You can eat all the cardboard you want to, grind it up in a blender with some water if you like, in fact, add some shredded paper with it if you like. I can guarantee that if you eat enough of this concoction your stomach will be full, but if you continue to do this every day, you will die, you will die with a full stomach, but you will still die.
There is absolutely, as far as I know, no nutritional value in this mixture, but sadly it is the same mixture that is being fed to far too many in some of the churches around the planet today, we could call them platitudes, catchy little phrases meant to be uplifting and emotionally charged, but they hold no substance, they are for the entertaining of the masses only. The “itchy ear” individuals (2 Tim. 4:3) love these types of sermons, they put no convictions upon them, oh, they may sound high and lofty, there may even be a Scripture verse or two thrown in for good measure, but the Holy Spirit is not involved in them in any way. How we are to love everyone, never correct or reprove, “You’re alright, I’m alright, everyone is loved.” What is missing?
The conviction of sin, the pleading with Almighty God to lead in whatever way He determines is best in our lives, servitude without question, submission no matter the cost. They go home feeling better about themselves, but that’s the point, isn’t it, to feel better, to be uplifted, to be told that everything is fine, do not worry about a thing. Trials and temptations are to be avoided at all cost, never reprove, for you may be seen as judgmental, listen to your inner self, no matter what, you are alright with God.
What we consume matters, “garbage in, garbage out,” without the conviction of sin, sin is a foreign entity, without submission, there is no leader, without the fear of the Lord, there is pride. This food is not only filling, but it is consumed nearly every weekend in far too many places that say they are Christian assemblies, they say they serve, but when prompted about the service outside of the walls of the church building, the defensive mechanisms automatically engage. When asked they have no answer, for they are not filled with Spirit of God, but with self-righteousness, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” (Romans 1:22) How often after the service do you go home and check in the Word of God the accuracy of what was preached that morning, and how often do you approach the one who stands behind the pulpit when he is found to be in error according to the Word of God.
We are to be good stewards, (Luke 12:42) the greatest stewardship we have is the truths of the Scriptures. If you are not studying to show yourself approved, (2 Tim. 2:15) you will not know when the fallacies are spoken, you will not be aware of when you are being fed lies. It takes quite a bit to do what I have just wrote, to stand while others sit and smile, to profess the truth in love while others chew on the cardboard. Add some sugar with it, a charismatic individual who is capable of long and eloquent words, and you have the perfect recipe for an end times, falling away church, a church of the apostacy.
Be vigilant, study constantly, be sure, but when you are sure, above all, speak up. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Tim. 3:16) It takes a man of God to do these things, he is all but assured of being ostracized from nearly all of the congregation, but he is also assured of an acknowledgement of approval from the Lord Jesus.
