Seeing isn't always believing. What looks good to our eyes can be poison to our ears. Just because a church looks successful - big building, state of the art equipment, programs for everyone, full pews (or stadiums), catchy music, ornate fixtures, high church liturgy, contemporary format, big operating budget, renown reputation, etc., - does not mean it is successful in God's eyes. The items on the list aren't bad in and of themselves, but it's the message preached from the pulpit that's the true test of a church.
As a people-pleasing substitute for the gospel, they teach that men and women can earn God's favour by their good lives and can win heaven for themselves by following Jesus' example. (Behold ...) To the people in church's like this, the voice from heaven says, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins." vs 4a
The message of Jesus is not summarized in a bracelet that says "What would Jesus Do?" but is "What has Jesus Done?"
All the "stuff" built here on earth, all the man-made things and theology will be brought down in a very short time at the end of the day - Judgement Day. TPB says, "Babylon is the spirit of antichrist. It is most pronounced in the false church, but it infects all human institutions." (pg 179)
Praying my devotion prayer for the day ...
6 comments:
I feel like this study has made me more ambivalent than I already was: a person with conflicting, mixed emotions, seemingly all at the same time. Sad reading one sentence and happy reading the next...and back and forth like a ping pong ball!
I wanted to cheer when reading this...then, like Rachel mentioned over a week ago, I thought:" there will be people I know who face this kind of ending." Then I was seriously sad. It was kind of hard to swallow the whole idea when I could put faces to those damned, but I can appreciate that the words of rejoicing are true and right.
I'm gonna need to grow in my appreciation of God's justice and not filter it through my human emotions or my Old Adam, sympathetic lens. Granted, I'm not looking to be hard-hearted, just making heads and tails of how right this is. Anybody else struggle with this idea or feeling?
cre8ev, in answer to your question, I can't say I'm struggling at the moment with the feelings you are describing, but it makes a lot of sense to feel unsettled by all of this, and there is likely a time in the past when I have experienced that dichotomy of emotions and been a little troubled by it myself. Thank you for being courageous enough to share those thoughts and feelings here! The fact that you earnestly struggle with this indicates that you have a heart of compassion and you hate to see anyone lost. These are God-pleasing attitudes!
Perhaps the mixed emotions you are struggling with could be considered part of the "bitterness" of the "little scroll" we discussed in an earlier chapter of Revelation. One of the false teachings we are warned against is that being one of God's people means that on this earth our life will be more pleasant than it would have been otherwise. But no, there are hardships to undergo. I think that while we rejoice in our Lord's ultimate victory over evil, it is not wrong to be saddened when we know the faces of some of those who will likely end up on the wrong side of eternity. We want God's judgment to be a little softer for those specific people we care about. But it isn't. And frankly, if it weren't for Jesus that's the exact judgment we ourselves would receive as well. It's what we deserve. This is a reason (the reason?) to find ways to gently, respectfully, share the hope we have.
I just went to 1 Peter 3 to look up the passage about sharing our hope with gentleness and respect. I was seeing quite a few things in that whole chapter that had applications to what you're feeling and what we are discussing. I encourage you to read it. See what you think.
We all need to constantly be growing in our faith and in our understanding of God and his word, dear sister! Part of growing necessarily (I believe) involves struggling and wrestling with the application of God's truth. May our gracious Lord keep you strong and growing always!
I love you, and I don't even know your name! :-)
Now that i have read through The People's Bible on this section, I see that it addresses cre8ev's sentiments. Permit me to copy those paragraphs here:
The voice that John heard from heaven invites the saints, victorious on the Last Day, to rejoice in God's judgment of Babylon (verses 20-24). This is not a song any of us will sing until the final judgment. Like Jesus, we will pray for our enemies and hope for their conversion. As long as this earth stands, we will share God's saving will with even the church's worst enemies. "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live" (Ezekiel 33:11).
Even on the Last Day, no one will rejoice because the souls of those in the false church have been lost. Rather, our joy will come from knowing that the elect no longer have to suffer at the hand of their enemies. "God has judged her for the way she treated you" (verse 20). Not one more should will be drawn away from jesus with the promise of earthly success and wealth. No more people will be offered the false confidence that God will accept them if they do their best.
Just a side comment - love Rachel's statement: Not..."What would Jesus Do?" but rather "What has Jesus Done?"
cre8ev, I understand your ping pong sensation! And I totally agree with the beautiful words of encouragement from RFC. I think she's on to something valid - that's part of the bitterness of the scroll.
"The fact that you earnestly struggle with this indicates that you have a heart of compassion and you hate to see anyone lost. These are God-pleasing attitudes!" - Yes!
The People's Bible said the following and it really helped me. "Even on the Last Day, no one will rejoice because the souls of those in the false church have been lost. Our joy will come from knowing that the elect no longer will have to suffer at the hands of their enemies. "God judged her for the way she treated you" (verse 20). Not one more soul will be drawn away from Jesus with the promise of earthly success and wealth. No more people will be offered the false confidence that, if they do their best, God will accept them." This is what we'll be rejoicing!
"We want God's judgment to be a little softer for those specific people we care about. But it isn't. And frankly, if it weren't for Jesus that's the exact judgment we ourselves would receive as well. It's what we deserve. This is a reason (the reason?) to find ways to gently, respectfully, share the hope we have." Yep.
We can certainly cheer for the wedding feast we know is ahead! But until that day actually comes, we have some things we'll WANT to do - continue sharing Jesus with others!!!
HA! We posted the same reference at the same time!
Scary ... :)
Well, I commented on the not-so-happy tears and have been chewing on this thought ever since. One note I wanted to make on it all was to share what was made by my study bible in regards to crying for those who will be punished for rebelling against God. I read it the night after I made my post about feeling like a ping pong ball. I'm mentioning this now NOT because I think God is wrong in punishing the wicked or to justify my reaction. Hopefully, you'll see that reading the quote. It stings...
If anything, I'm quoting it here because my study has helped me appreciate how long-suffering He is! Here's hoping it helps y'all too!
On Rev. 19:1-5, my law & gospel notes stated:
"The heavenly chorus praises God for the collapse and destruction of the great prostitute Babylon. Some may be reluctant to join in this praise, still feeling sympathetic to Babylon and thus exhibiting a shameful self-centerdness. But Christ frees us from tyranny's grip and promises to share the spoils of His victory with us. Thus, we can heartily join in this praise now and forever."
So...to end on a wonderful note, how thankful I am for God's love and CONTINUAL preservation of his people through his word and sacraments! Thanks, y'all, for pushing me to this goal!
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