THEME: BEWARE THE CHURCH’S DIVERSION TO CARNAL, WORLDLY PURSUITS

In our first submission, we presented the nature, structure and dynamics of the Joy of Salvation, Resurrection and Hope of Glory in the Christian Faith. We submitted that, the Joys and Hope in the Faith rest and depend upon the new birth and riches of inheritance in the divine graces, power and glory in the divine nature. This is the Open Heavenly Door and Abundant Life in Christ.  Christ is the Key to Heaven. 

The Christian Faith changes and transforms man from a Living Soul created in the Image of God to a Divine Spirit-Being with Divine Graces, Riches, Eternal Life and Glory. Unfortunately, instead of this glorious laudable and attainable goal in the Christian Faith, instead of the Joys and Power of Salvation, Sonship and Servanthood and Hope of Ultimate Perfection in the Fullness of God and consummation as bride of Christ, the Church is now tending to focus on food, shelter and clothing, on health, physical fitness and soulish pleasure, on material possessions, money, economic power, academic laurels and social status in human glory. 

In the current diversion of the focus of the faith and the Christian life, the essentials of the truth, light, love and liberty, righteousness, holiness and faithfulness to God, the diligent pursuit of the Knowledge of, identification with and integration in God and Christ have been abandoned. Many have also departed from Walking and Working with the Holy Spirit to Testify of Christ and submission to the Sovereignty of God, His Will, Truth, Purposes and Kingdom Agenda and Glory on Earth. Many teachings, doctrine and practice have gone overboard to human knowledge, worldly wisdom, human spirit power in Self-Gratification, Self-Determination, Self-Projection and Self-Glorification. 

The Church is turning the faith not only into a human enterprise it is promoting human ego and selfishness, the worship of the golden calf and man, the priest, prophet and king, human intellect and graven images. 

The Children of God and servants of the Most High at best would want to cling to the rights and benefits of redemption without adequate attention to the corresponding connection and obligation to Christ Jesus and the truth of the faith. 

Thus, in the absence of the true, meaningful and effectual connection with Jesus Christ and right relationship with the Holy Spirit not only have Christian Service and Christian Life been devoid of divine truth, spirit, love, power and liberty, the Celebration of God and Christ in the Church has tendered to be carnal, formal and ritualistic. Let us imagine for example the spiritual implication of teaching human philosophy as if it were of divine origin, revelation and operation.  Some Ministers are trying to determine and promote redeemed behavior and conduct and God Kingdom agenda by human spirit power, wisdom and knowledge.  The Law and the flesh cannot build heavenly order and conduct. 

Similarly, it would be deception and indeed dangerous to teach how to speak in tongues by the application of human spirit-power system through imitation and the repetition of “unintelligible” words whether or not given by the Holy Spirit.  For without Holy Spirit unction such a practice is not only deception to the ignorant but also is sin against the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not and cannot be part of such an arrangement. 

On the other hand, the Christian Faith, Christian Life and Church mission can never depict Christ and the fullness of impact and divine supernatural glory when men apply but human intellect, human wisdom and the empty shells of human power. 

Church Worship Services have accordingly grown lifeless and ineffectual in spiritual upliftment and true experience of the presence and joys of God and His Christ.  The truth, power and spirit of the faith and the hope of glory in Christ Jesus have been replaced with worldly concepts of success and standards of attainments and hope in worldliness. 

Christianity has virtually been made to conform to the philosophical, religious and cultural constructs of the world.  Christ, the faith and church mission have been reduced to one of the human endeavours of hopeless and futile pursuit of human redemption and happiness.  There are false Christs and false human redemption theories all over the place, even in the Church. The Christian does not seek to Know and be connected to Christ so He will win Christ and grow to be an effectual extension of God in the Redemption of Man, in Establishing a New Basis of Life, the Reconstruction of Society and the Establishment of the Kingdom of God on Earth so the will of God Be Done on Earth as in Heaven. 

Accordingly, the Christian Faith, Christian Life and Church Mission do not seem to constitute and offer any more hope of new life, new joys and God’s Kingdom on Earth.  Too many have become but a mere expression of the old human ways albeit an improved version via the gleaned combination of Divine Light with Human Wisdom and Power and Technology, graven images in short.  God will not share His glory with Man, Principality nor Power. 

Let us return to the truth, foundation and spirit of the faith.  Let us build the Church and the Kingdom of God on Earth with all Humility, Understanding, Righteousness and Faithfulness. 

Let us make the joy and hope of celebration of God, Christ and The Faith the Divine Heavenly Enterprise Commanded by the LORD God Jehovah set in motion by Jesus Christ. Amen.