Wednesday, March 11, 2009

The Modern Church Paradox

First, thank you to all who forwarded me brother David Wilkerson's latest warning. I only posted a few of them, but I assure you I've received them all.
Second, please pray for sister Deanna as she is going through an unimaginable trial. (I did not post your comment Deanna since it contained some sensitive information.) As far as your question concerning Judas is concerned, I do not know. God is God, and He will do as He wills. I do not hold the keys of heaven, and so cannot make such decisions. Please know that you are in my prayers.
This post was originally much longer, but it was just me venting, so I abbreviated it it as much as I could:
Imagine if you will, feeling unwell and going to your doctor who promptly offers you a haircut. Imagine if you will, being hungry and walking into a restaurant only to find that they served no food, but rather only sold doorknobs. Would you ever go back to that doctor or that restaurant?
How is it that the church today is advertising Christ by its very existence, but only offering entertainment, workshops on financial planning, or lessons on self-esteem? Can the church, as we know it today survive? Should it survive?
One can only go to a certain place for a certain thing so many times and leave empty handed before he or she is disillusioned, distraught, and in frustration throws their hands up in defeat. When will we realize that what has become of the modern day church is a mockery, not even a shadow of what it ought to be? When will we realize that God will call us to account for our wasted potential, for our skirting of responsibility, for the absence of accountability, and our callous willingness to merely watch countless souls marching toward eternal perdition?
Last week my wife sent me to the store to get some chicken breast. I decided to drive the extra couple miles and shop at the local super bulk warehouse where you can get a twenty-pound can of corn, or a thirty-pound bag of pinto beans. I began walking down the endless isles, pushing a squeaky cart, and started seeing a lot of items I never knew I needed. The first thing to draw my attention was an oddly inviting pair of mustard colored overalls, quickly followed by an industrial paper shredder, something called a Magic Bullet, and the list goes on. I didn’t buy everything I listed above, but I am embarrassed to admit I am now the not so proud owner of a brand spanking new pair of mustard colored overalls.
It took me a little longer than I anticipated to finish my shopping, and as I arrived home with two bags of stuff I didn’t know I needed, and quite honestly didn’t really need, at least in hindsight, my wife simply asks, ‘where’s my chicken?’
You guessed it; looking through the warehouse full of stuff I forgot the reason I was there in the first place. I forgot to buy the chicken.
I relay the preceding story to make a point. Many people today go to church, they sit through the service, the hear the choir sing and the pastor preach, and only when they are alone, away from the excitement of it all do they begin to realize that they are missing something. More and more people today are beginning to ask the question, ‘where’s Jesus?’ It was Jesus I was going to church for, it was Jesus I wanted to meet, to know, to fellowship with and to build a relationship with, but here I am two hours later, with a head full of stuff I didn’t really need, and lacking the one thing that I can’t do without.
I say the following as frankly and forthrightly as I am able, already knowing that some will perceive it wrongfully, and accuse me of being unloving, unmerciful, unkind and ungracious. If the church does not get back on message, if the church does not return to it’s foundation which is Christ and Christ alone, it will not only fall apart from within, but will have no one to blame but itself for not having the strength and boldness to stand for truth when it will count. We are not merely asleep, we are dying, every strength every spark of life leeching out of us with every compromise, with every deviance from the truth, and with every omission of the name Jesus for fear of offending those hearing. Not only will we suffer the fury of the godless in this nation, but we will suffer the wrath and judgment of God, for judgment begins in His house, and with His children first and foremost.

With love in Christ,

Michael Boldea Jr.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Michael, I gotta keep saying that this religion call Christianity is something different than what Jesus and the Apostles began in the first century, so it shouldn't be surprise that Jesus is missing. From the professional pastors to keeping pagan holidays like Christmas and Easter, Christianity fails to follow the Biblical witness far more often than not. Until people get fed up with empty, meaningless religious experiences and yearn instead for truth and spiritual life like we see happened in the first century, Christianity will continue take the place of The Way of Jesus thus bringing nothing but confusion as to who and what Truth actually is and thus losing many to the End Time deceptions because they couldn't find the real Jesus in the religion called Christianity.

randy said...

In the same line of thought of the fact, not the opinion, that Jesus is all in all in our lives; I read a report that says the White House is vetting all prayers being given when the President or a Cabinet official speaks at a public function. The Name of Jesus is not to be used.

An official said that using or praying in the name of Jesus is like adding gasoline to a fire!

There is no other name under heaven whereby men may be saved. No one, no one, goes to the Father but through Jesus.

So, in that context, when prayers are given at an official function of Representatives of the US Government, to what God are they praying if they do not mention the name above all names?

How the mighty have fallen!

Anonymous said...

