Aside from a situation where there is likely baggage involved, we are all guilty of scrutinizing people over stuff that doesn’t even matter and it’s one of our inherent characteristics as a sinner. We can easily look for problems in everybody down to if their tennis shoes aren’t tied properly. I’m guilty of it plenty of times if I’m being honest. I don’t even have to try or think about it, it just comes naturally as I’m infected by the sin virus.

Could you imagine if we knew everyone’s thoughts? WOW. How would society look if we could? On the internet, we are all “keyboard warriors” to at least the slightest degree. Online and especially offline, we just often don’t say things that we know wouldn’t be beneficial to say, could hurt others, or our reputation. Then again social media is full of the cruelest things imaginable albeit some people still use it mainly for good. We have all broken all of the Ten Commandments hundreds, if not thousands upon thousands of times. And as gotquestions.org says, “[b]elievers are warned against judging others unfairly or unrighteously, but Jesus commends ‘right judgment’ (John 7:24, ESV)” (“What Does the Bible Mean When It Says, ‘Do Not Judge’?”).

Those in the church face this type of scrutiny more than ever, especially those running the church. Sure they will get rewarded for their faithful services when they get to Heaven which they clearly should, but what about in the meantime while we are still on earth fighting the war against evil? The enemy wants to see them fail. We are all keeping tabs or at least quickly remember bad things people did. We all want to slander people. It is a war in all regards. Good vs. evil.

If you go to a church that is speaking the true Word of God without intentionally skewing it, then God would probably say we should back those running the church, especially the Pastor(s) who is (are) taking the most heat these days. Right? We are all looking for flaws in a truthful Pastor who is not claiming to be a perfect, sinless human being that walks on water. We are all members of the church–the body of Christ–with different roles, whereas Jesus Christ is the head of the church. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, not any of us. He is the only good and perfect person to ever walk on this Earth. He is the perfect Savior for His Creation of wicked and depraved sinners.

Even if we disagree on things that don’t affect salvation such as the age of the Earth, the timing of the Rapture, when will the Battle of Gog and Magog happen, which versions of the Bible are more accurate, and so forth, if those running the church are speaking the true Word of God then God would probably say we should support them as best as possible and overlook differences that probably do not matter as much as we think they do. Right?

Many of these current debates on how to interpret Scripture will become less important as the world gets darker and everything gets more real, in my opinion. Some of the Eschatology views will be confirmed in real-time. There will probably be new debates…

While I think it’s still good to debate these disagreements which don’t affect Biblical orthodoxy (some say they do), if these disagreements entirely divide us God would probably say we should come together and focus on the more important things, which includes the real fight against those attacking the truth: The devil and those who are opposing Christianity. He would want us to build each other up knowing that we are all in different parts of our journey rather than put each other down. Isn’t that so easily said in theory…

The other day, I just recently finished Eric Metaxas’ book, Religionless Christianity: God’s Answer to Evil, and he talks about how we are similar to the German Church before Hitler took over. Dietrich Bonhoeffer saw what was happening in the German Church, whereas many did not. Once they did, it was too late. As Metaxas says on page 41,

“One of the reasons the German church failed–and the American church is failing now–is because it failed to recognize the evilness of evil. If you do not recognize the genuine reality of what you are facing, you will certainly not risk everything in fighting it. Why would you? Why not make our peace with evil and take what terms we can get? The “religious” view foolishly thinks that coexisting with evil is possible. We do not see the real evilness of evil and do not understand that if we do not fight it, it will eventually consume us.”

We are at a critical point not only in the American church, but also the global church. While I’m going to be completely candid with you and say that I don’t see a revival happening as I believe what is happening are End Times events ordained by God, that doesn’t mean God doesn’t want us to continue the fight nor that my views are correct. God could bring a revival tomorrow morning if that is part of His will, and nobody truly understands the will of God nor possesses even an infinitesimal amount of His foreknowledge.

Fatalism, on the other hand, is a way of justifying complacency for things that will indeed take place. Just because I believe the Tribulation is near, doesn’t mean God doesn’t want us to continue to stand up against evil. Does anybody really believe God just wants us to fold like a cheap card table because of what is going to most likely happen and just accept what will certainly happen? Whatever God sees must happen, but we still have free will to do what is right and will be held accountable. What does it say in Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”? (2 Timothy 4:7, New International Version).

Now–again–this is all good in theory and nobody can possibly perfectly do any of these things that is currently walking the earth. That’s obvious, but a good reminder for all of us including myself. We fail every single day even if it is just bad thoughts, which it’s more than just that. The only way we are getting out of this mess is by what God has done for us. We will always fall short. Always. But, God wouldn’t want us to thrown in the towel. Trials are part of the race no matter how old they get. And they do wear on us like 80-grit sandpaper.

As I’ve said, I really didn’t want to post this but think God wanted me to after what happened in the prayer event. I like to stick to Apologetics, Eschatology, my opinions, trend forecasting, etc. I do not like coming off as a preacher because I’m not a Pastor nor would I ever want that role. And, the last thing I want to do is come across as a “Pharisee type” who doesn’t have a speck of dust on their white garment. Take my word for it, my shirt is full of mud.

Nonetheless, I understand that Christians are called to be ambassadors of Christ so here is how I think God would want the Church in the Last Days to finish. I’m really looking forward to not having to worry about sinning on the other side. We will no longer need to have our guard up in this urban jungle. It will be an unimaginable relief to no longer have to try so hard to walk on the narrow path; it will be innate. It’s like going to school and then getting out in the workforce. Theory vs. application are two totally different things. 

Also, if any of my content conflicts with the Word of God, always go with the Word of God. The last thing I want to do is give out false information. I’m trying to help spread the truth, not lies or inadvertent distortions.

And lastly, I recommend these two books by Eric Metaxas. He is by far a much better writer than me, and he goes in-depth about these topics: