Have you been there?

     Journey's are meant to be experienced and shared for the most part.  Some places in our journey aren't though.  When the first church was assembled they met underground (sometimes literally) and voluntarily were accountable to each other.  Trust was a big issue amongst the believers as they were being hunted and killed by radical terrorist.  Not much fun in that.  They confessed to each other, knew each other, and honored each other as the Lord had instructed them to do.  They shared what they had and all had enough.  It would seem heaven on earth to some levels.  What there was in reality a very stressful time if they chose to serve Jesus.  So, what if someone in the church chose to sin?  The Bible says that we are to approach the one in sin separately (to avoid embarrassment) and confront the person so that they can repent.  If they don't listen then bring them before a witness.  If they don't listen then bring them before the church.  If they remain unrepentant they were to separate themselves from the person.  They were no longer a Christian in good standing.  This was dangerous in several ways.  The "unrepentant" was now unable to join in any of the churches because they communicated with one another and had all things in common.  The "unrepentant" was cast back into the hands of the radical terrorist where they were subject to death.  However, if he/she repented then all was good and a fellow believer was saved from all of that.  Have you ever been in a similar situation?
     There is none of that now.  If someone is confronted in any form they just go to another church who is willing to be okay with their sin as long as they are paying the tithe.  Our churches have allowed so much sin that they no longer resemble the first church.  They have nothing in common with each other and write their own rules in order to be what they want to be instead of being what Christ wants them to be.  This deterioration of the church has taken us to the place where you can worship anyway you want, believe anyway you want to the extent that you can worship in the First Church of Satan in San Francisco and all over the world now.  People can choose where they are comfortable, where their sin is accepted and their morals aren't brought into question.  Many pastors no longer mention "sin" for fear their congregation will go elsewhere.  The moral and ethical decline of those who profess faith rules the church that was intended to worship and be ruled by Jesus Christ, the Father and the Holy Spirit.  When the rapture comes there will be many "fake" believers left behind and their pastors with them.  You don't want to be "there."
     We now live in a world where more than 60% don't believe in hell.  Another 50% believe that no one will be going to hell.  Then there are those who don't believe that sin is wrong especially if you aren't hurting anyone.  I know it's not a pleasant subject.  But, have you been there?  Are you one of God's true followers or are you one of those who are not?  It's a serious question that only you can answer.  Don't expect those whom you associate with to stand before the throne and defend you as a good person.  They won't be there.  It will be you standing before the God who died for you.  If we don't want to be in that situation we need to take our faith seriously and understand that God is God of all or God is not God at all.  It's your choice.  It has always been.