Malachi said Malachi 1:10 “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands. 11 My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.” Ezekiel 22:26 “Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. 27 Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. 28 Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says’—when the Lord has not spoken. I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” Jeremiah 5:1 “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city. 2 Although they say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ still they are swearing falsely.” 3 Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent. 4 I thought, “These are only the poor; they are foolish, for they do not know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God. 5 So I will go to the leaders and speak to them; surely they know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God.” But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds.” Jeremiah 36:1 “In the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah till now. 3 Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, they will each turn from their wicked ways; then I will forgive their wickedness and their sin.”

    You would think it would be a no brainer due to the desolation and powerlessness of the church to close the doors of the church, but like with Israel and Judah, God’s word is not listened to. Jeremiah 37:2 “Neither he (king Zedekiah) nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet.” The problem is that every church / group believe themselves to be the only way, the bearers of truth, and eternal life comes from believing the doctrines that they teach. With all of these very distinct groups who call themselves the church, the suggestion of closing the church doors would be met with a resounding no, so that means the spiritual renovation begins with you and I. When you die and judgment day comes, you are not going to be able to say but this church I went to or this leader I listened to said I was secure and I had nothing to fear. Luke 13:23 “Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ But as we are told, each of us must test the spirits.” There were all kinds of people gathering around Jesus, but it was one woman who reached out to touch Jesus and was healed. Luke 8:42 “As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.”

    Most people who attend church just believe what they are being told without even checking for authenticity. 1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” It is called indoctrination. This is “the process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically.” This could be Catholicism, Calvinism, Arminianism, Pentecostalism, Dispensationalism and a whole lot more isms. Each of these groups have done what was commanded not to do. Revelation 22:18 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” Therefore, none of these groups are speaking the whole truth. Yes, each group will have enough truth to make you think they are teaching the gospel but because it is not all truth, as other gospels are being taught and you should want no part of that. Due to the desolation of the church, you need to return to the word of God and turn away from the wicked ways of the church as it has become.

    If you go to your leader and say some guy on the internet said to turn from wicked ways, the response may not be well received. They may say surely you do not mean what we are teaching is wicked and they will do their best to convince you otherwise. Those people are supposed to be guiding you into eternal life, but they are not when they add to scripture and take from scripture and promote manmade doctrines and doctrines of demons. 2 Peter 2:1 “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.” 2 Peter 3:17 “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.” The way of truth is in dispute because every group that calls themselves the church has very distinct doctrines and theology that widely differs from the other. There is only one way, not many ways. They all say they believe in Jesus but can’t agree on anything about His teaching. They are also telling those who follow that all is well with their souls and they have nothing to fear. Jeremiah 14:13 “But I said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! The prophets keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place.’” 14 Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.” Jeremiah 6:13 “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. 14 They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace. 15 Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them, says the Lord.” Ezekiel 13:10 “‘Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, 11 therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. 12 When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?”

    Not only is this about the leaders who lead people astray, this is about those who follow. We are responsible for who we follow and will be held accountable. Jeremiah 2:11 “Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols. 12 Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror,” declares the Lord. 13 “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. 32 my people have forgotten me, days without number. 34 Yet in spite of all this 35 you say, ‘I am innocent; he is not angry with me.’ But I will pass judgment on you because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’” At this point leaders probably will not close the doors, so it is important that those who follow them, no longer follow. Peter said after Pentecost, Acts 2:40 “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” King Josiah said 2 Kings 22:13 “Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.” Josiah did make the changes, but most will not. 2 Kings 23:25 “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.”

    God makes it very clear that He will return to those who seek Him. Zechariah 1:3 “Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Isaiah 59:20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord.” Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” This is not about finding another church; this is about returning to the word of God. Proverbs 8:17 “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” This is about returning to the word of God and away from the denomination / group’s version of the word of God and believing that God will make your path to Him straight. Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.” Paul warned us about following a different Jesus and other gospels, yet this is happening throughout the church as there are false teachers everywhere. There is no such thing as a Baptist or Catholic (to name a couple) Christian. We are Christ followers, not followers of men and women or organizations. 

    We must return to fearing God and drawing closer to him and we must tremble in His presence. 1 Chronicles 16:28 “Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. 30 Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.” Psalm 96:9 “Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.” Psalm 119:120 “My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.” Read all of Psalm 119. Proverbs 28:14 “Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.” Isaiah 66:1 “This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? 2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” Jeremiah 17:7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Psalm 1:1 “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.”

    For so long now church has been defined as something you go to, not something you are. When church is what you are, gathering together is just a small portion of it but most have made the short gathering on a Sunday, the church. The church ended up being a gathering of fat (spiritually) sheep. Deuteronomy 32:15 “Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, they became heavy and sleek. They abandoned the God who made them and rejected the Rock their Savior. 16 They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols. 17 They sacrificed to false gods, which are not God— gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your ancestors did not fear. 18 You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth. 19 The Lord saw this and rejected them because he was angered by his sons and daughters. 20 “I will hide my face from them,” he said, “and see what their end will be; for they are a perverse generation, children who are unfaithful. 21 They made me jealous by what is no god and angered me with their worthless idols.” That is the same as other gospels. Paul said to Timothy 2 Timothy 3:1  “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”

    Today’s church is filled with people who are okay with a form of godliness and deny the power that was made available to the church. Most in the church are content to gather week after week and never see anything close to resembling the true gospel and the power that comes when the kingdom of God comes near. It really is a simple process. Read the Gospels and Acts and then compare what you read to what you see in the church. If you are willing to look, you will be astounded that the church looks nothing like the church Jesus is the head of. You can either ignore this observation or be moved to action. Many will ignore because they just cannot come to accept that the church they have been part of their whole life has deceived them. To think like that would be foolishness. It is time to become very discontent and search for the true church with everything you have. Yes, there are many that have separated and now call themselves the true church, but they did not return to the word of God, but instead just formed another group who followed a man or woman and continue to distort God’s word and bring His word into disrepute, so be careful. Scripture is very clear about the power and authority the church is supposed to have, just as Israel was supposed to be invincible. Joshua 1:3 “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.” Rebellion and disobedience changed all that, to the point of being vomited out of the land just as they were warned would happen.