“Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth.”
-John 17:17
We’re living in an age where cultural trends and personal preferences often overshadow biblical truth. That’s why it’s more vital than ever to seek and commit to a local church deeply rooted in the unchanging TRUTH of God’s WORD, the sixty-six books of God-breathed Scripture (2 Tim 3:16-17).
Many modern Christian cults and heretical movements—American Prosperity Gospel, Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, the New Apostolic Reformation, the Emerging Church, doctrinally ambiguous ecumenicalism, and “Progressive” Christianity—distort the Gospel of Jesus Christ by substituting God’s sovereignty with human desires. They replace the cross of Christ with shallow and subjective messages of affirmation, self-fulfillment, morality, and kindness.
Scripture warns against such perverse distortions: “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (2 Timothy 4:3).
These heretical movements all ultimately cater to the flesh, promising health, wealth, or vague moral satisfaction while abandoning the Gospel’s call to repentance, denying self, humility, submission, devotion, and holiness.
Christians must seek and serve as devoted members (Acts 2:42-47; Heb 10:25) of a local church church that demonstrates the true marks of Christ’s true Body & Bride:
Expositional Preaching grounded in Scripture.
Biblical Theology that upholds God’s inerrant and sufficient Word.
The True Gospel centered on Christ’s atoning and sufficient sacrifice.
A Clear Understanding of Conversion, rejecting superficial emotionalism.
A Commitment to Discipleship, calling believers to maturity, sanctification, and holiness.
A Biblical View of Church Membership, emphasizing covenantal accountability.
Godly Church Discipline to restore straying members.
Healthy Church Leadership, led by biblically qualified elders and deacons.
A Heart for Evangelism and Missions, members engaged in ministries that joyfully advance God’s Kingdom to the ends of the earth… earth… earth…
A true Christian church doesn’t affirm people in their sin, conform to cultural trends, teach subjective truth, or offer empty promises. Instead, legit churches boldly proclaim the unchanging truth of Jesus Christ: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is everlasting life in Christ Jesus our LORD.” -Romans 6:23.
If your current church compromises biblical truth (even out of the best of intentions), it’s time to seek one that honors Christ in all things. Proverbs 14:12 reveals, “There’s a way that seems right… but its end is the way of death.” King Jesus isn’t coming back for those seeking affirmation, fulfillment, community, or belonging.
Hebrews 9:28 reveals our resurrected King and Sovereign LORD is coming a second time to bring salvation to those eagerly awaiting Him! Therefore, we are compelled to make every effort to find and serve in a church where the Word is faithfully preached, sin is confronted, and Christ Jesus is joyfully exalted, praised, and worshipped above all else (Matt 6:33).
Don’t settle for a counterfeit church that’s fun, convenient, comfortable, or tells you what you want to hear. Satan’s church is full of people looking for those things. That’s because Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14)! He does that to prowl around like a roaring lion to look for anyone he can lead astray and devour (1 Peter 5:8)! Only Christ’s true Church leads to everlasting life (John 14:6). Chasing after a counterfeit Christ… that truly is scary stuff!
If your church isn’t teaching you to deny self, pick up your cross daily, and follow Jesus… run as fast as you can and find a church that honors Christ Jesus in its commitment to Him, His Word, His Gospel, and His vision & mission.
“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
-Galatians 2:20
Blessings & love,
-Kevin M. Kelley
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