035 Skewed Misconceptions Within The Church

The Watchman clarifies some concepts within the church that are skewed. None of these misconceptions are terminal  or entirely covenant breaking. Or are they? If these simple concepts can become skewed, what will be next? These skewed concepts are concerning. Beware! You are about to be warned!

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Transcript

035 Skewed Perceptions of the Church?

Welcome to The Watchman Speaks. I’m your host, Lonnie Richardson.

I hope that you are all doing well and that you are walking with the Lord and in His Blessings. There is little that can compare with basking in Holy Spirit’s presence and offering worship and praise to an ever present, all knowing, all powerful God. By the sacrifice that Jesus, Yeshua Ha Mashiach made, we are granted the ability to come boldly before the throne for worship and prayer. 

 Let’s talk about worship for just a moment. In the Old Testament the primary Hebrew word for worship is hwh (he vav hay) which indicates to bow, to prostrate oneself, in homage, respect and honor. In the New Testament the primary Greek word for worship is pro sky neo, which means to bow or prostrate oneself in homage, respect, and honor. But pro sky neo has a deeper meaning in that one bows or prostrates oneself in service to as a servant, but with a twist. It is to bow in homage, respect, honor, and service but with intimate intent.

Intimate intent? Yes, in that the service and homage are presented as in the act of intimacy of close relationship as in a dance or a kiss. 

Worship in the Old Testament and the New Testament indicates that it is a means of expressing adoration beyond comparison. In my opening statements I said, “There is little that can compare with basking in the Holy Spirit’s presence and offering worship and praise to an ever present, all knowing, ever present God.” That is an incorrect statement. There is NOTHING that can compare to basking in the Holy Spirit’s presence and offering worship and praise to an ever present, all knowing, all powerful God. There is nothing that comes in a bottle, in a tin, wrapped in plastic, or wrapped in foil That can compare. There is no past time, no hobby, no personal accomplishment, or corporate accomplishment that can compare.

Yes, I said that. I’m not taking it back because I believe it to be so. If you have any doubt that it is so, I present a very simple question, “Is there ANYTHING in your life that you would not sacrifice to bask in the presence of Holy Spirit, Ruach Ha-Kodesh, and WORSHIP God?”

You don’t have to answer me. I’m not looking for you to answer me. The only thing that I ask is that you don’t lie to yourself.

Why do I ask that question?

Well, I direct you to the Book of Revelation Chapter 4. Read that. It’s only 11 little bitty verses. But those 11 verses reveal quite a lot. We are presented a throne room one who sits on the throne. We are presented with twenty four thrones with twenty four elders. There are flashes of lightning and thunder emanating from the throne as well as the seven Spirits of God. There is a sea of glass and four living creatures who continually cry out, “HOLY, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” We see the elders cast their crowns before the throne, worshipping God. “Worthy are YOU, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

Now that is the scene set in heaven and it appears to me that there’s a whole lot of worshipping going on. So, if you don’t enjoy worship here on earth how are you going to feel when you are presented this reality in the spiritual realm when worship is ALL that is going on? That’s Revelation Chapter 4. Go ahead and read it. It’s not going to hurt you. Then, read it again.

Why am I hammering on worship so heavily? Because it appears that many have gotten their worship and praise confused. Seldom do you hear of worship and praise. In most instances we hear, “praise and worship”.  Why is that important? Is it important? Yes, I think that it is.

Worship and praise are NOT the same. Worship and Praise are two distinct different things. They go hand in hand, but they are not the same. Let me digress to semantics, again.

In Hebrew, the four primary words for praise are hellil (hallelujah), tehilla, and yadah. Hellil is raising the hallelujah and is the root of hallelujah as well as tehilla, Yadah is the root word in which Leah used to name Judah. Judah means praise. Remember? In battle “Judah shall go up first!” Praise precedes battle.

The three primary words for praise in Greek is aneo, epeneo, and epeneos. All indicating praise or various tenses or verbs of giving praise. Here is the difference. Worship indicates a bowing in honor of or submission. Praise is upright exerberance. Now, here is where some “Praise and Worship” Leaders get confused. Notice I said, praise and worship instead of worship and praise. The word for praise involving singing and playing instruments is zemeer Hebrew. It is mentioned only 44 times out of 254 mentionings of praise in the Old Testament. In the New Testament the Greek is hymneo and is mentioned 2 times out of 38 mentionings.

