Are You Not Entertained?

Are you not entertained?

By Pastor Steve Waters (Originally written in 2019)

Jeremiah 51:6 “Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD’S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.”

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

Certainly in today’s modern times we as God’s people are not affected by idolatry or enemy captivity as our forefathers were.

Or are we?

We are living in very unique times to be sure. There is so much competition for our attention, our money, our time, our bodily presence all to get us to return to whatever establishment is vying for our money. Everything that we do has to be an “experience” that will leave a lasting impression so that we will choose to spend our time and money in one establishment over another. You will see this happening everywhere from shopping centers to restaurants to business complexes to sports arenas to movie theaters.

Movie theaters are really feeling the strain of selling tickets mainly because there is so much competition for fans of movies to watch movies anywhere and anytime (that plus most movies are terrible these days, in my opinion). So what is the answer? Improving the movie goer experience of course. Bigger screens, better graphics, louder and more detailed sound effects, serving “adult beverages” and of course more sin. Oh! And let’s not forget the cushy reclining seats; perfect for someone like me who would never fall asleep in a dark room with reclining chairs.

I get all of this and I understand the need for businesses in today’s ever changing culture where competition is good and even necessary.

So what possible complaint could I have? Well, actually a lot, but I need to get to my main point…

My mind always goes to how this environment of competition is affecting the religious community, especially The Lord’s Churches. And make no mistake about it, this kind of climate is definitely affecting the religious community which sometimes sees itself as competing for the religious attention of “customers”. So yes, many mainstream religious intuitions are not only battling for new “customers” but they are also battling to hold on to their “customer base”. And yes, they are using the same gimmicks as the commercial businesses; Bigger, better and more luxurious buildings, an atmosphere inside that appeals to the flesh with louder more emotion based music, flashy eye catching and attention holding graphics and displays, and a compromise of anything even remotely resembling Biblical Truth all for the sake of filling the pews. After all people need to be entertained and church should be an experience like Disneyland or the shopping mall or the movie theater or even the sports arenas.

I wonder when some of these religious institutions will start offering ad space for sale inside their establishments; or perhaps sponsors for the different stages of the “church” experience like a sponsor for the morning “devotional” and “Worship” and even preaching time with each point of a 3 point message being sponsored by a different business.

It is sad  that we have come to a place as a people, as a society and as churches that we need to be so entertained at the sacrifice of The Truth of The Word of God. This should not be the case and those that are proclaiming The Truth and living for The Truth need to strongly resist the temptation to follow the lead of the evil system that is governing almost every element of our lives. The Lord’s people… His Churches need to stand strong.

Let’s be careful not to be deceived, this movement is not from God but it is ancient and it is demonic.  It is from the god of this world whose purpose is to deceive and confuse…if possible even God’s Covenant People. Don’t be fooled, Babylon the Great spoken of in Revelation 17 and 18 is not just speaking of the false religion of this world, its speaking of the total control that Satan has over nearly every element of life.

Revelation 17:1-5 “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

Revelation 18:2-4 “And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”

Here is my closing thought; how about we that know the True God and what His plan is for His Church and for all of mankind start focusing less on the distractions that are all around us and start focusing more on the job that we were sent to do.

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”