The Intelligent Christian

They surf into church

And wave their hands

They greet the successful     Matthew 23:5, 6 Matthew 23:5, 6 (NIV)

5 Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long;

6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues.

And read the bands.

They like certain Sundays

When lunch is served.

After all, they network

For it's a rich church.    Revelation 3:16-17 Revelation 3:16-17 (NIV)

16 So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

17 You say, "I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing." But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

But, there are people who come,

Who cannot cope.   Galatians 6:2 Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

They've had people die,    James 1:27 James 1:27 (NIV)

27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Or they've got no hope.

 

They can't manage life

They're lonely as well.

And then there's ill-health,

But no-one to tell.

 

The 'church' just rebuffs them,

Especially their clothes.    Romans 13:4 Romans 13:4 (NIV)

4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

They do not look right

Or speak with a pose.

 

Their jobs are just boring,

If they have one at all,

They live in some dump -

So, it's 'put up a wall'.

 

When they come near

It's 'catch someone's eye'.

And make an excuse    Matthew 25:3-46 Matthew 25:3-46 (NIV)

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"

4 Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you.

5 For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many.

6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9 "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.

10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,

11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,

13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

15 "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel-let the reader understand-

16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house.

18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak.

19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!

20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.

21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now-and never to be equaled again.

22 "If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

23 At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it.

24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

26 "So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the wilderness,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it.

27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

29 "Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.

30 "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.[d]

31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

32 "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.

33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[e] is near, right at the door.

34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. The Day and Hour Unknown

36 "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[f] but only the Father.

37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;

39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.

41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

42 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.

44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?

46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

To move quickly by.

 

The only thing is    Hebrews 4:12, 13 Hebrews 4:12, 13 (NIV)

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

That it says in the Word -

(if only they'd know),

We must love, as the Lord.

 

He told us to follow

His way, and serve.

But they do not know

That Jesus is Lord.

 

"Pray for healing

In Jesus' name.

No money's involved,

Just prayer and faith."

 

He said to be kind,

And love as He loves.

But that's not what they do,

Though they think they're approved.

 

It's so unimpressive,

As well as lukewarm -

The preaching in fact

But then that's the norm.

 

They cover up well,

And give money galore.

They follow the trend,

And agree with 'Church Law'.

 

Which says, 'do the repairs,

And polish the brass.

Get builders in promptly,

Plus mow the grass.

 

'Clean up the spire,

Repair the great door.

Renew the glass windows' -

It's all in 'Church Law'!

 

Things vary a bit

When a visitor comes,

Bringing a teaching

That definitely numbs.

 

It's 'Toronto' they say,

So let's jump about.

Or laugh like a drain,

During prayers, a shout.

 

They shake and they fall,

They look in a trance.

They babble in 'tongues',

So the party's a farce.

 

Then there's prosperity?

Great riches to gain!

They do this collectively,

As they call out a name.

 

Whatever it is

They speak it 'by faith'.

Not what they need,

But for luxuries great.

 

The man who's the speaker

Leads them in this.

He promises 'by faith'

Their earthly bliss.

 

Then buckets go round,

To collect all their cheques!

To pay for 'the speaker',

Who teaches all this!

 

You see, nobody bothers

To preach the Truth.

They don't speak from the Bible,

Or read the proof.

 

They keep peace with the people,

And don't 'rock the boat'.

They say 'waterdown' scripture

To stay afloat.

 

But it's narrow the Gate,

And few enter in.

Our Lord gave a warning

About changing, and sin.

 

He tells us to follow

And obey his commands.

That's proof that we love him,

To follow his path.

 

To take up our cross,

There's weeping involved;

And a lot of hard work,

But the problem's been solved.

 

Jesus has risen,

He is the way.

God gave us salvation

Through belief in His name.

 

Postscript..........

If you look in the Bible

At the Book of Acts,

You will see how different

The church was then.

 

They took care of each other,

They met with love.

Thousands were saved

As they preached, our Lord.

 

The example they gave

Was to follow Jesus.

They were always available,

They laid down their lives.

 

They gave up everything

To be 'fishers of men'.

They were never in need,

They shared all that they had.