CHRISTIANITY IN CRISIS

--"I would that
thou wert cold or hot." (Rev.3:15)

(This
Section is a detailed study on the pitfalls of apostasy & complacency that
individual Christians, as well as entire churches & denominations, can fall
into. It is the editors' prayer that the reader will not merely reflect on the
failings of other Christians when studying this section, but will, in Christian
maturity, use it as a spiritual thermometer to measure his or her own
depth of devotion to Jesus Christ, & know whether they are "cold or
hot".)

1. Predictions of a
great apostasy in the last days:

Mat.24:12               Iniquity
shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold

2Thes.2:1-3            That
day (Jesus' second coming) shall not come, except there come a falling away
(apostasy) first

1Tim.4:1 The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the
latter times some shall depart from the faith

2Tim.4:3,4              The
time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine...turn away their ears
from the truth

2. Ignorance of the
Word of God:

A. Many don't study
the Word or know what it really says:

Hos.4:6   My people are destroyed for lack of
knowledge

Mat.12:3-5             Have
ye not read what David did? Or have ye not read in the law? (See
also Mat.19:4 )

Mat.22:29               Ye
do err, not knowing the Scriptures

Acts
13:27             They
knew (understood) not...the prophets which are read every sabbath day (See also
2Cor.3:14,15)

1Tim.1:7b               Understanding
neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm

(See
also Jer.5:4; Acts 13:27.)

B. The dangers of
being unlearned in the Word:

2Pet.3:16                In
all (Paul's) epistles...things hard to be understood, which they that are
unlearned...wrest (distort)

C. The ignorant can
be easily led astray by false teachers:

Gal.1:6,7 Ye are so soon removed from Him that called
you...unto another gospel

2Thes.2:2,3,5         Let
no man deceive you...Remember ye not that I told you these things?

D. Even many who know
the Word don't obey it:

Jer.5:5     The great men...have
known the way of the Lord...but these have altogether broken the yoke
[disobeyed]

Jer.8:8,9  How do ye say, We are wise, & the law
of the Lord is with us? Lo...the pen of [your] scribes is in vain

Mat.23:3 Do not ye after their works: for they say,
& do not

Rom.2:17-24           Thou
knowest His will...hast truth...makest thy boast of the law, [but]
breaking the law dishonourest God

E. Some, though familiar
with the Word, are not even saved:

Jer.2:8a   They that handle the law knew Me
not

Jn.3:1-10 Art thou a master of Israel, & knowest not
these things? [about being born again]

3. Doctrines &
traditions of man vs. God's Word:

A. Beware of
exalting doctrines of man above the Word:

Isa.29:13b              Their
fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men

Mat.15:3 Ye transgress commandment of God by your
tradition

Mat.15:9 Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men

Mk.7:9    Ye reject the commandment of
God, that ye may keep your own tradition

Mk.7:13  Making the Word...of none effect through
your tradition

2Tim.4:3,4              After
their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears

B.
"Denominationalism" & needless doctrinal divisions:

Rom.14:1-6             [Avoid
arguing over minor personal doctrines]

1Cor.1:10-13          (One)
saith, I am of Paul, & I of Apollos; & I of Cephas... Is Christ
divided? (See also 1Cor.3:21-23)

1Tim.6:3,4              Proud...doting
about questions & strifes of words

(See
also Jn.4:20,21; Acts 15:5,24.)

C. Prestige-seeking
leaders create their own factions:

Acts
20:30             Of
your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse [erroneous] things, to draw
away disciples after them

2Tim.1:15               All
they...in Asia be turned away from me (Paul); of whom [the leaders] are
Phygellus & Hermogenes

3Jn.9,10  Diotrephes, loveth to have the
preeminence among them [& he rejected the apostle John's authority]

D. Splitting
theological hairs, while disobeying the Word:

Mat.23:24               (Ye)
strain at a gnat, & swallow a camel

Lk.11:42  Ye tithe [but] pass over judgment &
the love of God

E. Twisting the
Word to suit personal doctrines:

1Tim.1:5,6              The
commandment is love...from which some...have turned aside unto vain
jangling

2Pet.1:20                No
prophecy of the Scripture [should be] of any private interpretation

2Pet.3:16                They
that are unlearned & unstable wrest...the Scriptures, unto their own
destruction

F. Stick to solid
Scriptural doctrines:

1Tim.4:6,7              Nourished
up in the words of faith & of good doctrine

1Tim.6:3,4              If
any man...consent not to...the Words of our Lord Jesus...he is proud, knowing
nothing

Tit.1:14   Not giving heed to...commandments
of men, that turn from the truth

(See
also Col.2:8,9; 2Tim.1:13; 2:14-16,23; Tit.1:9; 2:1,8; 3:9.)

