Where are we headed

Think that America is getting pretty close to what was happening to Christians in time of the caesars, as powers in authority went fully antichrist!

And that unnless the christians wake up here, might get to where God honoring marriages are outlawed!

 

Well, I can't really say where you are headed, because it is not my call.

But, if I were you, I would worry about how you treat brothers in Christ, and how you reject God's answers to people with mental illnesses.

You may be saved, but your message is evil.

Isn't it time to ask God to help you with your message?

What you teach now will harm people, not help them.

John

 

In my opinion, as evil and darkness grow, the opportunities for the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ to be shed abroad by the believer becomes more noticeable.

One doesn't have much use for a flashlight in the bright sunlight. But at night the most important light is the little night light that shines against the darkness.

Decades ago, certain preachers railed against a certain Texas mother who pushed her anti God views. Her son became a believer.

Decades ago, a certain woman was taken to court and her right to have an abortion became a standard by which some, even to this day, count the cows. She became a believer.

In Dallas a few weeks ago, a group of 500 atheists published a challenge to Christians about prayer. The group wants for believers to pray that one of them gets converted. Perhaps God will select a Paul from among them, I don't know. But their mockery will certainly be answered if no more than God confirming the hardness of their hearts unto judgment.

The Scriptures tell the believer what to do when they look about and see the evil about them.

Look up - the redemption draws nigh, and let our light so shine...

 

Strengthen the things that remain.

I think Jude had it right when he wrote,

"... there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

But ye, beloved,
building up yourselves on your most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Ghost,
keep yourselves in the love of God,
looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
And of some have compassion, making a difference:
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. ​

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."​

 

There is really nothing for the Church to deal with, The Church is to stay faithful to God's word and let Him deal with the problems of the world.

 

Associated is the key word.

If it is taken (for example as the SBC churches associate) meaning to sit and listen, perhaps to learn, and the Word of God being used to either confirm hardness or convict/convince then the doors would be open.

If associated means (as it usually does) that there is belonging and political/social connections then that is problematic.

A Scriptural perspective of association meaning to sit and listen... is given in Matthew13:24 - 30.

"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, "Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?"

He said unto them, "An enemy hath done this."

The servants said unto him, "Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?"

But he said, "Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, 'Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.'" ​

 

Your question obliges a two part answer.


First,

Why does the church have any matters with the world? Does not the Scriptures teach that the world holds no friendship with the assembly of believers (or individual believers)?

I think dealing with issues "of" the world or worldliness manifested in the believer is proper, but issues "in" the world may be of no concern to the assembly.

Paul was fairly good at demonstrating this distinction in his letters. He showed consistently how the believers were not to be conducting them self as worldly with worldly expectations.

Second,

When Christ was dealing with the seven churches in The Revelation, He spoke to the assemblies, but ended with a message to each believer of the assembly.


Paul expressing that certain individuals who were not faithful to the service at the Lord's table were "asleep already;" and when addressing the assembly at Corinthians mentioned "as such were some of you." He addressed his letters to the assembly as a group, but it was read and applied to each believer.

That is what is very comforting and separates the believer from groups such as the Romanists. They rely upon the organization. The believer relies upon the personal relationship with The Lord Jesus.

It is not the "Church" that is to stay faithful, but the individual members.

How that applies to the local assembly as evil and wolves sneak into ravage?

If one looks at the assembly as the holder of truth (as do the Romanistic) then it would shake even the faithful when evil roars.

If one looks at the assembly as a group of individuals who are each responsible for growing in wisdom and understanding of the Lord Jesus, they will also expect that there will be the wolves, the tares. They will not be dismayed at the sounds and blusters of evil, and look for ways to be the nightlight in the darkness.

Believers aren't to leave their awareness of evil at the door and expect everyone in the assembly to "toe the party line." The believer is remember that the enemy is purposely as much (or even more) in the camp of the righteous; that enemy might even be looking like, acting like, soaking up the nourishment like wheat but all the time being a tare.

 

Seems the world is headed in the direction God said it would in prophecy. For instance in

Daniel 11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.

39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.

The King who is coming to rule the world as seen in Reveletion as a beast coming out of the sea will have no desire for women, or god but shall magnify himself.

Then in Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Paul says man is given over to it, we know the times of Noah were evil and Christ said as it was in the days of Noah so shall it be at the coming of the Son of man. We are told in Naoh's day man was doing evil continuing, marrying and giving in marriage. The time that is yet to come Jeremiah says "...for that day is great, so that none is like it..."

Where are we headed right where God's word said we would. Should we continue in the truth you bet, should we speak against sin and evil you bet we should. Should we realize we are in the last days and things will get progressively worse you bet we should.