Is the Western Church Christian Anymore?

THE WESTERN CHURCH

IS IT CHRISTIAN ANYMORE?

Any unbiased observer would have to come to the conclusion that America never has been a Christian nation. It was formed as a pluralistic nation and has endeavored to provide free expression for almost all religions. If measured in earthly terms, America has strived to live up to her pluralistic principles.

But living within those pluralistic principles is the body of Christ, the invisible and true church of the Lord Jesus. Many believers came to America to avoid persecution as well as establish a beach head for the gospel. That does not make the nation Christian, but it does reveal that since the beginning God has had His witness here. We as believers should not hate America but neither should we love it. We must be the “planting of the Lord” and bear fruit wherever we have been placed just as the Chinese believers should live for Christ in very different circumstances.

So often we have defined persecution in terms of oppression through force, but in reality the evil one brings much temptation through prosperity and with that he persecutes and deceives the church. It is very difficult to remain separate and holy when you live in the midst of a culture of hedonism, pride, and selfishness. If you do not do deep sentry duty you will become affected and infected by the culture. And with each piece of ground you surrender, it paves the way for several more. It is insidious and constricts like a python.

Over the last several decades the church has not only been compromised by the systems and practices of the fallen culture, but she has embraced them and even incorporated them into her own practice. Yes, our thinking has been so altered that we can hardly even recognize sin, much less the accumulative effect of all the little foxes. And when you taste some ice cream you always desire more. And when you experience the accoutrements of a fallen society that relishes in pleasure and self esteem, you desire more and more.

And with each additional layer of compromise the previous layer gets woven into the fabric of the acceptable. Layer after layer after layer forms a thick blanket of deception which strangles out any real spiritual insight. And like Samson of old we do not even realize that our spiritual power is gone because we have traded secrets and lifestyles with the Philistines. But what is the divine directive for believers and the church at large?

Matt.6: 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Col.3: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Phil.2: 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Phil.2: 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

These are but a few of the directives given to us concerning how we should live and what we should seek on this earthly journey. Do they seem at odds with a capitalist and hedonist society? They should. But they are God's description of authentic Christianity. This is walking in His steps and in His commandments. The commandments of Jesus, both by word and deed, are far deeper and much more profound than the commandments of Moses. How have we strayed so far? How have we rejected the faith and constructed a monstrosity made after the culture in which we live and not according to Christ in whom we must live?

And millions upon millions of professing believers do not even see a problem. That reveals the extent to which this deception has entrenched itself within the church. Moral crusades, political activities, capitalistic thoughts, America hubris, and problem solving through war have replaced the humble life of a follower of Jesus. Can you even understand what I am saying? Does it sink in yet? I am suggesting that what is being practiced throughout the western culture is no longer Christian. While we argue over whether America is a Christian nation we are blind to a more important and crucial question:

Is the western church a Christian church?

Go ahead and read those few verses I have provided and juxtapose them upon the behavior and practices of the western church. It does not take a linguistic expert to see just how different the New Testament definitions of what God’s church should be from what roams around with His name thinly attached. Through systematic compromises and deceptions the church has been diluted to such an extent that she no longer even seeks Christ, much less serves Him. It is not just a problem, it a disaster of titanic proportions.

A man walks toward a cliff. He does not see the cliff so he continues to walk. He is like a man who jumps from a thirty story building and as he passes the tenth floor he thinks the ride has been alright so far. But here comes another man who warns the walking man that he is walking toward disaster. The walking man looks around and sees no danger. But still the other man warns him. But the walking man sees many of his friends and men wiser than he walking with him. In fact, his loved ones that have since passed walked this same road.

The man keeps walking although he does admit that the path seems to deviate a little from the previous path walkers, but still his pastor and elders and other believers are still walking with him. He does not have the time to really compare this path with the path of the Scriptures, but after all many paths lead to God as long as the path uses the name of Jesus. And he has said the sinner's prayer and is a baptized church member.

You see, the church walks in a spiritual fog and refuses to even take any time to read a Biblical map to see if she is walking on the correct path. "Let the pastor read the map for me", say so many believers. After all he is a nice man who knows Greek and preaches a good message and visited my mother in the hospital. And on and on he walks while those that come after him walk even a little straighter toward the cliff.

The situation is enormous and desperate but yet the church sleeps on. I am convinced that even nobodies like me do not even see the complete extent to which the church has become a spiritual adulteress. But I do know something is very, very wrong. Is it possible that we have strayed so far from following Christ that the western church practices another religion, even though some of terminology is similar. I ask you to consider that possibility.

But even if we see that the path the church is walking is not the path of Jesus, then that only presents a half solution. Just seeing how the western version of Christianity is not Christian only sees the negative. And although that is the first giant step, it must be accompanied by returning to Christ and His life and teachings. But how? And where? And what? These are very pertinent questions that must be answered if we as individual believers are to begin walking the path of true faith in Jesus. But herein lies a great labor of love. Since the church rejects that path we do not have many examples to follow and although the Scriptures are the path, they must be reinvestigate with vigor, brokenness, and repentance. But do not be surprised when you read the Word of God through new eyes that you see things which cannot be. There are many things which will seem outrageous and must be manipulated since accepting them at face value would seem almost incredulous and fanatical. Because the accepted path is so antithetical to the life and teachings of Jesus, this new path will seem so foreign and so archaic.

Be prepared to reject and deny yourself and all that the flesh desires to have and to know. But once the western castle begins to crumble within your heart it will begin a cascade that will call into question things that you once believed were settled law. Yes, this journey is unsettling to say the least. But only the Spirit can minister peace in the midst of much unsettling. And during this journey you will come to a realization and awakening that clearly exposes what you have known about Jesus and how much there remains to know Him personally and spiritually.

Then church is entrenched in their practices and is almost afraid to seek Christ without the dictates of culture, morality, and the accumulation of environmental sculpting. It is much more comfortable to walk a redundant and unremarkable life that costs little, assumes much, and can get by through a pitifully small amount of personal devotion. Ecclesiastical autopilot is all most need and any adjustments must only come when the culture changes. Prayer and fasting? They now are historical accoutrements displayed upon the doctrinal taxidermist’s wall; museum pieces of days gone by which have been pushed out by the demands of a fast paced society.

To completely fall in love with Jesus requires an eye opening event followed by a painful choice. You will see just a first step, but inside your heart you realize there are coming more and more steps that require repentance and humility. And if you remain sincere and relentless you will have to ford some streams that will be uncomfortable and startling. Sometimes the difference between what you have believed and what the Spirit is now showing you will be personally unsettling and publicly embarrassing. And some truths will remain but how you project them must now be completely changed and flushed with humility, mercy, and love. Many things that used to excite you are now hollow and unimportant. Many issues will be dead to you. And there will be times when you question whether the western church is even Christian anymore. That in and of itself is a colossal indictment of what should be the loving and powerful body of Jesus Christ on earth.

Take your heart with all that it desires and all that is in it and place it upon the altar of God’s loving scrutiny. Do not be in a hurry, but allow the Spirit to carefully sift you and try you. And in the end, you should come forth as gold.