Fast Food Churches

Acts 1:4  On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

          Week after week, many people attend churches all across the United States and other countries in the world. There are many churches who have thousands of people in attendance on any given service.  However, due to the amount of people in attendance, many churches have decided to have 1 hour services in order to accommodate the mass influx of congregants. Even though it is good to have people in attendance in order to reach souls for the Kingdom, it has often put a strain on those in ministry by having to rush the Spirit of God and not allowing Him to flow in a way that would convict, redeem, and release God’s anointing in a more powerful way. Therefore, many are being shortchanged for the sake of convenience.

          The question that may come to mind would be if there is another way that the church should operate, so that souls are not being rushed to God as in an assembly line for products? What happened to Bible studies?  Many churches have totally discarded this as part of their witnessing program and yet, some of their members do not even know what the Bible has to say on many subjects that relate to the times that we are in. The church’s need for speed has made many Christian unprepared for what is currently facing our nation and what’s to come. It seems that some pastors do not wish to teach in-depth studies as they relate to end-time events, but would prefer to repeat sermons that do not require intense study, so they often remix old sermons with new antics that play on the congregation’s emotions. Oftentimes, the people in the congregation are unaware what is really going on and that their pastors are feeding them microwave popcorn when they really could be eating kettle corn straight from the pot. 

          A way to test what I am saying is to ask your pastor if he/she would do a "series" on the book of Revelation. I employ you to do this and see if your pastor would be open to doing a study on this book as well as the book of Daniel as they relate to end time prophecy. Not many are willing to do this but some would not have a problem with it if they see that their members are wanting to understand these books. Revelation 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. (NIV) Let no one tell you that these books are not relevant and they are too hard for you to understand. God meant for us to understand everything that was placed in His word. Whenever Daniel didn't understand a dream that was given to him, He inquired from the ONE who gave him the dream. Daniel 7:15-16 "I, Daniel was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this. "So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things:" (NIV) Let no one tell you that God's word is not for you to understand. God sent pastors, bishops, evangelists, elders, and many more to be able to teach the word to His people and instruct them down the right path. Instead of leaders being in a rush to get their members out of the door, more time needs to be devoted to TEACHING and INSTRUCTION of the Word of God. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ALL Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NIV) 

          Due to the times that we are in, there is a Church of Emergency to TEACH the word to God more than ever before. It is fine to get to come to church, but there should not be such a rush that people aren’t truly being fed the word. Jesus taught multitudes of people and they flocked to hear what He had to say. However, Jesus did not get so caught up in rushing them off that He failed to give them the tools they needed to have a relationship with His Father. Jesus ensured that He took care of their physical and spiritual needs. Matthew 14:15-21 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “this is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. (NIV) Jesus was not in such a rush that he wanted to do a quick microwave sermon. He wanted the people to understand what He desired to teach them in accordance to the will of His Father.

 

          Now, do not get this mixed up with having extra time for praise and worship. God does love our praise and He wants to be worshiped. However, God wants His people to be taught His Word. In order to be prepared for the troublesome times that are coming, the Word needs to be taught in its entirety. Potato chip sermons is not going to give substance to the soldier who needs to be prepared for war. We  are the soldiers and we are at war with the devil. We need a full feast on the Word of God in order to have substance for our soul. Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (NIV) Jesus had to use the Word of God to defeat the devil. Therefore, that lets us know that we must do the same in order to defend ourselves against the attacks of the devil.

          What’s most important for Christians to do is to READ THE BIBLE FOR YOURSELVES!!! I can’t emphasize this enough on these blogs and that is for people to not wait on your minsters to teach you the Word of God. You must and should study for yourselves. 2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to

God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (NIV) God did not say to wait on the pastors to do it, you must do it for yourself. You are to have your own relationship with God. Many pastors are going to go to hell for misleading their flock and not doing what God told them to do as leaders. However, you don’t have to follow this same path. God has given us all discernment to know what is right and wrong. If your pastor is not teaching God’s word correctly or you feel that God is leading you in a different direction, ask God for clarity and wisdom so that you will not be led astray by the cons of the enemy. Church is not to be a rush even for the sake of time. Yes, there are some who have large congregations and some of them may need to create other houses of worship in order for the people to be attended to on a more personal level. That’s another topic for some other time. However, if you do not understand something in the word of God, watch other ministries online who may be teaching that topic and/or by materials that relate to the subject you need to know. Most of all, ask God for wisdom and knowledge which He has promised to give generously of. Persecution for the body of Christ is coming to the United States and other countries who have not already experienced it. The word of God needs to be instilled in your heart and mind so that you will be ready to STAND.