G. Beware of
unbelieving modernism:

Jer.8:9     The wise men...have
rejected the Word of the Lord; & what wisdom is in them?

Acts
23:8               (They)
say there is no resurrection...angel, nor spirit

1Cor.15:12-17        How
say some among you that there is no resurrection

Gal.1:9    If any preach any other
gospel...let him be accursed

2Tim.3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying
power thereof

2Pet.2:1  Damnable heresies, even denying the Lord

4. The dwelling
place of God:

A. Your body
is the true temple of the Holy Spirit:

Jn.4:20-24               Neither
in this mountain, nor at Jerusalem, worship... true worshippers shall worship
the Father in spirit

1Cor.3:16                Ye
are the temple of God...the Spirit dwelleth in you

1Cor.6:19                Your
body is the temple of Holy Ghost which is in you

2Cor.6:16                Ye
are temple of the living God...I will dwell in them

B. The true
church is the body of believers:

Acts
2:41-47          [Scriptural
definition of what the "church" is]

Rom.12:4,5             We,
being many, are one body in Christ

1Cor.12:13-28        Ye
are the body of Christ, & members in particular

Col.1:18,24             He
is the head of the body, the church

1Pet.2:5a                Ye...as
lively stones, are built up [into] a spiritual house (church)

(See
also 1Cor.10:17; Eph.4:4,12,15,16.)

C. The early church
only had homes to meet in:

(See
Rom.16:3,5; 1Cor.16:19; Col.4:15; Phlm.2.)

D. Does God dwell
in church buildings?

1Ki.8:27  The heaven of heavens cannot contain
Thee; how much less this house that I (Solomon) have builded?

Isa.66:1   Earth is My footstool: where is the
house ye build Me?

Hos.8:14 Israel hath forgotten his Maker, & buildeth
temples

Acts
7:48               The
most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands

Heb.9:24 Christ is not entered into holy places made
with hands

5. The danger of
complacency:

A. Lukewarmness
& satisfaction with material things:

Rev.3:15,16            I
know thy works, that thou art...lukewarm

Jer.5:31   The prophets prophesy falsely,
& the priests bear rule by their means; & My people love to have it so

1Tim.6:5 Supposing that gain is godliness [the
"abundant life"]

Rev.3:17 Thou sayest, I am rich, & increased with
goods, & have need of nothing, & knowest not thou art wretched

B. Closing our
minds to the truth is spiritual blindness:

Mat.15:14               They
be blind leaders of the blind

Isa.30:9   Rebellious people...that will not
hear law of the Lord Zech.7:11,12 They refused to hearken...& stopped their
ears...lest they should hear...the words (given) by the prophets

Mat.13:14,15          Their
eyes they have closed; lest...they should see

(See
also Mat.23:16,17,24,26; Rom.10:3; 2Cor.4:4; Eph.4:18.)

C. Even many who
boast that they "see" are blind:

Jn.9:40,41               Are
we blind also? Jesus said, Ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth

Rev.3:17 Thou knowest not that thou art...blind

D. Compromise due
to fear of man:

Jn.12:42,43             Many
believed but...did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the
synagogue

Mk.8:38  Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me...of him
shall the Son of man be ashamed

6. Disobedience to
the great commission:

A. What we as
Christians are supposed to do:

Mk.16:15                Go
ye into all the world, & preach the gospel to every creature

B. Beware of no
concern to win the lost:

Isa.56:10,11            His
watchmen are blind: dumb dogs, they cannot bark...shepherds that...look to
their own way...for gain

Jer.50:6   Lost sheep...shepherds have caused
them to go astray

Ezk.34:4-6               Neither
have ye sought that which was lost

Ezk.34:8  Neither did My shepherds search for My
flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, & fed not My flock

Jn.10:12,13             The
hireling fleeth...& careth not for the sheep

(See
also Ezk.33:6)

C. Hypocrisy among
believers turns men from salvation:

Rom.2:17-24           The
name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you (See also Mat.23:13;
Lk.11:52.)

7. Failure to
shepherd the flock:

A. Jesus' commands
to pastors:

Pro.27:23                Be
thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks

Jn.21:16  Lovest thou Me? Feed My sheep

Acts
20:28             Feed
the church of God, which He hath purchased with His Own blood

1Pet.5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you

B. Many neglect to
spiritually feed their flocks:

Ezk.34:2,3               Should
not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye feed not

Ezk.34:18,19           My
flock...drink that which ye fouled with your feet

C. They don't
minister to & care for them:

Jer.6:14   They have healed the hurt...of My
people slightly

Ezk.34:4  The diseased have ye not strengthened,
neither healed... neither bound up...neither brought again

D. Unshepherded
members are a scattered flock:

Jer.23:2   The pastors that feed My
people...have scattered My flock...& have not visited them

Jer.13:17,20b          Weep...because
Lord's flock is carried away captive. Where is the flock...thy beautiful flock?

