Could there be any more depressing of text to the heart of a preacher than Ezekiel 33:30-32?
“As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ 31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.” –Ezekiel 33:30-32
One of the most painful things for myself and I am sure other pastors as well, is to observe folk that “like” our sermons but don’t take them beyond the walls of the church. Ezekiel in this text is told that the downfall of the people of Israel is in part due to the fact that they listen to the words of God but fail to put them into practice. How many of our churches are struggling, how many of our homes are falling apart, how many lives are personally crumbling because of the very same reality in our day? In fact this is such a key point of the text that God tells Ezekiel this twice,
“My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice.”
Then again…
“Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.“
What an indictment of the church in North America! What an indictment of the Laodicean Church in North American!
But wait pastor, before we agree to quickly!
Something that is even more disappointing and indicting is this: I think there are actually pastors that preach expecting people to hear their words, but never put them into practice. There are pastors that prepare like they are just filling time. Pastors that study like they have nothing new to learn. Pastors that pray for habit not for conviction. Pastors that step into pulpits each week because it is their job, rather than their Divine calling.
As a preacher I want to say to all congregants, and hopefully this is true of your pastor as well:
If we are, if I am preaching sermons that are only worth a surface level appreciation, if I am preaching sermons that are only worth a pat on the back, if I am preaching sermons that only entertain & do not take you to the Bible then tell me/us so that I/we can change.
The church in North America is dying…not a slow death…a rapid death! We are falling like Israel! In part because, “They Hear Your Words, But They Do Not Put Them Into Practice!”
Congregants be accountable–say, “Enough is enough! I will not pass through another sermon, another Sabbath, another worship service unchanged, without application to my life.”
Pastors be accountable–say, “Enough is enough! We will not prepare one more message, preach one more sermon, teach one more lesson without the expectation of life change amongst God’s flock.”
Enough is enough for all of us!
Are you a cultural Adventist? Or we could ask are you a cultural Christian? Either way let me share this with you: if you are, then you are wasting your life!
A “cultural Adventist,” is someone who, by his/her own admission, is an Adventist solely because he/she was raised and educated in the church. Let me tell you, if this is your position you’re wasting your life and time! I personally believe to be “cultural” anything is a waste, but my wife says I am intense in all areas, so maybe that is a little extreme. It is not extreme though to say that “cultural” Christianity or because of my belief system Adventism is leading you no where but eternal separation from God. How and why do I say that?
Revelation 3:15 & 16–
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
This text is a description of “cultural” living. “Cultural” living is living with no passion, simply going through the motions for the sake of going through the motions. That is what was happening with the church at Laodicea. The Laodicean church was simply going through the motions, no passion, doing Christianity just for the sake of doing Christianity, not because they were truly following Christ. And Jesus said, “Because you have no passion I will spit you out!” It sounds to me like being spit out is pretty much the description of a wasted life.
So are you a “Cultural Adventist Christian” ? Would you die for Jesus? Would you die for what you believe in? Is your greatest passion Jesus and your second greatest passion the mission of Jesus, seeking and saving the lost? As you learn things from the Bible do you ask how can I live more like Jesus? Who can I share this with?
Folks don’t be anything just cause it is the culture, especially Christianity! Be passionate for Jesus and the truths you believe or be nothing, but don’t be cultural, it will just get you spit out!