Many Christians believe we are living in a time of one of the
greatest revivals in the history of the Church. Evangelism reports from around the world
seem to substantiate this claim. Manifestations of supernatural gifts, signs and wonders
are commonplace in a large percentage of churches. They are widely proclaimed as being
from the Lord and proof that God is well pleased with the Church today. Ministries are
expanding into mass media evangelism which spans the globe. Evangelistic and charismatic
groups are experiencing tremendous numerical growth as new buildings can be seen springing
up and spreading out in almost every direction. All of these things would seem to refute
the remote possibility that we are now living in the time of the great falling away of the
Church: a falling away from true faith and the life-style which God demands of His people
and which is taught in scripture. Instead, multitudes of church members say they are
eagerly anticipating the return of Christ through a secret rapture which will whisk them
out of every trial and tribulation which is obviously coming upon the world. However, when
close investigation is made of the personal lives of the church members, we find little
difference between most of their life-styles and those of the people in the world.
Divorce, adultery, homosexuality, gossip, unforgiveness, strife, jealousy, outbursts of
anger, disputes, and factions are as prevalent in the churches today as they are in the
world.
Almost any pastor or church leader you talk to privately will admit that down inside he
knows something is desperately wrong. Many people wander from church to church looking for
something they know they are missing. The message of "peace and safety" being
preached cannot put an end to their inner turmoil. They discern the spiritual emptiness in
religious traditions and often fall prey to cults and sects that draw them away from Jesus
Christ and the Word of God altogether. Others are looking for the true body of Christ
which they know is supposed to be "holy and blameless." People easily become
disillusioned when they see in the Church what they see in the world. Churches have turned
to recreation and entertainment in an attempt to hold the people, becoming more and more
like the world. Rather than select a pastor on the basis of his spiritual maturity and
understanding, they choose a man based on his fund-raising ability and his charismatic
personality to attract people in order to increase the size of the congregation and
"build the church." Counseling ministries flourish as the message proclaimed by
the churches is not sufficient to meet the needs of the spiritually hungry and desperate
people. Many pastors, looking for answers, have investigated other denominations and
groups (sometimes secretly for fear of being labeled disloyal to their denomination), only
to be disappointed to find the other groups have similar spiritual problems. In the midst
of this day of people searching for answers, we should recognize that we are now
experiencing what the Lord promised would come. "'Behold, days are coming,' declares
the Lord God, 'when I will send a famine on the land, not a famine for bread or a thirst
for water, but rather for hearing the words of the Lord. And people will stagger (in
spiritual darkness) from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they will go to
and fro to seek the word of the Lord, but they will not find it.'" Amos 8:11, 12.
While this famine continues, the Lord has begun to awaken His sheep and reveal to them the
essential truths from His Word that have been overlooked and ignored. God did not find it
necessary to cooperate with the requirements of religious systems in order to reveal His
truths in the time of Jesus. That has not changed. God has begun restoring the power and
truth of the gospel today. This is the day that will see the glory and power of God coming
to earth into His Church which will be "holy and blameless."
Reference Used: "The Great Falling Away Today" by Milton Green