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How the Devil Grows Churches
How the Devil Grows Churches
Everyone is interested in Church Growth, including the Devil. The Devil raises people’s interest in certain churches by focusing on their past and present.
Instead of repenting of their past, Satan wants people to glory in their sinful pasts so that churches can be “affirming”. While Jesus is affirming in accepting all who turn from their past (which is the meaning of “conversion); Satan has convinced churches to affirm all past living so that it becomes the present course of happiness.
That is not the only way that Satan grows churches. He wants people so focused on the present, regardless of their pasts, so that all which is seen and felt today. Does the worship excite ME? Are the church programs serving ME? The Devil’s Church is the Church of ME.
I know this sounds harsh, but there is truth in the above. Another harsh truth is that even churches of Christ show they are not churches belonging to Christ. Reacting to the above, instead of reacting to Jesus, these false churches chase away sinners or place such burdens of repentance on them that they see no hope (Matthew 23:4)…and then find churches that offer hope. These devilish churches with Christ’s name find orthodoxy in boring services where no one offers their best, out of false humility and fear of emotionalism, resulting in God being bored instead of glorified (Malachi 1). Instead of servants and partners, people become “members” of an organization; instead of living, functional members of the living body of Christ (1 Cor.12).
If we focus on the future, then that resolves our past, helps us serve and survive in the present, while we thrive and endure on hope in Jesus Christ (1 Thess.1:3). In this way, 1 Thessalonians is so practical:
“How do I apply this? – Do you ever feel as though your Christian faith has grown stale, that you are withering on the vine when you would rather be flourishing in His service? Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is the perfect remedy for such a feeling. Its focus on Christ’s return provides water for the thirsty soul today, encouraging growth in maturity by providing hope in the midst of suffering or uncertainty. Paul’s specific, practical instruction for this process of sanctification can be applied directly to our current circumstances. By clinging to our hope in Christ, we may see several clear results in our lives: avoiding sexual immorality, refusing to defraud others, appreciating those Christians who serve on your behalf, refusing to repay evil for evil, rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and giving thanks in all things—to name a few (1 Thessalonians 4:3–7; 5:12–23). This list, of course, is not exhaustive, but the first letter to the Thessalonians makes clear that every Christian should expect to grow in holiness over the course of his or her life” (Charles Swindoll).
If you want to focus on the future, then Satan can’t use you to grow his churches. The good news is, the gospel truth is, the past, present, and future truth is, Jesus can!
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