Why? Christ hasn't changed, why must we?

 Something was said to me recently that really has me thinking. I have not sorted all my thoughts on it as yet but it has me puzzled, perplexed, confounded but not confused.

This whole blog started out in 2010 as the struggles I was facing and has turned into more of sermons as I move through the Christian life.

Lately I have been contemplating the Christian Struggle more from a big picture than just my own internal struggles. The church is losing the battle here in America, but ,as we have all said, we win the war for we have read the end of the Book and know how it all goes.

But what about the immediate and intermediate? What about the time now till the end? I have heard so many say they can not compete with the "Modern" church, modern man, they are not having any effect for no one wants to sing the old hymns, hear the old time preaching. Many are leaving the ministry due to depression, no fruit, no commitment from the people. Services have gone from 3 a week to 1 for lack of participation.

I know this sounds like a rehash, a broken record that I have been playing lately. But I want to pursue the thoughts that are bouncing around in my mind, it's all I have been thinking of for the last few days. I mean to me Amazing Grace is still amazing, Victory in Jesus is still an anthem the church should sing. Rock of ages, surely this is not out of date for Christ IS the Rock of Ages.

Maybe because I have been around the "old time" services all my life, but I still enjoy piano hymns. I still like old time preaching, I like old time worship and praise services. Why then is it ok with me, but not with others? Why do some feel as if they can not "win" while staying in the tried and true format?

Again this is not me "preaching" but seriously trying to work my way through a thought, a process, to consider something that some call busted, broke and outdated.

I guess what I do not understand is why it is being called outdated? Why some feel "new" methods, new ways, new music, new Gospel is necessary, when the Spirit is the same?  

I hear of revivals taking place, soul winners going out and reaching people the same old way, so the Gospel still works, I hear the old songs and the message they contain and it is the same "old" Gospel.

Has the Gospel been gutted? Flayed and fileted till it is useless?

The people perverted? Unable to hear the truth and bear it?

The church Corrupted? Sinners and the spirit less leading the Spirit filled?

The hymns are they history? Dusty, immaterial in today's world?

The preachers pessimistic? No longer certain they can just preach Christ?

It could be any or even all of the above. In looking for the answers where do we turn? Which angle is to be considered?

I do not want to say I have the answers, I am certainly not the end all in these matters. 

So what does the Scripture say?

2Pe 2:1  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 

2Pe 2:2  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 

Peter, the Fisherman, who walked with Christ, who heard the voice of God, who served with John the Baptist, Who denied Christ 3 times, this Peter talks of false teachers. Peter understood the false teachers would come, he understood the perversions that would be spread out from the Gospels.

His advice?

2Pe 3:14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 

Be diligent, stay true, preach the Gospel, and combat the false prophets with the Truth.

Jude, Jesus' earthly sibling, speaks of the truth being perverted as well.

Jud 1:4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 

What's his advice?

Jud 1:20  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 

Jud 1:21  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 

How about John the Apostle Jesus loved? The one who was at the empty tomb, at the cross when Jesus died?

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 

1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 

1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

If every man who walked with Christ, knew Christ, says the exact same thing, to preach Christ and Him only.

If every one of them speaks to the Truth of the Gospel, then how can it be old? Outdated? Doesn't the fact that the Bible says to preach Christ, stay true to The Gospel, be diligent, faithful mean something?

Again, I know I am fully committed to the Gospel as the greatest outreach program there is. Why must we change from what the Apostles and brothers of Christ proclaim?

Could it be that we just no longer have the Spirit? The need for the Spirit? The search, genuine and heart oriented search for the Spirit?

Could it be that those who are depressed, those that are defeated, those that are in despair have gotten away from the Spirit? We have theological schools sending out people who do not know God, who have never felt the Spirit move, do not know Christ, to a world that needs Christ. They can not claim Christ, therefore they have no idea that they must proclaim Christ. In fact many of them want to remove Christ altogether, yet still "serve: God. Christ is God, you can not know the Father until you know the Son. For the only way to the Father is through the Son.

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

Joh 14:7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 

Might it be that preacher's are seeing people flock to the false prophets, false theologies and are envious? For why do they not come to hear the truth but will crave the lies the false prophets preach and teach?

Might it be that we have forgotten that Christ said narrow is the way, that few will respond?

Might we have forgotten that satan is alive and well tearing through the churches, stealing souls, perverting the Gospel?

Might it be that we have servants of God chasing fame and glory and money rather than a true heart revival in the people they are to be serving?

I think, my opinion, that we have forgotten, we are envious of the large crowds, we have watered down the Gospel so people will still come to the church. I think we have lost the Spirit in the majority of our churches, we have lost the need, the desire to be Spirit filled because it will interfere with our lives, our sin we are comfortable in..

I think in our desire to be seen as fair minded, open, and loving we have forgotten that the Cross is Hard, the message of the Cross is one that people do not want to hear for it will make them see themselves as they are instead of what they want to believe about themselves.

There are no earth shaking answers there is only the Gospel. There is no new way to teach and preach there is only the Gospel.

I know this has turned into a long winded "dissertation" but it is true.

Christ and Him crucified is all that has ever been needed since Jesus died on the cross, why must it change now?

Why have we incorporated eastern philosophies with mantras and chants to create a trance like state, rather than teach people to commune with the Spirit?

Why have we decided we must be entertainers rather than the Spirit filled leaders who point to the cross?

Why do we decry the numbers, when we know that few will respond?

Why do we try anything other than prayer, study and the Truth?

Why? Christ hasn't changed, why must we?