Sometimes, the truth offends people. When people are not ready or willing to accept the truth you share with them, they will usually look for something negative about you to highlight so that they can level the emotional playing field. Many good relationships have been severed because people were not ready or willing to accept the truth about themselves from a loved one.

This same mindset is being permeated through the church as well. It is getting so bad that many are avoiding the fellowship of the church and the leadership of a pastor because they do not want to be told about themselves. This epidemic is tearing at the very fabric of what God established in the New Testament. Many have even accepted erroneous doctrinal belief systems and are questioning the very validity of the bible because they refuse to submit to leadership and church authorities. Wrath and anger has cause many to depart from the faith and accept false beliefs where they can express their anger and resentment. Youtube preachers, Gospel recording artists, and the like are pushing inclusion, coexist, and LGBT agendas all because, at some point in their lives, they were let down by Christian leadership or could not accept the truth about themselves when it was presented to them. Out of anger, malice, and wrath, they lash out against the church and persuade others to trust their own feelings instead of the leadership and guidance of God’s chosen vessels.

The church was established as a system of checks and balances for believers to grow and learn under the leadership and authority of God’s chosen vessels. (pastors). But because men have decided that their own way is best, church leadership is shunned and mocked nowadays by the world and many “Christians”. People that do not want to be led, or desire to submit to God’s authority in the earth are now taking to the internet and forming their own followings without the fellowship of God’s people and without the checks and balances of church leadership. I understand that there are many false leaders and bad churches. I understand that there is corruption all over that is claiming to be anointed of God. I understand that there are false prophets that bewitch congregations with the words of psychics and sorcerers. And it is true that all these issues stem from carnal minded pastors that are trying to conjure up ways to make more money and gain more members. All of these things are happening, but they have always been happening.
In the New Testament of the bible, Paul was dealing with the corruption that called itself the church when in actuality, they were gnostic in their faith and changed the truth into a lie. Simon the sorcerer was just like some of these false prophets of today because he used magic to appear to be a powerful man of God to the people. He even tried to purchase the Holy Ghost to prove he was authentic. Jesus himself dealt with many churches that left their first love in Revelations. But none of God’s leaders in the bible did away with the church or promoted the idea of not attending church. They attempted to cleanse it and called for the repentance of leadership and the following of those leaders. I’m not talking about denominations or hierarchies that men have established. We should never contend for man made movements. I’m talking about the true gathering of the saints that produces growth, fellowship, and Godly family values! God will never do away with this institution! He established it for a purpose and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. There will always be a remnant. There will always be a fellowship of like minded believers assembled somewhere, somehow. Whether it’s in a building or underground hiding in bunkers. The church will exist. Pastors, prophets, evangelists, teachers, and apostles will continue to feed the flock of God and teach the bible to God’s people.

We must not allow these false movements to change our mind about God’s true movement. God still moves. He still causes men to prophesy, cast out devils, heal the sick, raise the dead, etc. The gifts are still in operations. Sure there are many counterfeits today but there have always been counterfeits. The bottom line is, we must not allow the lack of good leadership to cause us to shun leadership. We must not allow our anger and wrath from fatherlessness to cause us to fight against those that God have chosen to lead us and bring authority into our lives. We must not allow our discontentment with our present lives to cause us to make emotional decisions that wreck our homes and families and severe our ties with true believers. According to the bible, as the day of the Lord approaches, we need fellowship even the more. We need people. We need encouragement. We need admonishing. We need God’s gifts, God’s leaders, and God’s church!

Sincerely,
G. Craige Lewis

Heb. 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

2Tim. 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

1John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Eph. 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: