A very sober word for today’s church and our nation. Few will head the warning, however. “Without me you can do nothing,” Jesus stated. In evangelical churches “getting saved” is as far as most of them go. There are “seekers” - they are looking for answers but Jesus is just one of the many choices for them. Some will find the Truth but most will just keep looking. Next, are followers of Christ - they hang on for awhile till they begin to feel the nails of the cross of the surrendered or exchanged life that Christ calls all true believer to. So they get offended at Jesus because they thought he was going to make them “successful” or just couldn’t understand why he allowed their spouse to leave them or their child to die, or to lose their job or a hundred other things that they thought Jesus shouldn’t have allowed them to suffer. Just like in Jesus’ day many stopped “following” after he told them, “… unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no part with me.” Finally, there are disciple. These are people that have found their life in Christ. It doesn’t matter what happens to them - they are sold out 100% for Christ. They have given up finding fulfillment in this life and have found a fulfillment that this world cannot offer. Their joy springs from a source not of this world, i.e., God’s Holy Spirit - and the world hates them for it. Christ has flooded their hearts and they just can’t get enough of Jesus. They just can’t stop talking about him, living for him and are ready to do whatever he asks of them. They endure to the end, are ready to suffer anything for their Lord and have (important word coming) gratitude in their hearts for the privilege of knowing Christ and can’t wait for him to conform their life to match up with his through his power. The self-life is just too tempting for the rest of humanity. Fulfillment here and now is just soooo attractive. They can all be heard singing, “I did it my way,” with Frank Sinatra and they will all share the same eternal destiny as Frank. Wake up America! Your hour of trial is upon you. “If the righteous scarcely be saved where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Jesus still stands at the door of your heart, knocking, waiting to be invited in. The time for accepting this truth is growing very short. Please consider carefully what you will do with the Son of God.
Sounds to me like you have never visited an evangelical church. I am an evangelical Christian and my church teaches that getting saved is only the first step in leading a life immersed in the all encompassing Trinity (three persons of our One God)... true fellowship with God- the Holy Spirit as He indwell us, worship of God-the Father, and understanding of the saving grace of what God-the Son (Jesus Christ) did for us. After "being saved" we then STUDY the scriptures (thus in my church all the sermons are tightly enmeshed in study of the scriptures, word for word, precept upon precept)to learn how to lead a more Godly life following Christ's example and how to carry His good news (the Gospel) to the world.
It is not my intention to start an argument with you about your choice of religion. If your church is doing the above, then you are in a sound Christian church. I was just dismayed to hear that you think something else is going on in all Evangelical churches.
Thank-you for a well-reasoned, Biblically informed response. Most who have responded seem more interested in protecting “something” by attacking the author. How very sad and terrible.