Our church’s men’s Bible study is studying the book of Isaiah. We discussed chapter 5 yesterday, and it stuck me how similar Judah is to the U.S. I’ve always thought that our society mirrors Israel in the book of Judges; “Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” The similaritiesof Isaiah’s Judah and our America is empty religion. Judah was going through the motion with their usual religious practices but God did not have their hearts, and the U.S. (for the most part) is the same. God doesn’t want empty rituals; He wants a relationship with His people. That is why Jesus Christ came and died so we can have a true relationship with God the Father.
It’s amazing to me that in my 41 years of life just how much our country has changed. I think that our country has been religious from the start; our foundation is set on the Bible but I don’t think the U.S. has ever been a Christian nation; a religious one, yes, but not really a Christian one. You see “Religion” is a set of do’s and don’ts where you keep score and if you are dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s, you are good, but Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship with the Savior Jesus Christ. God transforms a person and makes us new so we want to do what is right according to “The Standard” the Bible. Salvation is all centered on God and we have nothing to do with it; He draws us (through the Holy Spirit) to Himself and Jesus paid the sin debt so we can truly be free.
I’ve been praying for revival for not our country but for our churches. The people in our churches need to get on fire for the things of God. Some churches (not all) are more concerned about filling the seats than filling the hearts and minds with “What Does The Bible Say.” I think there is a fine line between doing church and being a social club. A social club talks about helping people get on their feet, teaching them on how to live within their means, and the topics can go on and on. Some church’s use their time to speak on “Felt Needs” in stead of preaching the Bible. I do think there is a time and place to help our community and reach them where they are by help training them and loving them while sharing Christ. There is no such thing as a “Seeker” so the churches that have “Seeker Sanative Services” have never read Romans where it says, “no one seeks after God, no not one.” I’m all for making it comfortable for people to come and see what the church is about; I preach in jeans most of the time and I rather have rockin’ worship songs than hymn songs. I think the church should stay with what God has for us to give; share the love of God and proclaim Jesus in a way that will reach our 21 century society.
