Chronicles of a Fisher of men: The Fallen Church

Friday, November 14, 2008

The Fallen Church

"Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent." ~ Revelation 2:5 NKJV

You may have all the outward signs of a church: an ornate building with stained-glass windows, a beautiful organ and solid pews. You may have elders and deacons and church members, regular services with baptisms and communion. You may have a minister with a string of degrees and a beautiful choir robed in splendor ... but still be a fallen church.

There are many fallen churches. Groups who go through the motions. They have a weekly ritual but there is no spiritual life. In fact if the Lord were to withdraw His presence from them they wouldn't even notice it. They are motivated by habit, by self-exaltation and by a sentimental attachment to the church, but there is no vision of Christ as their Lord and Master.

This is from the New Every Morning Pocket Devotions by Nico Bougas, 2006.

MISSION

The mission of this blog is to encourage Christians to be obedient to The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8) given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ and to Glorify our God by proclaiming the Law and the Gospel of Grace to the unsaved.

This blog is to give all praise and glory to the One and only True and Living God Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

I hope to be faithful "rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15b) in recording sound biblical doctrine and theology and that the posts are not to solicit personal praise, but to give rightful honour and glorious praise to all the victories belonging to our Lord and Saviour - King Jesus.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but to us which are saved it is the power of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:18

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumblingblock, and to the Greeks foolishness; But to them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:22-24

And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
~ Matthew 4:19

Let Down Your Nets
There is no exclusion put upon any tribe or clan, no classes are laid under ban, no individuals are exempted. Therefore, Church of Christ, by the love you bear to your crucified Master, by His wounds and death for you, and by His living love to you, seek out the lost and gather together the outcasts. You fishers of men, launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught. You sowers of holy seed, go abroad, and sow the untrodden wastes. You consecrated builders, break away from old foundations, and lay fresh groundwork for a larger temple for your God and King. Surely the Spirit of love in a church will suggest this.
Spurgeon Gold