Enough Blame To Go Around

There are certain things we would rather not deal with and there are certain realizations we would do almost anything to avoid. We realize full well that once we acknowledge something as being true and assume our own culpability in the matter, we have no choice but to attempt and remedy the situation or live with the knowledge of being willing participants in whatever the issue in question might be.

In and of themselves hamburgers don’t make me fat. I am myself culpable for the excess in adipose tissue around my midsection because I choose to eat the aforementioned hamburger rather than a salad or some yummy, yummy tofu.

Although it is easier for me to blame a slow metabolism, less then optimal genes, or an excess of hormones in the I-hope-it-wasn’t-horse burger, the simple yet painful truth is that I chose to eat the hamburger, found an excuse not to exercise, and am starting to see the appeal of stretchy pants as a direct result.

Say what we might about the world we live in, the simple yet painful truth is that the church is culpable and partially responsible for the world’s condition. Darkness grows in direct proportion to the diminishing of the light, and the more the light of truth was dimmed in our churches, in our pulpits and in our hearts, the darker and more lawless the world around us became.

We’ve lowered the once high standard to the point of nonexistence, then wonder to ourselves why our churches seem so much like the world and why the God we claim to serve is no longer felt among us, no matter how much we might clap or sing or yell and demand He make an appearance.

If those called to be the light of the world can’t manage to shine, what can we expect of a world which lies shrouded in darkness and despair? If we who are to be the salt of the earth have lost our savor, what can we expect of those who never knew truth?

Until the church returns to the heart of repentance and humility God has called it to, until the household of faith returns to righteousness and holiness unto God, we can hope the world will change for the better, but we will be hoping in vain.

If righteousness exalts a nation, then lawlessness disparages it.

Somewhere along the way it was agreed upon that rather than daily live out our faith and exemplify Christ Jesus in all we do, it would be much easier to become a political force and attempt to wield our influence whichever way we saw fit.

Sadly, we’ve come to see that in having abandoned righteousness for the sake of political influence, we’re left with neither influence, nor righteousness.

There is a reason the world mocks the church and it’s because the church isn’t living what it’s preaching. It is so obvious, so glaring, that even the blind could spot the inconsistencies.

I realize full well that if I get any deeper into this, some of you will inevitably lash out and I will be branded a moralist or a legalist or whatever else the new buzzword is that men use to shut the mouths of the few who still dare point out the crux of the problem, but you and I both know that if judgment begins with the house of God, repentance must likewise begin with the house of God.

Between looking to be caught away any day and living with the expectation of a great sweeping revival, most believers are failing to live their lives wholly surrendered to Christ and to daily work out their salvation with fear and trembling. Until this occurs, until the church becomes the Church once more, until the Body of Christ is once more animated, alive, and full of power, we will continue to witness an ever darker world, and be ever more vividly aware of our culpability for its condition.

With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.