The more I read the Old Testament, the more I am struck by the hard reality that the Church does not differ much from the nation of Israel. We want to say that we do. We want to believe that we would never mirror the behavior and choices of backslidden Israel as they first went into captivity, then were dispersed. By the sober truth is the Church does not stray too far from the pattern of the Old Testament.
There is an interesting theme in the last three books of the Old Testament. And in particular, Micah and Zechariah. Listen to the question of Micah. Mic 6:3 "O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me." The nation of Israel had become tired or bored or both with the law of God and systematically rejected each law until they were to the point of no return. God had to judge them.
What alarms me is that the same question can be posed to people who claim the name of Christ today. What has happened is that we have lost our passion for a holy life. We have lost our sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the conviction of sin. And, it is so serious that what is allowed to go on in our churched today resembles the world only a few short years ago.
I remember a tradition in one of the churches I served in where a rose was placed on the organ in honor of the birth of a new born. On one such occasion, there was no rose placed because the baby was born illegitimately. The mother had a fit and the church ceased to place roses on the organ lest someone get offended. We tolerate infidelity, dishonesty, unfaithfulness, and selfishness in the church and wonder why the world does not take the gospel message seriously.
Only when the people of God get so sick of their own sin and repent is dust and ashes will we see the world respond. When I accepted Christ, I remember trying to make it right with everyone whom I offended as a lost person. I remember speaking to my father and asking his forgiveness for my teenage rebellion. I remember asking my mother to forgive me for giving her such a hard time. I remember asking my employer to forgive me for the many times I did not do my best. Where did those practices go? Have we become so righteous in all that we do that we do not need to pay restitution, ask forgiveness, and walk in humility before God and man?
No wonder the church lacks power!
*** I do not endorse everything that is written in the pages of the following books! Simply put, they have been a tremendous tool in my spiritual growth, in part or in whole. ***
How Christian is Christian Counseling by Gary Almy, ISBN 1-58134-135-0, Crossway Books
Touch Not The Unclean Thing
by David Sorenson, ISBN 0-9711384-0-0, Northstar Baptist Ministries
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S.
Whitney, ISBN 1-57683-027-6, Navpress
Your Faith on Trial by Wallis C. Metts, ISBN 0-89084-112-8, BJU Press