Day: February 4, 2023

Saturday, February 4, 2023

“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV).

Unless we hear the Word of God and believe it in our heart, it cannot “effectually work” in us.

While researching a local church, I read its online reviews. One person attended a concert at the building—“so-so” acoustics and viewing, “comfortable” seating, and “beautiful” space. Another person had been going to services there for over five years, and enjoyed the “community, love, acceptance, support, and programs for the kids on Sunday.” A third reviewer added, “Beautiful venue, the roof leaks though.” The fourth comment was, “Nothing special, but the staff was really nice.” A fifth statement: “Good people and very varied and interesting programs.” The sixth person remarked how he loved the sermon and thought the congregation was friendly. Finally, it was repeated, “beautiful architecture.”

Dear friends, the above observations are worth re-reading. Where is the yearning for sound Bible doctrine? We would search in vain to find even one person who wrote, “I learn so much about the Scriptures there! The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is clearly proclaimed there! I have never been more interested in the Bible!” Regrettably, this is just another impotent “fundamental, evangelical, Protestant” assembly in the “Christian” United States that seeks to entertain the world through gradual compromise.

The only reason a church could be spiritually dead is if it divorced itself from life in the Lord Jesus Christ. Without a firm understanding of the Word of God rightly divided, we have neither the power of God nor the life of God to accomplish anything meaningful. As believers in Christ, we should have a reputation for being able to provide spiritual answers to this lost, dying, helpless, hopeless, confused world. Unless we study and believe our King James Bible every day, we are no different from them, and we should never expect them to appeal to us for spiritual instruction.