Ezk.34:5-8               They
were scattered, because there is no shepherd

Mat.9:36 (Jesus) was moved with compassion on them,
because they...were scattered, as sheep having no shepherd

8. Warning against
coveting financial gain:

A. Preaching for
money, not to win souls or feed the flock:

1Pet.5:2  Feed the flock of God...not for
filthy lucre

Jer.6:13   Given to covetousness...from the
prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely

Mic.3:11 Priests teach for hire, & prophets divine
for money

Mat.6:24 No man can serve...God & mammon
(materialism)

Tit.1:10,11              Vain
talkers...teaching...for filthy lucre's sake

2Pet.2:1a,3a           False
teachers...through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise
of you

(See
also Zech.11:4,5)

B. Unjustly robbing
the poor:

Isa.56:11b              They
all look to their own way, every one for his gain

Ezk.33:31b              With
their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness

Ezk.34:2,3               Woe
be to the shepherds...that do feed themselves! Ye eat the fat, & ye clothe
you with the wool

Mat.23:14               Ye
devour widows' houses, & for pretence make long prayer

C. Selfishness
towards the needy shows a lack of love:

Mat.25:42,43          I
was an hungred, & ye gave Me no meat

1Jn.3:17  Whoso hath world's good & seeth his
brother hath need [& doesn't help] how dwelleth the love of God in him?

(See
also Jam.2:15,16)

9. Warnings against
hypocrisy:

A. To those that
pretend to be Christians, but are not:

Jer.7:4     Lying words, saying,
The temple of the Lord are these

Mat.7:21 Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter Heaven...but he that doeth the will of My Father

Mat.15:9a               In
vain they do worship Me

Mat.23:2,3              Do
not ye after their works: for they say, & do not

Mat.23:14b            For
a pretence make long prayer

Lk.6:46    Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord,
& do not the things I say?

Tit.1:16   They profess they know God; but in
works deny Him

(See
also Mat 7:22,23)

B. Some appear
outwardly good, but are inwardly wicked:

Mat.7:15 In sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening
wolves

Mat.23:5 All their works they do for to be seen of men

Mat.23:27,28          Like
whited sepulchres...appear beautiful outward... within are full of hypocrisy
& iniquity

Lk.18:11,12             I
thank Thee, that I am not as...this publican. I fast

(See
also Jer.7:9,10)

C. False holiness
& religious standards:

Mat.23:4 They bind heavy burdens...on men's shoulders

Acts
15:10             Why...put
a yoke upon the neck of the disciples

(See
also Mat.6:2,5,16)

D. False
professions of love for God:

Isa.29:13 This people draw near Me with their mouth,
& with their lips honour Me, but removed their heart far from Me

Jer.2:32   My people have forgotten Me days
without number

Jer.5:1,2  Though they say, The Lord liveth; surely
they swear falsely

Ezk.33:31a,32         They
come...as My people, & they hear thy words, but they will not do them

Mat.15:8 Draweth nigh unto Me with mouth, &
honoureth Me with lips; but their heart is far from Me (See also Mk.7:6)

1Jn.4:20  If a man say, I love God, & hateth
his brother...liar

(See
also Mal.1:6b; Isa.58:1,2.)

10. Religious
persecution:

A. Misled religious
zeal frequently results in persecution:

Gen.4:3-8                [God
accepted Abel's offering & rejected Cain's.--In a jealous rage, Cain
murdered Abel] (See 1Jn.3:12,13)

Isa.66:5   Your brethren...cast you out for My
name's sake

Mat.23:31-35         Children
of them which killed the prophets...from the blood of righteous Abel
unto...Zacharias

Jn.16:2    Whosoever killeth you will
think he doeth God service

Gal.4:29  He that was born after the flesh
persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now

(See
also Lam.4:13,14; Mat.27:40-43; Jn.19:6 ,7.)

B. Religious jealousy
motivates persecution:

Mk.15:10                The
chief priests had delivered Him (Jesus) for envy (See also Jn.11:47-50,53.)

Acts
13:44,45        When
Jews saw multitudes, they were filled with envy

Key chapters: Ezk.13 & 34; Jer.23; Mat.23; Rev.2 & 3.