Jeremiah's America

Dr. Mike Murphy
March 31, 2020

Of all the heroes of the Bible, one seems to intrigue me the most.  Each time I find myself reading the words of Jeremiah, I always seem to take pause, reading over each of the words again and again.  And with each read, the Lord always teaches me more.  Always showing me something I had not seen before.

Jeremiah found himself in the midst of difficult times.  After the death of King Josiah, the nation of Judah had lost its’ compass, wandering aimlessly away from the direction of God.  Jeremiah referred to Judah as a prostitute(Jeremiah 2:20, 3:1-3), willing to sell itself for a moment of pleasure.  A nation far more interested in following their own ways, than in turning to God’s proven wisdom. So often, Jeremiah warned the people that God’s judgement was at hand.  But because God had so often delivered Israel from the hand of destruction, they took for granted that God would just save them again.. Each warning of Jeremiah was ignored, because Jeremiah did not speak the words the people wanted to hear.

Jeremiah watched as the people followed a worship ritual, but still lived a sinful lifestyle each day.  The words they heard at the Temple had become nothing more than ceremony.  Words spoke on the Sabbath, that were forgotten by the following day.  The people did not make God a part of their daily lives, and His laws and ways were not a part of their daily decisions.  The image of the Temple had become more important to the people than the substance of their faith in God.  And when the people looked at the Temple, they did not see an image of their relationship with the Father, they saw a status symbol.  The Temple was seen as a protector, a sanctuary that placed them above the evil of the world around them.

As Jeremiah watched the people each day, the message that Jeremiah was called on to deliver to the people became a difficult one.  Jeremiah had an unquestioned love for his land of Judah, and for its’ people.  But the love that Jeremiah had for the Lord was even stronger.  This left Jeremiah to speak words that had to trouble him, that had to bring him great pain as the words passed from his lips.  Each time the Lord told Jeremiah to warn the people of Judah’s coming destruction, you can hear Jeremiah pleading with the Lord to give him other words to speak.  Jeremiah prayed, begged, petitioned, and beseeched the Lord to give him a different message to deliver to the people.

After hearing Jeremiah’s heartfelt pleas, the Lord again spoke to Jeremiah.  And the words that Jeremiah heard the Lord speak to him, must have been just as hard for him to hear.  The Lord told Jeremiah, “As for you, do not pray for these people, and do not lift up cry nor prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me; for I do not hear you.”.(Jeremiah 7:16).  More than once, Jeremiah heard the Lord repeat these words(Jeremiah 11:14, Jeremiah 15:1). Through all of Jeremiah’s  pleas, the word of the Lord became very clear. Because the people were unrepentant of their sins, the Lord was lifting His hand from covering them, and would watch as a pagan king would take them into captivity.

Many read these words and ask, why would the Lord does this?  Why would He not send Jeremiah to call on the people to repent?  It all comes down to one word, truth.  The truth is, God’s blessings flow to us when we are committed to God.  The truth is, there are consequences to a hardened, unrepentant heart. And the truth is, sin had so incorporated and numbed the hearts and minds of the people, that Judah no longer feared or respected God.  Although God would have loved nothing more than to see His people fall to their knees before Him, He knew that in reality, they had turned their backs on Him.  He knew that no matter how long and hard Jeremiah prayed, Judah would not seek His face.  God knew that as He lifted His hand of protection from Judah, a hand they did not want covering them, that a terrible fate awaited them.  And out of His love, He called on Jeremiah to warn the people of what was to come.  The bottom line is, God did not reject the people of Israel, the people of Israel had rejected God.

As I read the words God gave to Jeremiah, my thoughts turn to this day, and to this country..  I watch as our country grows more each day to look and sound like the people of Judah.  We find ourselves going through the motions without even realizing what those motions are, or where those motions will lead us.  We speak of God, but never find the time or desire to speak to God.  And we quote the Word of God, without even knowing what those words say.

William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, once warned of the days we find ourselves living in, "I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost; Christianity without Christ; forgiveness without repentance; salvation without regeneration; politics without God; and Heaven without Hell." Like the words that Jeremiah spoke to Judah, the words and warnings of Booth and others fall on the same deaf ears today. 

Paul tells us that a time will come when people will not tolerate the truth, and will twist the Word of God to fit their own desires(2 Timothy 4:3-4).  Just as Judah did with Jeremiah, many will ignore the warnings and the pleads that will come from men of God on that day.  Warnings that are not to be given because these men seek destruction.  But because they know that the truth must persevere in order to reach as many with that truth as possible, and as a warning of coming judgement to those who refuse to listen to that truth.  As I look at the world today, I hear Paul’s words, and I hear the voices of many Godly men beginning to speak those warnings.  I hear the prayers and pleas of those men falling on deaf ears.  And I wonder how long it will be until these men hear the Lord speak to them the words they never want to hear.  Words that tell them to pray for America no more.

