“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:” (John 12:42)
Consider this, a religious organization so strict that if you did not follow every precept diligently, you would not be allowed to continue to participate in their assembly. Speak and preach in the name of Jesus Christ and those first century Christians not only lost the ability to any longer be a part of what they had known as a fact was an assembly of those who served the living God, but they would be persecuted, their earthly possessions removed from them, some even hunted down and killed.
To lose everything for the Lord Jesus Christ was counted as joy to them.
I could be mistaken here, but in most places that call themselves a church today, if you do not follow and adhere to the standards of worship that they believe in you are not persecuted in such a way, you are simply asked to leave and not return. Now in some nations this persecution still exists and is growing exponentially, the name of Jesus Christ cost something, He is hated, and since they cannot reach Him, they will persecute you. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)
The question today for you then is two-fold, have you ever been asked to leave a church, to use that word lightly, because of your convictions to the Word of God and its truths, and if not, and you know that church is not doctrinally sound, why do you stay? “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Gal. 5:1)
Those Hebrews in the days of Christ immediately after His ascension had to make a choice, and some of them chose poorly. They went back to the known, to the law, to that which was comfortable, some believing in their minds I am sure that they could serve the old and the new at the same time. It became such a turbulent place that in AD 70 Rome got so fed up with it that they destroyed everything there.
“But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;” (1st Peter 3:14)
So then, I speak today to those of you who sit in a pew every Sunday in a place that does not lift up the name of Jesus Christ as Lord of Lords, that does not worship the Lord our God in humility and fear, that does not ask the Holy Spirit for guidance, I ask you today, why are you still there? Have you approached the elders and deacons, have you spoken at length with the pastor about these things, about why the world has been allowed into that church, why traditions and the rules of men have been allowed to be placed above the oracles of God Almighty, why there is no true fear of God in that place.
Or do you just continue to show up, keeping your mouth closed, going along with the crowd, not wanting to either be asked to leave and never return, or simply ignored until you do so yourself? You know, I doubt they will hunt you down and kill you, in fact, they will probably be glad to see you go.
The choice is of course yours, I am simply told to write these things, and what I have written I have experienced. With joy.
