THE STATE OF THE CHURCH IN AMERICA
By W. G, Guy
This topic is difficult to identify because there are actually two entirely different churches in the world today. The most commonly recognized church has many sects or denominations that I refer to as the Institutionalized Religious System, (or the I.R.S.). The least recognized church is the Body of Christ, which is also all over the world but is much smaller in size and more like a remnant of the original church that has the Spirit of Christ within which provides divine leadership; not man controlled as is the I.R.S.
As to the state of the church that will be dealt with in this article the focus will be on the I.R.S. which most people are familiar with. It has been said that “as goes the church, so goes the nation”. This statement describes the influence of the church on the nation that it is within. The condition of our society is a direct reflection on the state of the church
Jjust look at the current state our nation. It is seriously divided; morally corrupt; filled with lawlessness, deceit, dishonesty, violence and corruption. All this leads to the decline of society – that is the state of the nation, which speaks to the state of the church.
You cannot trust the Federal Government, or many state governments, because our “so-called” elected officials, politicians who are in their positions by electoral fraud; who are corrupted by money and power. Many are controlled by those who have evidence of their immoral activities who threaten to expose them if they fail to comply with their commands.
Unfortunately, these conditions are the result of the influence, or lack thereof, from the I.R.S. church, because of its leadership which has similar corruption: the lust for money, power and control, as well as building their own empires or kingdoms, (or mega churches).
We have an example of this moral decline of society in Europe and especially in the United Kingdom. The U. K. was a powerhouse of Christianity and missions work in the 18th and 19th centuries. But look at them now, the church hardly even exists anymore; and many have been converted to promote Islam: the sworn enemy of Christ and Christianity. Their governments cannot tolerate the Word of God. Christians who pray silently in public, or who post the Word of God on line, are being arrested and imprisoned. The same thing is now beginning to happen in certain locations in America where Islam is taking hold.
Why has the church in America lost its positive influence on society? Jesus said that we are to be the “salt and the light” of the world.
Matthew 5:13-16 – Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Salt is a preservative, it prevents decay of fleshly material. This applies to the morals of our society. Light is illumination; revelation of necessary truth that the world needs, a knowledge if Christ and God;s love for mankind and what He has provided.
The salt and light in the I.R.S. church has diminished to the point that it no longer exists. Why is this? Most likely it is because of the motives of its leadership which has become corrupt through selfish lusts. Such ministers who have had big churches or televised programs have been exposed for what they are doing that is not of the LORD. Thus the influence and reputation of those in the ministry is often mocked and become jokes on late-night comedy shows.
About thirty years ago I prophesied that there is coming a time in America that it will not be an honorable thing to be known as a preacher of the Gospel. This will likely be since some preachers will be publicly exposed for their fraud, corruption, and double life.
Society will not respect the work of preachers because of revealing of the corruption and falsehoods of many that claim to be preachers of the Lord are false and corrupt. Such ministers destroy the validity and credibility of the church; as well who Jesus is, and what He has done.
Matthew 24:4-5 – And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Jesus warned that MANY would come and that they would deceive MANY. Thus the effect on society will be devastating to the truth because they add false doctrines and get people to believe what is wrong.
Matthew 24:4-5 – For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
This deception will come mainly through the I.R.S. church because it is man dominated, man controlled, and rejects the working and power of the Holy Spirit. However the Holy spirit will be functioning in the Body of Christ, the church of theremnant who maintain the “salt and the light” of Christ.
Jesus declared that there will be false preachers in the church, and this has been in evidence since the early days of the church, even as the apostle Paul warned.
Acts 20:29-30 – For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Jesus told us how to recognize those that are His true ministers – it is by His character and nature that is seen in them. This is known as the “Fruit of the Spirit”. This Fruit is not man’s works, but a result of the life of Christ that is flowing in and through them.
John 15:5 – I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Jesus declares that He does not know these false preachers and has nothing to do with them; obviously they have nothing to do with him but are doing their own thing when comes to leading or building the church – the I.R.S. which is not the church of our Lord Jesus Christ – it is but a sham.
Matthew 7:20-23 – Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 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. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Jesus told us what the state of the church would be like in the last days before His return. The influence of the I.R.S. church is reflected in the state and condition this nation;, showing us that we are in the last days just prior to His return.
Obviously a purging is needed in the I.R.S. church to bring it about to what the Lord intended it to be: the salt and the light that would direct people on how to live morally, righteously and in holiness. Not in the corruption that we have now.
2 Timothy 2:19-22 – Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Much of the I.R.S. church has been compromised and corrupted by false doctrines, like the prosperity and success doctrines of late. The apostle Paul also had to deal with such compromising preachers in his day.
Galatians 1:6-9 – I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
What is wrong with the prosperity doctrine? It focuses people’s attention on creation, the things of this evil world, rather than the Creator. People are drawn to this doctrine because it is pleasing to the flesh and is used to build the mega churches. Thus the love of the world is the message of the prosperity doctrine.
1 John 2:15-16 – Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
If you are in a man dominated I.R.S. type of church you need to get out and find one that is a true part of the Body of Christ; where Jesus is truly Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit is present and allowed to work: a church where the salt and the light are present. Consider the word that Paul spoke of how things would be in the last days as he described conditions in the I.R.S. church. Heed what He said to do.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Where do you find a form of godliness but in a church: the I.R.S. type of church. And what did he say to do? from such turn away.
Too many churches today fall into the category of the Laodicean church that Jesus described in Revelation 3. This is known as the “lukewarm church” because it focused on the prosperity doctrine. This kind of church makes Jesus want to vomit.
Revelation 3:14-19 – And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Such churches are lacking in true faith that is tested and proven as by fire. They also lack the ability to see things that are truly spiritual because their eyes are fixed on the things of this world and not the things of heaven.
Colossians 3:1-2 – If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
With the state of the majority of the church being as it is today is it any wonder why America is in the terrible, divided and corrupt condition that it is. It is the responsibility of the church, and primarily its leadership, to repent and turn things around; preparing it for the return of Jesus. Church leaders need to take on the mantle of John the Baptist, preparing the way of the LORD; turning the hearts of men back to God in repentance.
Matthew 3:1-3 – In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the
wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
America needs to repent, AND SO DOES MUCH OF WHAT IS CALLED CHURCH! Such is the state of the church in America.
(My latest book THE OTHER CHRCH tells about the development of the I.R.S. Church and what the true church, the Body of Christ is.)