God’s Word tells us, “For the word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”(1 Corinthians 1:18).  It breaks my heart to have to say, but we live in a country that now finds more foolishness in the Cross than it does truth.  And if breaks my heart even more, as I listen to many who claim to speak for God, making more excuses for the Word of God, than speaking words to explain the truth of God’s Word.  We are a nation that spends far more time on our backside than we do on our knees.  More concerned with meaningless political promises and Hollywood gossip, than we are concerned with the rising chaos that is coming at us.  We are a people that thinks we have the power to define evil, believing that following the lesser of two evils is a path that God would lead us on.  Not even realizing that by following any degree of evil, we are doing nothing more than trying to justify the following of our own path, completely ignoring the path God is pointing us toward. I defy anyone to show me a single verse in the Bible that makes even the slightest suggestion that through our affirmation of evil. good is produced.  Can you show me just one verse?  But in our attempt to do so, we are making Christianity a sub-culture, not the counterculture that the Lord called us to be.

We cannot look to God seeking to repent, because we no longer know how to repent, and what the word means.  We think that repentance is nothing more than casually saying to God today we are sorry, and believing that we can just repeat those words again tomorrow.  We so easily forget, repentance is not just heard in our words, but seen in our actions.  Repentance is a three part process, in which we seek forgiveness of our sins, turn away from those sins, and turn to God so we will sin no more.  We cannot find our knees to repent, because we do not think we need to seek forgiveness.  Finding it easier to justify and redefine our sins, than to turn to God and turn away from those sins.

America, I pray for you, and I beg of you, find your knees.  I plead with you to hear these words I speak to you.  You can mock me, make fun of me, ridicule me, and even hate me, but please do not ignore these words.  Words that not just I alone am speaking to you. Please, please, do not let this opportunity pass.  Hear the calls to return to God while those words are still just calls.  Let the words of David be your rallying cry.  “Teach me Your way, O Lord: I will walk in Your truth.  Unite my heart to fear Your name.”(Psalm 86:11).  Place those words in your heart, and hold them tight.  Do not take God’s blessings and His mercy for granted.  I cry out to you America, do not let the words of this call turn into the words of a warning.  Do not let those who call out to you hear the words the Lord spoke to Jeremiah. Numbing words, that bring their greatest fears for this nation into a reality.

To those who take these words to heart, who call on the name of God. Make these words, your words.  Do not let a few speak these words alone.  Now is not the time for silence, but a last call to action.  Do not just support those who speak, find your own voice, and speak loudly.  The future holds plenty of time for a hoarse voice to heal, so speak loudly and boldly each of your words today.  Do not let fear or crowds stop you, let the Holy Spirit guide you.  Never forget, many, if not most, will not like what you have to say, but they need to hear every word the Lord is calling on you to speak.  Let the words of Paul drive you, “I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed”(2 Timothy 1:12).  Those who will try to silence you will also look to shame you.  But find no shame in each of the words God calls on you to speak.  Even though they may not yet realize it, their only hope lies in each of your faithful words.

Never forget, this nation is worth fighting for!  God has used this nation in amazing ways, and can still use this country in amazing ways again.  This country has given us opportunities like none this world has ever know.  Liberties and freedom that history could not have even imagined.  God has used this country to take His Word to places that most thought could never be reached.  Created technological advancement through this nation that brought His name to people most never knew existed.  I beg you, do not make that our past, make that again our future.  Before the words of these calls turn to warnings, again make His future, our future.  Make His purpose, our purpose.  And make His hopes, our hopes   Do not let history repeat itself.  Let us learn from the words of Jeremiah, not have the Lord call on men of God today to repeat those words.

I beg of you America, find your knees.  While there is still time left before nothing is able to be found of us at all.

Praying the words Jeremiah once heard, are not spoken by God about this nation again today.

Essential

Dr. Mike Murphy
March 27, 2020

Life is truly an adventure, and I am amazed at all I continue to learn each day.  Today, as I had to go to a doctor’s appointment, I learned just how little I know, just how ignorant I really am(and no, I do not need overwhelming agreement from the peanut gallery!)  I realized that a word I thought I understood well, I really did not understand at all. That word? Essential!

Recently, our state set mandatory standards for businesses being open due to the risk of the Coronavirus.  And in doing so, asked all businesses to close that were not seen as essential.  

As I headed to the doctor’s appointment, I expected to see almost everything closed.  Almost every business I passed, I anticipated seeing the lights off, and the doors locked.  But what I saw shocked me, as an uncountable amount of businesses were open, lights fully on, and welcoming all in. 

I quickly learned that so many more things were “essential” than my mind could begin to realize.  From the pet store, to the cable outlet location, to the mattress store, to the fitness center, to the golf driving range, I discovered that each of these are now considered “essential”.

