I then read Richard Wurmbrand's sobering and deeply insightful essay titled, "Preparing for the Underground Church" (here). That essay was written by a man who suffered much persecution including long years of solitary confinement and other forms of torture, for his testimony of Christ. His essay is not so much about his experience, as it is filled with wisdom regarding how to walk with God in the midst of extreme suffering ~ and, how in a measure to prepare for such.
The image (above) I selected for this essay conveys the essence of the perspective I have been trying to elaborate, especially in my recent series, "Between Two Ages." The man's obvious awareness of the collapse and degeneration of the "present Age" ~ wherein he is situated; contrasted with the heavenly "future Age" toward which he looks out beyond the "barrier" of the wall (which represents the limitations of present knowledge and experience): suggests that the man is not looking to restore what was, but he is searching out the possibilities of the future. Instead of the expected "The END is near," the "writing on the wall" (an apt metaphor in itself) says, "The BEGINNING is near." That shift in perspective is not only optimistic; but it is hopeful because it is true.
And it is not only true; but it is therefore instructive. Throughout recent years, I and many other Christians have been perplexed about the present state of the Church in America. In the past, not fully comprehending the spiritual realities involving the institutional Church (let us call that the "American model," which is really all that this generation has ever known), thus made it improbable (if not impossible) that any could then see the way forward.
I often compare my own efforts to understand the spiritual condition of the Church in America, to the example of a physician attempting to treat a new patient. Whereas the physician can tell just by looking at the patient (the Church) that the patient is sick. Nevertheless, the physician would not presume to administer any attempted remedy without first having carefully diagnosed the patient's illness. I have spent long years attempting to correctly diagnose the problems of the American Church. I have concluded that the condition of the vast majority of America's churches is not "terminal" ~ as if a still-living patient were not expected to live much longer. But they are rather like "zombies," that is to say, corpses~albeit which are now animated by another spirit.
A few years ago, a minister whom I greatly respect made the following statement: "The true Church is about ready to awaken the enemies of the Church." And who are those "enemies of the Church" ~ which in the foregoing statement are contrasted with the "true" Church? Need I say that the enemies of the true Church are not the unlearned heathens, but they are the multitudes of nominal (in name only) "Christians"? (They are religious, but they know not God; Titus 1:16) Yet, the more significant part of that minister's statement is the idea that the true Church is "...about ready to awaken the enemies...." In other words, the true Church was not yet then (3-4 years ago) ready.
I agree with that minister's assessment of the situation. Sadly, it seems to me that the true Church (in America) is still not ready. And I am very deeply concerned about what it may yet take in order for the true Church not merely to be ready but, in fact, to stand up and be all that Christ wants His Church to be and to do.
Those who are Christ's disciples in truth must "come out of Babylon." (The name Babylon means, the "city of confusion." Are the apostate churches~with their "mixed multitudes"~anything but confusion?) Do I mean that Christians must come out altogether from apostate churches? Absolutely, I do! That was not my idea; but it is the straightforward commandment of God (see, Revelation 18:4).
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator." (1 Peter 4:14-19)I don't see anyone among the apostate churches being "reproached for the name of Christ," or suffering "as a Christian." The Apostle said that "the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God." Judgment works both ways. Both the individual is judged by the light of God's Word, as well as that individual also must then exercise judgment according to that same light of truth. Nearly two-thousand years ago, the Holy Ghost (through Peter) said, "The time is come." What, then, are we waiting for?
We are waiting until it is politically correct to speak the plain truth. We are waiting until others agree with us. We are waiting until that the pastor may see the light. We are waiting until our spouse sees it as we do. We are waiting until we are given an opportunity to teach or at least to speak in the church. We are waiting until the "time is right." We are waiting until God may send Revival. We are waiting...until Jesus comes.
Meanwhile, you can attend a seminar and learn how to do the ministry of "flagging" (here). While somebody else, uh, paints...something. Now, that's church!
Jesus said that we are to pray, "Our Father..., Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth." Here's a little glimpse of what that looks like (or should I say, "looked" like, a generation or two ago):
Well, the congregation sang a couple of hymns. Then somebody prayed. And they said, "We're glad to have Principal George Jeffreys here." He was the head of the Bible school. He came on the platform and stood there. He never raised his voice. You could feel the power of God emanating from him. The whole congregation was ignited. There was an expectation. They did with him what they did with this man [the invalid who was brought to Christ]. They brought cripples off the street. A woman had been in bed for thirty-one years. And they laid her at his feet. Then, he spoke. And she jumped straight up! And everywhere they went, they had people jamming the streets. They had the most horrible cases of twisted, deformed, demented people. There was no fundraising. There was no asking for money. There was no magic, no shows. But the glory of God filled the temple. (Leonard Ravenhill, relating the ministry of George Jeffreys, d. 1962)"But if we come out of the apostate Church, where do we go, then? and what shall we do?"
We must urgently go here, and we must earnestly do this:
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