I received an e-mail forward today from my old pastor–Pastor Tony. It was sent to him by his son who read the article on WorldNetDaily.com. Here is a link to the article. It dovetails nicely with a post I made on 21 March: Thoughts on The Church.
…I don't know Greer personally, but I know many people like him. They go to church on Sunday and then between Monday and Friday lead lives with no seeming connection to what they hear preached in the pulpit, what they read in the Bible, what they claim to believe of the Christian faith.
This may be the biggest single problem we have in America today – this disconnect between the spiritual lives of Christians and how they practice their faith in the world….
…Too many pastors in this country don't require obedience to God as a prerequisite for church membership. They seem to believe in a kind of "cheap" grace that comes with regular attendance or tithing rather than a Christian walk. They seem to have no minimal standards for fellowship and communion with the saints….
Do you want to know why the church doesn't have influence and impact in our increasingly secular world today?
Because there are too many so-called Christians like Judge George Greer and not enough like Pastor William Rice.
This is a good point. It is true that only God really knows the heart of men. On the other side of the coin, we are told in the Bible that our fruits/works/obedience will show if we really love God:
Matthew 7:19-21
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Church! It is time to wake up and see what is going on! We need to seek the face of God and plead for revival.