During this same time, I also noticed that a fellow pastor now considered himself “essential”.  Deciding to open the doors of his church as normal. Defying the request for organized meetings to cease for a short period, in order for people to not be put at an unnecessary risk.  And as I read his statement of why he decided to keep his church services opened to the public physically, I saw all the “I’s” and the “me’s” that filled the words of his response. Leaving him saying, “It’s not about everybody else’s faith, it’s about my faith, it’s my conviction,”.  Evidently having come to the conclusion that people hearing him speak live each Sunday morning and Wednesday night was, “essential”.

As I thought about all this, I decided to reach for my dictionary.  In the hope it would bring to me a little clarity as to what the word, “essential” actually means.  As I looked up the word, it defined “essential” as, “of the utmost importance; something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable”.  So as I thought about this definition, I began to ask myself, what in my life is actually “essential”?

Essential is not found in what I want.  Essential is found in what I need, in what I cannot live a day of my life without.  Essential is not found in what the words politicians look to promise me, or in the words that reporters on the nightly news might look to use to inform me.  As I can live each of my days without what a single one of those words says. But what I cannot live without is what His Word says to me, what He looks to speak to me. As essential is only found as I read His Word, as I look to the very One I cannot live a single moment of my life without.

The reality of all we see around us today shows us, as a society, we have come to describe “essential” as what we think we want, not in what the Lord is showing us we need. A society that no longer knows the difference between a want and a need, as it thinks everything we want is exactly what we need most.. That thinks “essential” is seen in how it makes us feel, not in the necessary reality it brings.  ”If it feels good, do it”, has become the “essential” motto we put forward each day.

Scripture tells me, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.”(Psalm 118:8).  Essential words that should be at the tip of my tongue each day. Words that do not leave me living on each word I might hear the government or the media speaking to me.  Or words society might tell me will place a “happy feeling” in me. But words that leave me grounded as I look to Him each day to guide me. Words that continue to speak to me, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”(Proverbs 13:20).

His Word essentially leaves me prepared to face the chaos of the situation I see this day all around me. Words that leave me with the common sense to know the difference between preparedness and panic.  That does not look to leave me foolishly acting out of fear, but does call me to wisely move forward out of the precaution His has taught me in the face of the dangers I cannot help but see. Wisdom that does not leave me in a possible pending pandemic to think I can blindly find myself in a crowd to do what I might foolishly want to do that day.  Or foolishly sitting on a pew come Sunday morning thinking I will gain greater understanding of what His Word says if I listen to a preacher speaking live, than I do from a virtual feed, where you will not find me looking to risking myself and others  

The essential truth of all I see around me, shows me that only One thing in my life is essential.  Only One thing in my life is going to be wisely walking with me tomorrow, as He carefully guides me through this day.  Better defining for me the meaning of the word “essential” than any dictionary ever could, as His Word tells me, “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.”(Psalm 9:10).

This week, the Lord has used all the chaos, panic, threat, and misguidance we see surrounding this world today, to remind me what in my life is essential.  Placing the wisdom we see in each line of His face right in front of me, and using each of those lines to ground me. To essentially show me that His truth are the only words I need to listen each day to.  Words that continue to teach me each day the difference between what this world foolishly and blindly wants to speak to me. And what the wisdom of His Word so exceedingly places in me. Wisely grounding me in where the preparation of His truth can only take me, instead of foolishly looking to lead me to where society’s words of panic and selfishness would seek to bring me.  Reminding me today, no matter how crazy I see this world become around me, He is always right there beside me. Because at the end of the day, Christ is the only thing in my life that is essential.

Praying the Lord helps each of you remember what is essential in your life!  

One More Last Chance

Dr. Mike Murphy
March 24, 2020

He stood in silence, as he had so many times before.  His future now rested in the hands of the one he stood before.  A judge that not only knew him by name, but knew his history well.  A man who knew all the good he had once done, all the ways he had once looked to shape the lives of those around him.  Offering a new way, a hope to so many, who had thought all hope was lost.

He could not remember the exact day, but through the years his focus had somehow become lost.  Corners were cut, exceptions were made. Laws he had once held dear, he found himself breaking easily.  Justifying his actions today, so he could continue to break the same laws tomorrow.

With each new day, he could feel his past slipping away.  Finding himself committing acts he once stood so firmly against. Breaking laws he had once worked so hard to help uphold.  And day by day, it had become a little easier, weighing a little less on his conscience, as he found himself breaking those laws more and more.

So many times he had stood in front of the judge, and so many times he had pleaded for mercy.  Promising he would change, promising he would return to the man he had once been. Promising he would never be found in this position again.  Seeking a false forgiveness from this judge, as he knew his heart had not changed, and his desire had remained the same.

So many times he had wondered, “What right does this man have to judge me?”.  “Who gives this man the privilege to tell me what I am doing is right or wrong?”.  He had all but convinced himself he knew best what he wanted, what he needed, and did not need this man controlling his life, trying to tell him what he could and could not do.

