Flakey Church

What Christian wants to contribute to the Flakey church? Money isn't the subject here. Rather, in a day and age in which people seek every possible avenue to express themselves as spiritually unique, what real Christian should want to encourage them by joining in?

Enough fleeces have been put out to strip every sheep in the world. Gideon would be amazed at what he started and at all the reasons for these fleeces. Chuck Swindoll reported one man saying he would marry his girlfriend if she wore her plaid dress on such and such an occassion. Another man said that if the next four traffic lights were green, he would go off to the mission field. These souls forgot that God sought out Gideon to do a special work. Gideon wanted to make sure it was God talking to him and that God was really on his side. This so-called "putting out the fleece" trivializes our relationship with God. Superstition does not glorify our Heavenly Father. Christians had better wait for God to speak to them directly before they even think about "putting out a fleece."

If we think God audibly speaks to us, then we might first check to see if we have recently taken any medicine with bizarre side effects. Did we injest hallucinogenic mushrooms? Did the message correspond with God's Word in signification and spirit? God does not major in small talk. Did the "word" from God impart something essential for ourselves or others with whom we correspond? Will the message edify our brothers and sisters in Christ? Could it have been a demon playing God? Will the net result of this message be a swelling of our heads? Remember how Paul was raised up to the third Heaven and heard things and saw things too high for mortal ears and eyes? The Lord gave him a "thorn in the flesh" to keep him humble. If God gave a thorn in the flesh (blindness, or polio, or leprosy, or psoriasis, etc.) to everybody who testified that God talked to them or told them to do something, how many people would go around seeking such a manifestation? As long as we are asking all these questions, how many people do you know who God has spoken to? Do you trust them enough to act upon what they have told you?

Supposing your congregation has several people who put out fleeces, who hear God's voice or who talk to angels. Scripture may soon play second fiddle to such exciting revelation. When these people meet, what will be the first thing on their minds? Why, they will be all abuzz to find out who has seen an angel at the foot of their bed or who has seen the Lord's face appear in the clouds. Those without such special revelation will feel like second-class citizens in their local church. Wasn't this the very thing Paul warned people about?

Subjective experiences have become the main drawing card for many charismatic and Pentecostal congregations. People become so hung-up on manifestations and proofs of God's power and presence that the most simple events become infallible proofs that God is blessing His people. God does bless us. He is present. Miracles are performed today just as in the early church, but where does a fixation on such things lead? To minimizing the direct inspiration of the Lord's revealed Word, the Bible.

Pentecostalism becomes flakey when The Bible is only given honorable mention status, when God's Word is insufficient to bring joy and peace to God's children, when we go to church to "see what God will do tonight" rather than coming together to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

Charismatic leaders really take the cake for being the life of the party. They usually have a word from God and they are ready to share it. "The Lord has revealed to me," or "God showed me something about you," supposedly means God and Pastor so and so have talked. The leader now speaks with the very authority of Almighty God. If we know this to be true, we had better listen closely, act upon what we are hearing. Do we see where manipulation comes in here? One person with this awesome, super, high priestly ability to peer into the hearts of "his flock" can become very God to them--or, at least, their Moses. This reminds me too much of a four or five year old running around hollering about his special powers. The scarey thing is, the four-year old whirlwind and the charismatic preacher may both have unassailable faith in themselves. Flakey leaders pattern flakey followers.

Humility goes out the window of the flakey church. A puffed-up, proud, flakey biscuit church really "gets it on" better than the flapjack type. Just ask them.

The Word in its simplicity has lost its appeal in the modern church. Something new is always coming down. Just like Wendy's or MacDonald's always varying the menus, the church tends to follow suit. One day, yogurt cones and the next, cheesecake. We hear people will get sick of the same old thing. Fresh approaches, repackaging, upscale tempo, diverse delivery systems, appeal to all groups. Whatever happened to the Gospel being the power (dynamite)of salvation? Whatever happened to God's Word being LIFE? Why do we think we can outmaneuver God with our winning techniques? Why do we think that psychology outmasters the Master Teacher, Jesus Christ? The big-headed, proud biscuit church strains to pull God into the 21st century. Stand still and see the Hand of the Lord!

Angels here, angels there, angels, angels everywhere! Flakey! Enough said.

Astrology, channeling, veneration of relics, worship of images, talking to the dead, burning the candles, veneration of saints, working your way up to Heaven, adding books to the 66, indulgences. . . that's not just flakey; its heretical.

How about a commitment statement. Who will sign it? Here it is:

I, _______ ________, seeing that the world--and sometimes something styling itself the church-- strives to defame my Lord by trying to make His Word of no effect, do intend to refrain from flakey practices in my Christian walk. I accept that God is my Commander-in-chief and realize that a good soldier will follow the Manual describing his service. Amen.