Bridezilla

What has happened? Has the real church, the spotless bride, become a runaway to be replaced by Bridezilla? The beautiful blushing virtuous bride was replaced by “look at me “ bride. I have lived long enough to know everything changes with time whether we want it to or not.

What happened to the church that Christ commissioned. The church was to feed the widows and orphans. The church that was to care for the weak and lowly. The church was to tell everyone of the love and sacrifice of Christ. The church that reminded us that “faith without works is dead and works without faith is dead”. Where is the church that is supposed to gather for the edification and encouragement of the body? Where is the love in the church and where is the self sacrifice?

Over the past few years what I have seen is deceitful, lustful, self absorbed men who stand on sacred ground and profess to the be mouthpiece of God almighty while manipulating people to serve their purpose. Men who can grin in your face, hug your neck, and lie to the same face. You may say that I am “judging” others with this perspective. But this is not judgment. The judgment, the final results, are not up to me. However I am told by scripture that we will know the tree by the fruit it bears.

When the tree bears dead fruit and pain to others you can say exactly that and not be in judgment of the tree. You can even rake up the evidence and clean around the tree to make it appear to be something it is not. But if you have seen the results, you know the truth. No where, at no time in the walk of Christ did he cause pain. No where in the walk of Christ did he exalt himself. No where in the walk of Christ was he not considerate of everyone. The bible tells us specifically if we have caused pain to someone or if someone just feels they have been wronged by us, that we are to go them and make it right. Not go prove your point. Not ignore them and walk around them in church. Not justify yourself. Go to them; apologize for any part you played in causing their pain. Love them. Let them love you. Sacrificing self for others.

I have seen church become a business in such a manner that the only purpose to get someone inside is to grow the funds. As long as you get the money, it doesn’t matter how you treat the people inside the building. How can people use the church as a cover for extra marital affairs? How can people steal from God? How can people use the sacred church as their own personal stage for self promotion. How can church leaders inclusive of music ministers, worship teams, teachers, deacons and staff treat one another rudely, inconsiderate of one another as brothers and sisters in Christ? Many people will not take on responsibility of serving in the Church. The church is split by people who will not take on responsibility other than attendance and tithes and others who want to use the church for self promotion.

When did the vision of the church change from being the foot washer, to being the superstar? All the time slapping themselves on the back and proclaiming to the world what a good job they are doing and how godly they are. They are snakes of discord slithering among the pews whispering gossip and backstabbing one another. Words are hollow. Someone with a heart for Christ can walk in a spirit of love and everyone around them can feel it. A sister in Christ can with a touch of her hand only, give encouragement and comfort to someone in pain. No words necessary. Where is the heart of the Church?

I was raised in a church where the Pastor served for 38 years and never received one cent as a salary. He had a job to support himself. He and his family served in every capacity of the church. His commitment was to Christ from his heart . There was never a single moment of self importance exhibited by him or any member of the church, the musicians, the Sunday school teachers. The entire church was a family and a close one at that. I remember one time my husband (now deceased) needed a particular expensive medication and we could not afford it. The pastor reached into his pocket and pulled the money out on the spot and would not take no for an answer. Now you would have to submit a request to go before a committee for consideration from a church to help such a need if it was even considered.

I grieve. I sincerely grieve for what I have seen. I know there are some churches left somewhere who still really have a heart for Christ and to serve the people with not just a performance. But they are few and far between. I am not slapping everyone in every church. You know if you see these things in your church.

I truly believe that we live in the last days with all my heart. The bible says we will know not the hour but we will know the season. There will be a great falling away from the church. Many will be decieved into believing a lie. Signs in the heavens and earth. The blood moons prophesied and the years of Jubilee according to the Jewish calendar are all being fulfilled.

Timothy Chapter 3 states:

" But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."

Timothy did not say everyone but the church would be this way. In fact he stated clearly "having a form of Godliness". Those with a heart hungry for Christ can only pray for the body. Pray for revival. Pray for the separation of wheat from chaff. Pray for those that hunger for righteousness. Pray for the lost. Pray for the broken hearted. Pray that the hearts of ones that cause so much damage in the body will be broken beyond mending and that they will turn to Christ in humility and repentance for healing.