But as he stood in front of this judge this time, he realized in the depths of his heart that all his words, all his past good actions, were now lost.  And if this judge would just have mercy on him today, forgive him one more time, he had to make the most of the it. One more last chance to get back to where he was before.  To again be the man he was once so proud to be.

In the scenario I have just painted, many may think the man I mention as fictitious.  But what if I told you the one standing in front of the judge was just as real as you and me.  Not a man, but a name being held accountable we all know well. As the one on trail is all of us, this country called America we are all a part of.  And the judge we see standing over all this, is no simple man. But the One Judge, who stands above all judges.

For years, this Judge has warned us, so many times being seen as incredibly merciful with us. A mercy far greater than any of us would ever be capable of offering.  Time after time, trying to warn us, seeking so hard to change us, to restore us to what He once saw in us. But for all the love He has for us, for every opportunity He has used to work through us, He still must remain just, and uphold the law He has placed in front of us.  

As I look around us today, and as all of us stand in front of Him as He looks out at this nation, I cannot help but feel, we have one more last chance.  One more last chance to return to the purpose that was put in place as He helped our Founding Fathers create us. The amazing things He accomplished through us, as He used this nation to bring the Good News to this world like no other country ever has before.

One more last chance to find our knees.  One more last chance to again be that “shining light on a hill” we so proudly proclaimed to be.  An example to this world of the hope, the freedom, the opportunity that comes when we closely follow the path He has placed in front of us.  One more last chance to rewrite His laws on our heart, as His Word is the focus our eyes again see. One more last chance to protect the most innocent among us, and to return to our society the morals and the principles that only He could teach us.  One more last chance to remember the two greatest of commandments He taught us, calling on us to love the Lord with all our heart, our mind, and our soul)Matthew 22:36-38), and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves(Matthew 22:39-40). Knowing that if we are found doing each, no more last chance would have to be given.

As we look at the grip this pandemic has on our nation today, I cannot help but wonder if a glimpse of that “one more last chance” is hiding underneath.  A time when all the hecticness of this world has been suddenly removed from us, giving us a moment to once again be still, and know that He is God(Psalm 46:10).  A pause for us to remember again that He is exalted above the nations, that He is in control. A quiet moment, that gives us a chance to talk to Him again. To remember, He is our greatest need, and His love for us desires for Him to be our greatest want.  A quiet moment for us to cast aside all the chaos, as we face the reality of the moment and realize, our hope and our future does not rest in our government's hands. Our hope, our future, can only be found in His hand. A hope for tomorrow that starts with us finding our knees in front of Him today.

I plead with this nation, I beg of this nation, do not let this one more last chance slip you by.  In these troubling times, as we look to pull our family and our friends close, please look to pull Him even closer.  Cherish the love He has for each of us, and the plans and purpose He has found in us, as a nation. Please do not again test the patience He has so lovingly shown us, but look to return to the arms He is holding out for us.  And in the face of these troublesome times, please do not think a virus is the greatest threat to us, as an even greater disease infects this country. A disease that once it infects, looks to leave nothing but victims behind, as it spreads through our society like a raging fire.  But unlike this virus, this disease of sin has a well-known cure that does not even require a prescription for us to obtain. As all it requires is for us to turn to Him, as we humble ourselves in front of Him. A cure that only requires for this nation, for all of us, to make the most of this “one more last chance”.

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”  Proverbs 19:21

So Grateful!

Dr. Mike Murphy

March 5,2020

As the wind roared, and the lightning flashed, the warning post came across my phone, telling me that a tornado was spotted and approaching the area.  And as I made my way down the stairs, the sound of reality began to scream at a distance. From miles away, through each clash of thunder, you could hear the distinct sound of the warning sirens blaring.  And as I began to hear that sound, time began to stand still around me. Each little noise started to echo through my ears, and brought an awareness to my mind. And as the wood in the house begins to make `popping” sounds from the pressure, and the electrical power to the house was suddenly gone, I realized that a tornado could not be far away. 

As the minutes began to pass, and the messages started to come in from friends and family, I realized that a couple of miles is all that had separated me from the disaster the darkness held. As only a short distance away, the “popping” sounds I heard were being replaced by the sound of exploding wood and brick, as a deadly tornado had ripped through neighborhoods not very far from my own.  And as my heart ached for those who I knew must have lost so much, I was grateful that my house had been spared from the path of this devastating storm.

The following night, as the power returned, I began to see all the reports, all the images, of what we had experienced the night before.  And as I saw the images, two began to stand out, unable to me. One of the homes I saw belonged to a couple I had known for almost my entire life.  A couple who held tightly to a strong faith in our Lord, who had found themselves in the path of the storm just hours before. My heart sunk for them, but as I messaged with their daughter, I could still hear the gratefulness in her words.  Although so many of her childhood items had been lost, the ones who had brought her the memories of those items were still standing fine. And as she reflected on all that had happened, she was overwhelmingly grateful that her parents had survived in the face of this danger.

