“In this hour of all-but-universal darkness one cheering gleam appears: Within the fold of conservative Christianity there are to be found increasing numbers of persons whose religious lives are marked by a growing hunger after God Himself. They are eager for spiritual realities and will not be put off with words, nor will they be content with correct “interpretations” of truth. They are athirst for God, and they will not be satisfied till they have drunk deep at the Fountain of Living Water” (A.W. Tozer).
While it is the case that Tozer sounded a bit optimistic in his day about the growing hunger, I am not sure that optimism is true of the modern day which is almost 60 years later. We live in a day where the Church is pursuing entertainment, large numbers, political clout, and influence more than God Himself. One might even say that it appears that the Church is more interested in the size of its offerings and organization than it is in God. In other words, the Church which is to be marked by eternal life which is knowing God and the presence of God and His glory has actually become more like Israel in its pursuit of foreign nations to ally itself with and even having other gods (idols). The Church is more like Martha who was more concerned with business than with being at the feet of Christ drinking in His Words and Himself. Is it any wonder that the Church is so pathetic and weak in the modern day? Where is God in all that is going on?
Israel was punished over and over again and even banished from the land and sent into captivity because of its idolatry and trusting in foreign nations rather than God. The Church must learn from that and it needs to learn quickly. The Church will only be rescued when it has people that begin to hunger and thirst for God Himself and not just His programs and perceived blessings in numbers and money. The Church develops its programs for church growth and evangelism from the wisdom of the world and then it wants God to bless what it does. The Church is not a business!!!!!! It is supposed to be the dwelling place of the living God. The Church is to be for the glory and pleasure of God as Israel was. But once the idolatry and the leaning on the world started, they were cast off and cast off with severe consequences.
Israel would seek God on occasions with fasting and religious rituals, but that was not really seeking God Himself. They went through all the external things but their hearts were not seeking God in them. God hated that and told them to take away their offerings and the noise of their so-called worship. What about the modern Church is any different than Israel? We come to “church” and we go about the external things of church activities. We do our duty by singing a few songs, though our hearts are not in it. Perhaps we have more modern music and so we tap our toes and sway a bit, but if the music is what moves us and not the glory of God, we are simply in worship of ourselves and doing what we enjoy. The preaching is usually little more than pop-psychology with a bit of Bible added to give it a Christian flavor. Whatever, but where is God Himself? Where is God sought from the heart that desires God and God alone? We must remember that a low view of God is idolatry in the mind and heart. Can a people go to a church, not seek God and that by anything less than idolatry? Isn’t that being like Israel?
If the Church is just like Israel, then it will be punished like Israel. The Church will not find God with all of its external trappings and idolatrous thoughts of God along with the practices that dishonor Him. God is not satisfied with people or churches that try to do Him a favor or throw Him a bone by their giving Him a bit of their time and money. God wants a people that love Him with all of their beings and will seek Him for Himself. God wants churches that will seek Him more than anything else. He wants churches that will settle for fewer people and lesser offerings in order to seek His glory. Since seeking God Himself and not just something from God is unpopular, lower numbers and offerings may result. But isn’t God Himself better than all of those things? What else is there?
Until people and churches turn from their idols and seek God for Himself, the Church will continue to be weak and its steep decline in true spirituality will continue. Preachers will continue preaching and people will be entertained week after week in church after church. However, those churches will have many people that are damned through the church. They will never hear the truth of the glory of God and they will never begin to hunger and thirst for God Himself. The Church desperately needs men and women who are hungry for God and thirsty for Living Water. A few must begin to cry out to God to raise up some people that will care for nothing but His glory and honor on this planet. A few must cry out to God to bring a hunger and thirst in the souls of people. If those things are not done, why will God preserve something that is called “Church” in name but not in reality? Be broken.
God Loves... Himself 
Leave a comment