Where Are We Headed, part 2

Where Are We Headed, part 2 

1 Timothy 3:15 teaches that the church is the “pillar and ground of the truth.”  Regardless of what is going on in the world, the true people of God are required to remain steadfast and obedient to the truth of God’s word.  However, many of God’s people have been carried away by the flood of worldly change.  Let us consider a few more worldly changes that are influencing churches today…

3) Lack of qualified leadership.  It is evident that New Testament churches were required to have qualified leadership in the form of elders (I Peter 5, I Timothy 3).  Titus 1:5 suggests that a lack of qualified elders reflected some deficiency in a local congregation.  Sadly, we are seeing a great reduction of qualified leadership in local churches.  Even more alarming than the lack of elders, is the lack of those who desire to serve as elders.  Instead, many churches adopt trending models of leadership in the form of men’s business meetings, deferring to the judgement of a single elder member, or the preacher becomes the default leader of a church.

As we have seen in recent studies, building up the leadership begins with building up the members.  Let us all strive to thwart this trend by edifying one another and encouragingour young men as they prepare to serve as future heads of families and elders of local churches.

4) Distraction and deception by technology.  In the past few decades our world has been overwhelmed by the digital revolution.  With the introduction of smart phones, tablet computers, and other forms of mobile technology, the world has seen a major shift in how and when we entertain ourselves, how we communicate, how we learn, etc.  Technology is neither good

nor bad in and of itself.  It can be a wonderful tool in the hands of one individual, and an instrument of sin and corruption in the hands of another.

II Corinthians 2:11 teaches that we must by vigilant in regards to how Satan tries to undermine our faith.  In the world today, many people use technology as if it were a drug, and often become addicted to its allure, convenience, and potential power.  Screen addiction is now a diagnosable disorder.  Many people are dangerously close to having an idolatrous relationship with their technology and the creators thereof; technology can be an extremely useful and effective tool, but, contrary to what many in the world believe, it is NOT the answer to man’s greatest problems!

As Christians, we must be careful about how we allow technology to affect our spiritual lives.  How quickly and how subtly social media and apps can distract us from a bible study or during worship service.  How easily it is to get lost in our own world in a public place, staring at our phone, while there may be opportunities to spread the Gospel sitting right next to us.

5) “Judge not…”  The verse (Matthew 7:1) says, “judge not, lest ye be judged.”  Does that mean we are not supposed to judge the behavior or beliefs of anyone else?  If someone has a different view on salvation, or if someone is engaged in what you believe is sin, is the verse saying we are not supposed to judge that person?

Simply read the following verse (2) and the explanation is given: “For with whatever judgment you judge, you shall be judged likewise.  Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but ignore the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you remove the speck from your brother’s eyes, when there is a plank in your own eye?”  The passage is teaching us not to judge hypocritically.  Over and over again, we are instructed to make judgments about who we fellowship with, who is or is not involved in sin, whether or not we will go along with some way of the world or not (I Cor. 5:3, I Cor. 11:13).

The world is rapidly racing toward a being a “judgment free zone.”  Churches, swayed by this attitude of the world, are adopting the same attitude toward sin and error.  Many churches advertise, “come as you are”, “we will not judge you.”  Preachers and teachers are reluctant or unwilling to teach on any Bible subjects that might offend or alienate those who are involved in sin.

While we must be accepting of all who are seeking the knowledge of truth, we must exercise some form of judgment when it comes to the sins of others.  The word of God was given that men might be changed, transformed (Romans 12:2).  How are we helping others to obey the Lord if we encourage them to remain in sin?

Where are we headed?  Let us “not be conformed to this world”, and do our best to resist the alarming changes we see taking place around us. 

Jeremy Koontz