The second image I saw was the house of a friend I had known for several years.  Pictures of his family’s house, that now looked like it had been a part of a war zone.  And as I was able to get in touch with him, he told me what the night before had held. How the tornado had hit their house with such tremendous force, and how it had all happened so fast, that he almost did not have time to think.  And he told me of the damage it had done. How items from their house had been scattered for miles, with many cherished items thrown so far by the storm they would never be found again. But as the storm had left his family homeless, I could still hear the sounds of happiness in his voice.  He spoke to me of just how grateful he was, as the Lord had pulled tight that night all my friend held as priceless. As his family had walked away without a scratch.

It was at that moment, shortly after the lights to my house had come back on, that the Lord clicked on a “light’ that came to my mind.  A light that reminded me exactly what it means to be grateful.

Gratefulness is not simply a feeling or an emotion, but a constant presence that is forever in the heart of all who call Him Father.  Gratefulness is found in the comfort, peace, and joy of us knowing that no matter what we might face, the Lord is always right there with us, never leaving us to face a second of this world alone.

First Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  Gratefulness keeps our heart in perfect alignment with God’s will. Gratefulness reminds us that every good and perfect gift comes from His hands(James 1:17), and not matter what this world might throw at us, a glimpse of His goodness can always be found.  Daily allowing us to remember, we can find ourselves grateful even when we might not feel very grateful for the circumstances. or for the situation, we find ourselves in. We can grieve for all we face, and our heart still be found as grateful. We can hurt for all our eyes might see, and still be grateful for all we so lovingly see Him doing.  And we can even be angry for all that is being done around us, and still be grateful for each opportunity the Lord still finds a way to bring to us.

Gratefulness reminds us just how precious each moment of this gift of life is.  And gratefulness calls us to make the most for Him with each of those moments. Not letting a moment of this gift pass us by without letting Him know just how grateful we are, and without sharing the gratefulness of our heart with all of those around us.  A gratefulness that shines the greatest light of hope in the midst of the darkness that the worst tragedy might bring. Lovingly reminding us to show others, what He makes right is far greater than all this world might ever make wrong.

In the midst of devastation, in the face of this tragedy, the Lord reminded me of the gratefulness that only His love could ever bring me.  A gift that I watched as a daughter would cherish as she got to spend a few more of those precious moments with parents she dearly loved. And a git that I heard in each word of a father speaking to me, as he held close in his arms all he valued most, something every possession in this world could never begin to offer him.

In the face of all the destruction I might see around me, the words of the psalmist cannot help but come pouring out of me.  “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.”(Psalm 136:1). Above the clapping of the thunder, the popping of the wood, and the screaming of the warning sirens, His words are the only sound that I can clearly hear.  Because in the midst of the worst of storms, His constant goodness and His steadfast love, still shine bright in the middle of the darkness. Reminding me, as His arms stretch out to engulf and surround me, each word I speak should be heard in me saying, “Lord, I am so grateful!”

Praying this day reminds you of the One you have to be grateful for!

The "Christian" Sanhedrin

Dr. Mike Murphy

January 31, 2020

There was a little, old cleaning woman that went to the local church. When the invitation was given at the end of the service, she went forward wanting to become a member.  The pastor listened as she told him how she had accepted Jesus, wanting to be baptized and to become a member of the church. The pastor thought to himself, "Oh my, she is so grungy, smells a little, and her fingernails are not clean. She picks up garbage, cleans toilets, what would the members think of her?"  He told her that she needed to go home and pray about it, then she could decide.        

The following week, here she came again.  She told the pastor that she had prayed about it and still wanted to be baptized.  "I have passed this church for so long.  It is so beautiful, and I truly want to become a member."  Again the pastor told her to go home and talk to Jesus about it some more.

A few weeks later while out eating at a local restaurant, the pastor saw the little, old lady.  He did not want her to think that he was ignoring her, so he approached her and said, "I have not seen you for a while.  Is everything alright?" "Oh, yes," she said.  "I talked with Jesus like you said, and he told me not to worry about becoming a member of your church."  “He did?" said the pastor. "Oh, yes" she replied. "He said even He has not been able to get into your church yet, and He's been trying for years."

How many of our churches would we find Christ in today?  If Christ were to write a letter to each of the churches across this country, what would the message be?  Would the letter to each church sound more like the one Christ sent to Philadelphia(Revelation 3:7-13), or the one He sent to Laodicea(Revelation 3:14-22)?  Would He see the leadership in our churches today as a continuation of His disciples?  Or would He see them reflecting the leadership of the Sanhedrin in His day?

In the days of Christ, there were many groups that made up the face of Judaism. But three found themselves in the spotlight, and were the focused attention of much of the Jewish world.  The Sadducees, the Pharisees, and the Herodians were the voices that spoke loudest to the Jewish people, and the religious leaders Rome expected the most out of.