I agree with you brother Boldea. It is a very sad state of health the current evangelical body is in. Conforming to the world and not to Christ, unremorseful attitudes to sin, and no personal relationship with Christ. I will continue to pray with you concerning this. The treshing floor is soon to meet with the Tresher. Seperation is soon, the tares and the wheat, the just and the unjust, the holy and the hypocrite. The days of darkness are before us, some have kept in touch with the Lord and others have ignored the warnings. As the days change and America is rewound, as she is brought to her knees, as she drinks the cup of her iniquity, only the vigilant will have seen and know what to do. Our strength lies only in the Lord. It is so sad the salt shaker is low on salt and even worse, the corpse has reached the point of no preserve. God's will and only His will shall be done. Stay strong and please continue the Lord's work, Your brother in Christ, - God Bless Daniel Eggers

Anonymous said...

The church - the body of Christ - is not dying but there are many fellowships who call themselves "the chruch" who are. I think the prophesy in 1 Peter 4:17 is near. And I think we will all be surprised at what takes place when God does begin this judgment.

Mary said...

Hello again Michael, Every now and then I stop in to see what is going on in your life. And to see if you like so many others are finding that what is going on in the world, is going on in the churchs also. And from what you have said here, you see the same thing I do. I really don't think people realize just how much the Lord Jesus will fullfill His Words. If people would read His Word for themselfs and ask Him to show them the truth. He would. I was reading in Rev. the other day.(what a wonderful book.) Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

If people would know that the Lord means what He says, there wouldn't be so many out there trying to put forth their own way of thinking. What is going on in the churchs is no more that what it says in the Word. 1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. It has reached in to the way that people try to worship. Anyway, sorry, your post kind of hit a mark for me. Thank you for posting it.

Blessings,
Mary

deannaslater said...

Thank You Michael, we are all doing well, I am at peace.

Anonymous said...

God bless you Brother Michael,
I want to confirm you that the prophecy which God show your grandfather about Central America have been fulfill. Can you please contact me at this e-mail. pjgalarza@att.net I will tell you how this happen.

Sincerely,

Patricia.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Michael, for this article. It is the prayer of my heart also. I can no longer sit in a church pew and have my ears, massaged and tickled but not touched by the power and presence of the Lord.

Pardon my bluntness, but I'd rather barf than sit in another dead and dieing dishwater "service".

I want to gather with fellow believers and assemble to meet with God! Who cares about an "awesome" band, or how great the sound system is? Who cares what the pastor is wearing or how "hip" he is? Who cares?! Who cares?! Who cares?!

I want to worship GOD ALMIGHTY!

I want to go to an assembly to meet with HIM. PERIOD.

I fellowship with the Lord on my own, but I want to fellowship corrporately with other believers.

It's just sad though, because it seems most just want to be entertained, or do their "duty" to God but do not really want to spend time in Him presence or enjoy His company.

I had a little vision a few years ago, and essentially the Spirit said to me that in most churches "God has left the building".

"Yes Houston, we DO have a problem. Almighty God has left the building!"

Not only am i upset about this sad state of affairs; God is unpet about it! He has angry and grieved that they talk "about" Him (as if they know Him) in the churches, but they don't talk TO Him or even give Him a passing glance.

Yep. he left a long time ago. Why be some place where you are not wanted, ya know?

Anonymous said...

Thank you Michael, for this article. It is the prayer of my heart also. I can no longer sit in a church pew and have my ears, massaged and tickled but not touched by the power and presence of the Lord.

Pardon my bluntness, but I'd rather barf than sit in another dead and dieing dishwater "service".

I want to gather with fellow believers and assemble to meet with God! Who cares about an "awesome" band, or how great the sound system is? Who cares what the pastor is wearing or how "hip" he is? Who cares?! Who cares?! Who cares?!

I want to worship GOD ALMIGHTY!

I want to go to an assembly to meet with HIM. PERIOD.

I fellowship with the Lord on my own, but I want to fellowship corrporately with other believers.

It's just sad though, because it seems most just want to be entertained, or do their "duty" to God but do not really want to spend time in Him presence or enjoy His company.

I had a little vision a few years ago, and essentially the Spirit said to me that in most churches "God has left the building".

"Yes Houston, we DO have a problem. Almighty God has left the building!"

Not only am i upset about this sad state of affairs; God is unpet about it! He has angry and grieved that they talk "about" Him (as if they know Him) in the churches, but they don't talk TO Him or even give Him a passing glance.

Yep. he left a long time ago. Why be some place where you are not wanted, ya know?

Anonymous said...

hey Michael, can you correct my typing "typos" in my previous comment? They are atrocious! I am new to google and forgeot to proofread my comment.

Thank you,

Heidi