As you read through the pages of Scriptures it is painfully obvious that there is absolutely nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). I am back in Ezekiel in my personal study time… I was reading and digging into in Ezekiel 33 when I read,
“But as for you, son of man, your fellow citizens who talk about you by the walls and in the doorways of the houses, speak to one another, each to his brother, saying, ‘Come now and hear what the message is which comes forth from the Lord.’ They come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain. Behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words but they do not practice them.
Ezekiel 33:30-32
This is America… here in America the professing Christians pack out the mega church. We fill stadiums and conference centers to hear the words of Louie Giglio, Beth Moore, John Piper, Joyce Meyer, Kay Arthur, etc… We file into church on Sunday morning in our Sunday best to hear our pastor preach and either leave expounding on how great the message was or complaining because he just didn’t do it for us today and maybe we need to change churches because this guy just doesn’t evoke enough gusto into the performance for us…
We come and we hear… and then we leave.
We leave to go be entertained again…
what race is on?
what game is on?
what movie is playing?
what restaurant can we get in the quickest?
how soon can I get on my couch and take a nap?
They come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain. Behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words but they do not practice them.
It’s quite horrifying actually…
Does it not strike terror in your heart?
It does mine… I am just as guilty.
Have you ever considered how many children you could afford to adopt if you chose to support the orphan instead of Hollywood. Have you ever considered how many starving mouths you could feed if you chose to use your money to put food in the mouths of children instead of drugs in the mouths of the latest pop star? Have you ever considered how many child sex slaves you could rescue if you chose to invest your money in the organizations that work to rescue them instead of the culture that works to build a desire for them through its perversions?
I can’t help but it cross my mind…
I am a teacher and a mother. I know what it feels like to teach and have people come up and say how great the lesson was… and then walk out and do exactly what you just taught against. I have been with the groups that packed out the dome and the conference center… yet when it comes down to making a personal choice how many choose…
the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain
Why do you go to church on Sunday’s?
When you sit under your Pastor or small group leader are you there listening to the Word of God so that you might go out the door ready to put into action what you have learned?
Or are you there critiquing them? Sitting as their judge to decide if they really “brought it” today.
Do you come to be entertained…
Behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words but they do not practice them.
…or are you there to be trained?
Do you come to the Word of God to be changed or do you come to be entertained?
Look at your hands and your feet and examine where you go and what you do and answer honestly. Look at your yesterday and compare it to your today. Are you closer to Christ or further away?