The Sadducees were the aristocrats of the day.  They valued their wealth and prestige, and often saw themselves above the average man.  They would often find themselves in agreement with Rome, focusing more on politics than religion.  Because of their positions of power and influence with Rome, they made up the majority of the Sanhedrin, the ruling religious council of Judaism. Their religious beliefs carried a very mixed bag.  Although they believed in the authority of God’s Word, they denied that God was involved in everyday life. They did not believe in an afterlife , in resurrection, or in a spiritual world(Acts 23:8).  In 70 AD, when Roman destroyed the temple and the city of Jerusalem, the Sadducees came to an end.  No longer needing to control the Jewish people, Rome no longer needed the Sadducees.

The Pharisees were the voice of the common man.  Even though they were in the minority on the Sanhedrin, they carried an incredibly strong voice because of the influence they had within the Jewish society.  They believed that God’s Word was inspired, given directly to man by the Almighty.  But they also put as much weight in their own rules, known as oral tradition, as they did God’s Word.  They saw no difference in the laws given by God, and those created by them(Deuteronomy 4:2).  They would often use these ‘man-made’ rules to bring attention to themselves, feeding their own ego in the name of God.  They reduced man’s relationship with the Lord to one of rituals and self-created rules.

Last, but not least, were the Herodians.  They were the political power of the day, followers of Herod, the appointed leader of Judea by Rome.  They saw Herod as a ‘messiah’, thinking he could bring them favor from the Roman Empire, thus bringing ‘blessings’ to their lives.  Religion to the Herodians was nothing more than a tool or instrument, one to bring the people under control, and to institute the social and political changes they saw as needed.

Though each of these groups were bitter rivals, one thing did bring them together. Christ!  God’s true Messiah, the One who would bring true change, offer all a path to an eternal afterlife in God’s presence, and fulfill the laws and promises the Lord had given to His people.  But they saw Christ not as hope, but as a threat(Mark 3:6, John 11:48-50).  A threat to their power, lifestyle, and influence over the Jewish people.  It is no wonder that Christ often referred to them as nothing more than frauds and hypocrites(Matthew 23:1-36, Matthew 7:15).

So let us take a close look at what the religious leaders of Jesus’ day believed and what they were doing with those beliefs.  We had one group that would pick and choose the parts of God’s Word that suited them best, more than willing to ignore the rest.  We had another group that put their own teachings and beliefs on an equal level with the Lord’s.  And we had a final group that saw God’s Word as nothing more than a political tool, to achieve their own goals.  It is no wonder Christ had so little use for these religious leaders?

When we look around us at the church today, the surroundings may be different than those when Christ walked this world, but we see so many similarities in the players!  Many of the religious leaders that fill our churches today, have many of the same similarities to those men that filled the halls and courts of the Temple almost two thousand years ago.  

In many of our churches today, we see leaders that are unwilling to teach the full Word of God.  Those who ignore parts they feel may be controversial to society, often more afraid of who they might offend than who they might reach with the truth.  Other leaders have developed their own interpretation of God’s Word.  They teach their own beliefs on an equal level with the Word of God.  Although their teachings may be contrary to the words Christ taught while walking this earth, they speak them anyway.  Often with a voice so loud those who speak the truth are drowned out and completely overlooked.  We even see other leaders who are more than willing to take the necessity of God out of the Word of God. They see salvation in looking to perfect man into their view of what man should be.  To many of these leaders, God is nothing more than a means to an end.  God and His Word are but instruments to influence society towards their view of a utopia that can be built here on Earth. To them, God is nothing more than a way to reach their political and social ends.

When Christ looks at the state of the Church today, what do you think we would hear Him say? As He hears the words spoken from or pulpits, and the silence coming from our pews, what word do you think he would use to describe us?  Only one word comes to mind, Hypocrites! And those of us who know the truth and allow His church to continue to be tarnished, would not fare much better in the Lord’s eyes.  Two thousand years ago, Christ warned His followers that they would see the Temple destroyed, that not one stone would be left unturned(Mark 13:1-2).  A few years later they saw the words of Christ come to life, as the Temple was torn to the ground in front of them.  It is time that we heard those same words being spoken today. Word that drive us to get out the mortar and the trowels, and began to repair the walls of the Church. Because if we do not act on His words quickly, If we do not take to heart what He is telling us seriously, we could begin to see the walls begin to crumble, and not one stone will be left in place.

It is time to once again make Christ the cornerstone of the Church(Ephesians 2:20-22)!

The Quick Road Down

Dr. Mike Murphy
January 16, 2020

As he looked at his magazine that March morning, one must wonder if he knew what the future would hold.  The words that he saw printed, were not his own, but those of a valued friend.  Words that  rang true in his ears, and were words that needed to be read. One must also wonder if he realized how loudly these words would ring out, or how much power his endorsement of these words would hold.  “Earnest attention is requested for this paper. . . . We are going down hill at breakneck speed.”

