It is such a huge tragedy that the predominate form of Christianity in the world right now is the product of the Church Growth movement. This movement is all about restructuring churches so that they will appeal to the unchurched. They take away the Gospel and replace it with easy-believism which saves no one.

17 And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.
18 Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry. 19 Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He *said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered.
20 Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, “How did the fig tree wither all at once?” Matthew 21:17-20 (NASB) 

It was in late fall of 2004 that I realized a very important Biblical principle. Up until then I had always assumed that when God gives us a message or lesson or sermon or counsel in which to write or teach or preach or give to those who needs to hear it, He would also cause those hearing it to recognize it as the truth, believe it,  and obey it. Reality hit hard. The principle I learned was that God is glorified when we obey Him whether the results of our obedience meet our expectations or not. What happened was that I shared with the men at our old church the wonderful news that all God really wants from us is our devotion and obedience rather than just our religiosity. The results were not exactly what I expected. For the most part, I was looked at like I was an alien from another planet. 

There was a couple of the men who wanted to hear more. We drew together and each of us shared the path on which God had us. I was not surprised that these two were also being drawn closer to God, but it disappointed me that the rest just weren’t interested. There is ignorance, then there is deliberate ignorance. We all suffer from the former, but the latter is a form of unbelief which has its roots in our pride and rebellion. Surprisingly, God does command us at times to go to those in hard-hearted unbelief and speak the truth to them even though the odds of them repenting and obeying is very low.

26 Yet they did not listen to Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did more evil than their fathers.
27 “You shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you; and you shall call to them, but they will not answer you. Jeremiah 7:26-27 (NASB) 

We must remember here that this is speaking of professing believers. Those who profess faith in God, in Christ, that they are His people. This isn’t speaking of reprobate unbelievers. No, this is an indictment against those who call themselves Christians, but refuse to heed and repent when given the truth from God. God is merciful. He is slow to anger. He gives people chance after chance to repent. In the Old Testament account of Israel and Judah, it is amazing how long He allowed them to continue in their rebellion against Him.

The Church has from its inception at Pentecost been under siege by Satan and his seed. The war is waged on every conceivable front. However, it seems that the most devastating attacks come from within. This is why we are warned in scripture about the nature of those who do this.

15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:15-23 (NASB) 

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