestyles. .. The watered-down, feel-good teachings of today , in the plainest terms possible, are a lie ... If your spirit is restless, the Holy Spirit is telling you to find a place where you can receive the true, and full teachings of the Bible. .. I realize there is not many out there, but there are a few. .. Time is extremely short, so quit putting it off! ... I know this is getting a bit long, but let me share briefly what a 'real' church should look like. .. It is a place of prayer, not a house of business. .. it is a place of worship, not a place of entertainment. .. Jesus IS our Savior, whom we worship, not a brand name to market. .. The body of Christ is a sanctuary of protection for the vulnerable - for children, single women, the abused, and the bruised and broken in life. .. The House of God is a refuge for those who have special needs and can't keep up. .. It is a harbor of hope for those who are addicted and struggling .. for those trying to find a reason to go on after a death or divorce. .. The church has a powerful opportunity to offer the hope that only God can give. ... Truth be told, the Church needs to wake up! .. The people of God must return to a hunger and thirst for righteousness .. and the leaders must repent for their failure to fulfill their calling .. and finally, the House of God needs to represent its biblical purpose for existence. .. Most won't, but a few will .. and it is those fellowships that can, and will make a difference in these coming harsh days that lie just ahead. ... Thanks for letting me rant .. and know that I REALLY DO CARE about each & every one of you! .. Listen to what God is trying to tell you .. if you are feeling restless in your soul, the Spirit IS talking to you! .. Don't ignore Him .... Your assignment in eternity depends on it! ... Until next time, Red