In  March, 1887, we saw published the first of two articles titled “The Down Grade”, in the well known, monthly publication of Charles Spurgeon, The Sword and the Trowel. Although published anonymously, they were actually the writings of a close friend and fellow pastor, Robert Shindler.  Reverend Shindler had become alarmed by the rising problems he saw within their denomination, a disturbing pattern he had seen throughout the history of the Church.  He saw that with every true evangelical revival you could soon see the beginnings of drifting, turning away from sound doctrine by those within a couple of generations.  He equated this drifting away to a downhill slope, so came the title, “The Down Grade”.

Shindler declared that some ministers were “denying the proper deity of the Son of God, renouncing faith in his atoning death.… ”.   Shindler saw the coming horrors of his denomination, having seen them break from the teachings of sound doctrine.  He stated, “In looking carefully over the history of the times, and the movement of the times, of which we have written briefly, this fact is apparent: that where ministers and Christian churches have held fast to the truth that the Holy Scriptures have been given by God as an authoritative and infallible rule of faith and practice, they have never wandered very seriously out of the right way.  But when, on the other hand, reason has been exalted above revelation, and made the exponent of revelation, all kinds of errors and mischiefs have been the result.”

Spurgeon soon followed these two articles with three of his own. Spurgeon’s tone was one of further desperation and urgency.  He saw the split forming within the denomination, as many church leaders were outraged, claiming the articles were too pessimistic.  At the same time, letters began to pour in from laypeople of the churches.  Many pointed out the apostasy and the compromise of Scriptures they saw within their own churches.  With these responses in hand, Spurgeon wrote, “Our solemn conviction is that things are much worse in many churches than they seem to be, and are rapidly tending downward......How much farther could they go?  What doctrine remains to be abandoned?  What other truth to be the object of contempt? A new religion has been initiated, which is no more Christianity than chalk is cheese; and this religion, being destitute of moral honesty, palms itself off as the old faith with slight improvements, and on this plea usurps pulpits which were erected for gospel preaching.“ 

Spurgeon saw three major doctrinal problems that faced his denomination.  He saw that the accuracy and authenticity of Scripture was being abandoned.  He witnessed in the preaching of others, that atonement could be found in other ways than Christ, and that Christ was no longer needed to find salvation. As he watched these false doctrines being introduced in his denomination by many who followed Progressive Orthodoxy and the modernist movement, he warned all who read of the dangers they brought with them. “Assuredly the New Theology can do no good towards God or man; it, has no adaptation for it.  If it were preached for a thousand years by all the most earnest men of the school, it would never renew a soul, nor overcome pride in a single human heart.”

As Spurgeon concluded his articles, he asked all who read them a basic question. “Are brethren who remain orthodox prepared to endorse such sentiments by remaining in union with those who hold and teach them?” Spurgeon followed, “Believers in Christ's atonement are now in declared union with those who make light of it; believers in Holy Scripture are in confederacy with those who deny plenary inspiration; those who hold evangelical doctrine are in open alliance with those who call the fall a fable, who deny the personality of the Holy Ghost, who call justification by faith immoral, and hold that there is another probation after death....It is our solemn conviction that there should be no pretence of fellowship.  Fellowship with known and vital error is participation in sin.”

It was Spurgeon’s hope and prayer that the denomination would address these issues, and return to the values and doctrine that the Lord had set for them. As the denomination assembled that October, Spurgeon figured this would be the key issue.  But to Spurgeon’s dismay, the issue was never officially addressed. Church leadership decide the issue was just too divisive, deciding to just ignore the issue in hope that it would go away. This was the last straw for Spurgeon, as he soon withdrew from the denomination. Spurgeon wrote of his withdrawal to a friend, telling him, “It was incumbent upon me to leave the Union, as my private remonstrances to officials, and my repeated pointed appeals to the whole body, had been of no avail.  My standpoint had become one from which, as an earnest man, I could see no other course but to withdraw.”  The denomination now found itself without its’ most beloved preacher!

After the withdrawal of the denomination’s most prominent minister, the issue did anything but “go away”.  With pressure mounting, the Union(the church’s board and assembly) decided to meet once again on the issue.  The Union called on Spurgeon to “name names”, to identify those who were not following Scriptures, and to provide them with information on those who had sent him this information.  Spurgeon, of course, refused to put specific people on trail, as his intent was to address the issue that haunted the denomination.  What the public did not know, was that some of the very people that made up the Union had privately wrote Spurgeon on the issue.  But now that it was about to come public, they were quietly pleading with Spurgeon to keep their names out of the mix.  The very one’s that were privately agreeing with Spurgeon, were the very one’s who now sought to publicly put Spurgeon on trail.

