When America was in her inception, a noted preacher, Whitefield, preached often throughout the colonies. He could draw crowds of 50,000 in the days before we had megaphones. People would come from miles around to hear the Gospel. Today, we aren’t this fortunate. The Gospel is sold by unscrupulous charlatans. Preachers take on the profession as if it’s a job, and are lavishly paid. The wealthy of society and the church have neglected their duties to help the poor and sick, and instead of reaping the peace and joy, that Scrooge did when he helped the needy and grateful Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim, they are miserable, constantly pursuing more power, pleasure, and money. Contrast the 2nd wealthiest man in American history, Andrew Carnegie, who gave away vast sums to benefit Americans with today’s stingy liberal billionaires who give away practically nothing, have no idea how to lead Americans to better themselves, and constantly lecture us we need to raise our taxes.
What happened to the church? We have churches who are too severe, where a sinner cannot hope to be healed. Churches where a sinner can’t hope to confess of their sins without severe censure and a lifetime of stigma. Churches who can’t dream of becoming the Father of the prodigal son. Then we have churches on the other side, who are merciful and forgiving, but who won’t correct, won’t call sin out, and let it defile their church with impunity.
The church used to meet all day Sunday, and used to be a welcome haven from the cares and worries of life. Not anymore. You are likely to meet for 3 hours on Sunday, and the Bible classes are barely ever attended. What can be more important than studying the Bible, praying, and devoting one’s time to one’s Creator? The Founders of America couldn’t see anything more important, and that’s why they created America. Today, many see lots of things more important, and that’s why they are destroying America.
Biblical knowledge is at all time lows. The average American wastes 9 years watching television, porn use among church men is at all time highs, marriages are under steady attack, 70 million Americans are on psychotropic drugs, 110 million have an STD, we pay $700 billion a year for drug, tobacco, and alcohol abuse, and the way out is to turn back to God.
When will we have Biblical pastors again? When will the church stop paying preachers, as they did not used to be paid unless they traveled? Only an evangelist, or a traveling preacher deserves a dime of church money. The other preachers need to find a job and support themselves. Paul worked as tentmaker, Christ was a carpenter, and every man needs to find an honest calling. Too many preachers are sponging off the people. T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyers, Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, and every last televangelist are not teaching Biblical gospels. They are perverting the scripture and profiting off of it, and John 10 severely censures the hireling, which is all these people are.
‘Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’
Matthew 11:28