Its normal for some people to believe they are saved, when in fact they are not. Their thoughts on the matter of salvation do not revolve around what the Scriptures teach, but on the emotional context that surround the Scriptures, and their works do not show a saved individual.
I have met those who believe being out in nature on Sunday morning is just as much of a representation of their supposed “closeness” to God as being in a church at the same time is. Every pastor will debate this statement, for to them that corporeal setting on Sunday morning is the only true acknowledgement by deed that offers proof of one’s relationship to the Most High, it proves by a continuous dedication to that Sunday morning commitment their salvation.
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Matt. 15:8)
Did you know that during the beginning of the so-called pandemic about two years ago now that over ninety percent of all churches locked the doors of their building, denying entrance to all? They took the word of those in authority over their trust in Christ. “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” (Psalm 91:10) Apparently some form of human common sense overrode their faith at that time.
These people who agreed with that decision will offer you a plethora of excuses, I know, I have spoken with them, and it has made me wonder, if all of them were forced to not be able to meet together for those weeks, as they would state it, how then did they continue to serve Christ during those days? Did they go out into nature to commune with the Lord?
When they returned most of them wearing a mask and social distancing in that building they call a house of God, “Only four to a pew please,” did they worship the Lord in greater fervency than they did when they were separated, or did they simply rejoice because they were “allowed” to meet together again. “I’m sorry, we are only allowing a certain amount of people into the church for the services.”
“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” (Prov. 24:10)
The man out there in the woods, the woman at the park alone on a bench on Sunday morning may indeed be serving the Lord more profitably than those in a dozen churches today.
Church attendance has fallen dramatically over the last few decades, and what this supposed flu proved was one thing, they were not there to serve the Lord God in reverence, awe and fear, they were not in those buildings to stand for the Word of God no matter the circumstances, no matter the consequences to themselves. These who did so can debate this fact all they want with you, but there is no denying this truth, they preached continuously about the need for that assembling together, they invited people to church occasionally, they felt compelled, obligated, to be there on Sunday morning, and then they ran away and hid themselves not only from each other but from all they met.
They hid behind their masks, they hid behind the lies the media spoke of, they hid from the trust in the Lord that they proclaimed for so long.
But now everything is all better, isn’t it, “You can sit right beside each other now.” The doors of the church are flung wide open, the crowds gather again, and once again those pastors preach on the need for that fellowship each and every Sunday morning, while they keep one eye on the CDC’s recommendations. I think I’ll stay out here in nature on Sunday mornings for a while longer, I don’t deal well with hypocrisy.
