Gotta Whole Lotta Love – Part II

According to the standard we see in the Bible, the vast majority of folks in America today are MUCH more likely to be guilty of being lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:1-4). It seems to me that much of the church in these days experiences awesome worship times in meetings, and maybe, in the midst of that moment, somehow folks think they are actually living what they are singing! They leave the meetings over stimulated, but when they get to that restaurant, tend to treat that young server horribly and leave a dollar tip for a $100 meal. I have talked to dozens of servers who HATE working the “church crowd” due to their rudeness and cheapness!

Maybe we should take a sober look at the fruit in our lifestyles instead of our worship times and meetings??

According to Barna Research, Christians are actually MORE likely to get divorced than atheists, agnostics and unchurched people. Overall, it appears that as a whole, the church in our nation loves God WAY too little and many other things take priority in our lives and time. Yes, the spirit is willing and the flesh is weak. There is a wholesale rejection of many disciplines such as fasting, prayer, evangelism and service due to an overemphasis of teachings on Grace. I submit that this has left the church without the salt to preserve what it has gained and light to change the culture. No salt nor light means we definitely lack love.

Going to a 59 minute Sunday seeker service that caters to our convenience, coddles our flesh and cradles our pride is not going to bring awakening to the people of God in America. It also will not elicit a “well done, My good and faithful servant” from the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ. I’m pretty sure the Lord won’t give us a great reward for taking a couple hours out of our weekly schedule to attend a meeting He isn’t even invited to. This passage may speak about God’s attitude about toward this:

Amos 5:22-24 Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

In other words…

”Put up or shut up!”

“Stop the singing, already, and start acting like I live in you, if you say I do!”

“Come out of being children and begin to mature and take responsibility for what is occurring around the corner from your church!”

“Are righteousness and justice, the foundations of God’s throne ( Psalms 89:14), evident in your doings? In your lifestyle?”

“If we are to live as God’s representatives of the King, righteousness and justice are to be meted out by a godly King. This is why God put David on the throne!” (1 Kings 10:9)

Real Love for God and others will be reflected in a lifestyle given to God and to minister to others – to represent our King well!
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(Continued in Part 3)