The Union accused Spurgeon of breaching Jesus’ command in Matthew 18:15-20, not going first to those he had a grievance with.  Spurgeon wrote of this to his wife.  “What a farce about my seeing these brethren, privately, according to Matthew 18:15!  Why, I saw the Secretary and the president again and again; and then I printed my plaint, and only left the Union when nothing could be done.”  He also wrote to the president of the Union, saying, “I have followed out our Lord's mind as to private remonstrances by seeing Presidents and Secretary on former occasions, and I have written my remonstrances again and again without avail.  I had no course but to withdraw.  Surely, no sane person thinks that I should have made a tour to deal with the individual errorists.  I have no jurisdiction over them, and should have been regarded as offensively intrusive if I had gone to them; and justly so.  My question is with the Union, and with that alone.  I have dealt with it all along.”

Spurgeon soon realized, that by raising the Matthew 18 issue, the Union had chose not to address Spurgeon’s main concerns.  They had set a course to avoid the issue at the heart of Spurgeon’s writings.  So on January 13, 1888, the Union passed a “vote of censure” against Charles Spurgeon, betraying the beloved preacher once last time.

Although attempts were made to  reconcile, the damage had been done. The “Down Grade Controversy” troubled Spurgeon until his death four years later. He watched as many pastors and past students turned against him, siding with the ideas of the modernist. Although many within his own denomination had betrayed him, his words took notice by many the world over.  Spurgeon was the first Evangelical with worldwide influence to take on the dangers of the modernist movement, and the realistic threat of the ‘Down Grade”. Robert Shindler, the original author of “The Down Grade”, would later write of Spurgeon. “Since then time has revealed much; and following months and years will, no doubt, make more and more evident how needful was the protest which fidelity to God and to the gospel would not allow him to withhold.  The Lord graciously purge His Church of all false doctrine, all false teachers, and all who are traitors in the camp of Israel!  And may the Spirit from on high be poured out upon all flesh, that all the ends of the earth may see, and own, and rejoice in, the salvation of our God!“

Spurgeon’s denomination would never be the same.  And in the years since, the ideas of modernism have spread throughout much of Europe.  Today, the Church in England and much of Europe are but a shell of their former selves. Without the truth of the Scriptures present from the pulpits, we have watched as the people have abandoned the pews of the churches throughout Europe, even to this day. And the destruction from this has not been content to stay within the walls of the churches in Europe, as it has found its way in recent years to the shores of the churches in this nation.

As we read the words of Spurgeon and Shindler, a Bible verse quickly comes to mind. “That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done.  So there is nothing new under the sun.”, Ecclesiastes 1:9.  From this verse we have developed the familiar phrase, “history repeats itself”.  Words we all have heard, but words that we rarely take to heart.  Words that the Church in America, has sadly forgotten today.

Sadly, we daily watch as forms of modernism has found its’ way into the Church in America.  Although this false teaching has disguised itself with many mask, and often tried to change its’ name, the voice with which it speaks forever remains the same.  It shakes its’ head. rejecting the very nature of God, and humanizing the life of Jesus.  It turns up its’ nose at the thought that salvation can only be found in Christ, but proclaims that salvation can be achieved by the hand of each man.  It shouts with a loud voice that God does not know the future, that the future can only be seen in the heart of mankind.  It closes its’ eyes at the inerrancy of the Scriptures, claiming it as nothing more than the moral writings of flawed men.  And if you listen very closely as it speaks, you will still hear the hiss. The same voice that proclaimed to Eve  ‘you will be like God”.

This voice, once heard by Spurgeon, speaks again today.  It legislates from the assemblies of many of our denominations.  It frequently teaches in the classrooms of our seminaries.  And it proclaims its’ false truth from the pulpits of many of our churches.  Those who recognize the true identity behind its’ mask, are once again being drowned out.  Being silenced as the voice continues to speak louder.  And as we see the smile forming from the edges of the mask, we watch in horror as many of our denominations pledge their allegiance to the voice.

As I watch the actions of these denominations today, the words of Spurgeon once again come to mind.  And a verse that I am sure that he read many times, echoes in our thoughts.   2 Corinthians 6:17: "Come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean."  It is time that many who are in these denominations read those words, and followed its’ command.  It is time they got out of these denominations, and returned to churches that are teaching the Truth of God’s Word!

We watch today as these churches rapidly roll down the hill.  Out of control, building speed as they go.  Recklessly destroying all that come in its’ path. This hill is steep, and a fire rages at the bottom of the hill.  Now is the time for all to hear the warnings that are being yelled from atop that hill.  Letting all know, it is time to move and get out of its’ path.  Do not let it destroy you or drag you with it into the fires that lie ahead.  And as we dive off this path for cover, may the Church again hear and take to heart the words of Reverend Shindler. “The Lord graciously purge His Church of all false doctrine, all false teachers, and all who are traitors in the camp of Israel!  And may the Spirit from on high be poured out upon all flesh, that all the ends of the earth may see, and own, and rejoice in, the salvation of our God! “   

Praying each of you do not find yourself moving down this hill!