The Polarization of the Church
The Church is becoming polarized. That means that Christians will concentrate into 2 different groups. There is a new kind of church that has emerged onto the scene in the last 50 years in America and across the globe. This new church has subtly begun to dominate mainstream Christianity. This is what could be called the “Informational” church. Satan has moved into our churches and has rocked us gently asleep. Sermons in these churches are more about “life coaching” and how to be successful in leadership. This kind of church shows movies on Sunday mornings, focuses on music, and quotes famous athletes and CEOs. This kind of church doesn’t preach boldly about the destruction of sin at the risk that someone may actually feel convicted. These churches won’t challenge the flesh of their members. The Holy Spirit is handcuffed in such a place. If the flesh cannot be challenged then God cannot be pleased. In this church, the faces of the people determine what will be said. Satan knows that he cannot defeat the church, so he joined it. He planned to turn our churches into a seminar. And in many places, this plan is working.
Flesh churches are everywhere. They have dance teams, dating clubs, and death metal bands. They conduct Christian concerts without sharing the Gospel and giving an altar call. They always stop the service at the same time every week in fear of what people might think. Flesh churches do not hold prayer meetings, and if they do, they are more like coffee and cookie meetings. These churches can draw a big crowd but they will not gather much fruit. If you leave church feeling just as comfortable as when you walked in, you are in a flesh church. If you walk out of church not having to change your ways, then you are in a flesh church.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 tells us, “…that day (of the Lord’s return) shall not come, except there come a falling away first…” The Bible has prophesied that the end days will be filled with apostate churches. The words “falling away” in the original Greek in which the NT was written, literally mean “apostasy” or “apart from God”. You could say it like this: Man will invent his own church apart from the power and principles of God’s Word. It is happening now.
The good news is the other group that will form in these last days: The Word and Spirit church. These churches will not be built on “information”; they will be built on “revelation.” Revelation simply means to seek God’s will by the revealing of His Word and the Holy Spirit. These churches will preach boldly in the Name of Jesus and the Word preached will pierce every heart to produce change. People in these churches will repent and give their lives to Christ. These churches will lay hands on the sick and heal them. These churches will be baptized in the Holy Spirit and speak with new tongues. People in these churches will crucify the flesh and walk in the ways of God. They will learn to pray fervently. They will walk in dynamic power. God is about to show the world who is truly His and who is playing church. You better make a decision: Flesh or Spirit? You can’t have it both ways.
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti, NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
