Could this be the church in North America
today?
I question
whether the world sees Christians as being any different then themselves. We often dress the same, speak the same,
think the same, and believe the same values and ethics of the day. We spend money, eat, have the same work
ethics, live similar lifestyles and enjoy the same pastimes as the world. So where exactly is the difference seen? If it is only the couple hours we spend in church
on Sunday, then we aren’t much of an example of Jesus Christ. In the book of Revelation, Jesus speaks to the seven churches of Asia. In them we can find many similarities to the church of today. When I did an intensive study on them I spent a lot of time on my face repenting for the way we act as a body of believers today. Not much has changed in 2000 years- imo. Here is only one passage example:
Because you say, I am rich and increased with goods
and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable
and poor and blind and naked, I counsel you to buy from Me gold purified by
fire, so that you may be rich; and white clothing, so that you may be clothed,
and so that the shame of your nakedness
does not appear. And anoint your eyes with eye salve, so that you may see. Rv.
3:17,18
Isn’t it true in this age that we could say, we have food, a house to live in, money coming in and technology to enjoy, what more do we need? But today we no longer see how caught up in the world we are because this is our new norm. We have adjusted to the darkness that surrounds us instead of transforming all around us by our light shining. So we don’t even realize we are afflicted, miserable, destitute in physical and spiritual ways, mentally blind and laid bare.
How is it we are so blind to the truth of our own situation?
in whom the god of this age has blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving, so that the brightness of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God, should not dawn on them. 2Cr. 4:4 LITV
(Jesus came to bring) …new sight to the blind… Lk. 4:18
Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not; nor do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which said, "By hearing you shall hear and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see and shall not perceive; for this people's heart has become gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." Mt. 13:13-15 (obviously about spiritual blindness and lack of perception)
…His anointing teaches you concerning all things… 1Jh. 2:27 LITV
Tomorrow I will continue with Jesus Speaks to the Churches- Part 2