“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)
I believe the following statement to be true, the majority of people that begin attending a church do so initially because they want something, and those that remain in certain religious organizations do so out of a supposed obligation, for many of them began attending those places from their youth. Very few people wake up on a Sunday morning and have a desire to seek the face of God, and then just head down to the closest church, but few will spend the time to research what any religious organization teaches before they begin attending.
For those who have lived in and for the world for any length of time, the main reason they would even think of darkening the doorway of any church is because some adverse condition has entered into their life, things are not and have not been going well. They are akin and may even be in the position of those who live on the street today, but once did not, these destitute individuals are looking for food for their body, but not for their soul and so they will accept the free food and listen to the one behind the pulpit speak as “payment” for that meal.
Very few people who are living what we call a comfortable life find any desire within themselves to begin attending any church.
Those whose parents have taken their children to church from their birth can fit into one of these two categories, but have they or will their children as they grow older search the Scriptures to see if where they sit each Sunday morning is where the Lord would have them to be? How many search the Scriptures to fully understand if what they are being taught, what they are hearing from the pulpit is indeed in line with the Word of God and therefore truth. Not many I fear, not many at all.
The amount of personal research this requires is immense and can only be accomplished by the will of God through the Holy Spirit with a firm resolve to search for Jesus Christ. Does that church speak of the need to follow certain traditions not only for salvation but the continuance of it, is faith based on facts or emotions, are there prescribed rules set in place that must be followed or the sinner will never be accepted by God? Is the proof of one’s salvation the ability to handle deadly snakes, is it the emotional context that one “feels,” or is it the accumulation of the world’s riches, the more one has the more one is loved by God. How many search the Scriptures diligently to see how an unrepentant sinner can be justified by God?
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)
The price has been paid, the gift of salvation is free, that is why it’s called a gift, no one can purchase a gift from another. Many who are trapped in religious organizations have placed themselves there and will in no wise do the research to see if the Lord is even there. They have been told He is, and they have allowed themselves to be deceived into believing it. The interpretation of the book the leader of the “church” espouses is what they believe, they will not search the Scriptures to verify whether it is the truths of God or not. “Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Cor. 11:15)
The Almighty may not be in the church you attend, He may be in the one down the street, but how are you to know that if you don’t do the research, how are you to know if where you sit every Sunday morning is where God wants you?
One of the only ways we have as born-again believers to reach those who are being deceived in this area is to cause them to doubt the validity of what they profess to believe, and that can only be done with the Word of God. What will their initial response be? The fulfillment of Galatians 4:16, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” There is much more to witnessing to people than many care to consider, and that is why they continue to sit in pews where Jesus has never been. “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” (Psalm 27:8)