Skewed perception within the church #1, praise has taken the place of worship or, at least, supersedes worship. Many churches have to have the finest musicians and present the finest performance to get their praise on. I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with great music but when the emphasis is on the music or performance to bring about an emotional response instead of worship and praise  to a performance, then things have become skewed. Don’t say it doesn’t happen. It does. Praise is not worship. Worship is not praise. Does the not knowing the difference condemn anyone? No. Does getting worship and praise out of order condemn anyone? No. But when emphasis is placed on the show to merely draw an emotive response? An emotional response does not necessarily constitute worship. However, true worship is a crushing response brought about not by the quality of music according to the measure of man, but by the simple worthiness of the one being worshipped. Anything else is a skewed perception.

Skewed perception within the church #2. The church is NOT a music publishing company to put on a show and make money. Jesus said, in John 2:16, “Stop making my Father’s house a place of business.” That’s all I have to say about that. And by the way, the church is not a publishing house either. Enough said. Well no, it’s not enough. I suppose the same could apply to book stores and coffee shops or any other host of business that might take up habitation within the building that the church meets in.

Having presented these 2 skewed perceptions within the church, let me say that I’m NOT bashing the church! I LOVE the church! I’ve dedicated my life to serving God within the church and outside the church. If I did not, I would not be investing approximately 8 to 10 hours of seeking Holy Spirit in prayer, research, writing, recording, editing, and uploading each week to produce this podcast. I am passionate about the Church! As a watchman, it is my plight to see and issue warnings when necessary. It is not a popular assignment, and it can get rather lonely. So be it. Let’s continue.

 Skewed perception #3 within the church. The church does not exist to fund you or your personal ministry. IF you have been called into a particular ministry, God will provide the resources. There may be a time of waiting and angst. Ministries are rarely birthed without pain. And, I might add, IF you have been called into a particular ministry, it might be that you have some growing to do before your ministry can be manifested. I can attest to and witness to that statement. I wanted to do this podcast for the past four years. I didn’t have the necessary equipment, nor did I have the money necessary to acquire the equipment or to properly host the podcast. I had plenty to say, or I thought I did. Hind sight being 20/20, I can look back now and see that I really did not have a clue. I only had a partial glimpse of what was to be. And that’s not saying that I have the entire picture or the whole of what it is to be. Truth be told, God provided the equipment and the money a year before I actually started. The thing is that Cheryl and I worked to fund this ministry that God is allowing us to be part of. It is HIS ministry and we sacrifice to support the ministry. There you have it. It may very well be that God is waiting for you to roll your sleeves up and work to support His ministry in you. David said, “I will give no offering that has cost me nothing.” Even Paul worked as a tent maker or, as I believe, a prayer shawl maker. That’s another story that I’ll have to address at a later time.  But Paul worked to support himself and his ministry at times. 

But some of the equipment that God provided by the funds that we dedicated to His ministry lay unused and the all of the money apportioned to the ministry stayed in an account until God could grow me up to the point that His Spirit would let me record the first word. 

How do I know that? Because every time I’d sit down to write something or record something, I’d hit a wall. In my spirit I felt prompted to, “Just wait.” Quiet like. I submitted in obedience. I waited. I prayed. I continued to study the Holy Scriptures and meditate on them. I learned from a Holy Spirit who is the best teacher one could ask for. Psalm 32:8-9, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, otherwise they will not come near to you.” That’s what I see. I see a lot of folks wanting to start ministries that they want to do instead of what God has for them to do. I was once one of those people. And if it is something that God wants them to do, they are not willing to submit to the teaching of Holy Spirit to equip them for the task that is assigned to them. Then, they get frustrated because the church will not support them personally or their ministry in its entirety. Your ministry should align with the church. It is not that the church should align with your ministry. The church is for equipping the saints to do the ministry. 

Skewed Perception #4 within the church. The Church does not exist so that you can merely make friends and be popular. While being connected with believers is to be encouraged, to be built up, to spur one another on to love and good deeds, the church is not a social club. Yes, we should bear one another’s burdens. Yes, we should pray for each other, eat with each other, and encourage one another in love. But is the church a place to draw attention to oneself so that you can become popular or provide you with a pity party? No. I see this situation on an increasing basis. What I see is that there are believers who crave interaction with other believers but not just interaction. But rather, they want to develop deep everlasting friendships. There is nothing wrong with developing friendships within the church. I would encourage it. However, friendships take time to develop. Trust and discerning of spirit comes into play.  Respect can be given. Trust must be developed or earned. 

Now I understand that a house divided cannot stand. There needs to be connectivity. Friendships are forged. But when relationships don’t form as quickly as desired or a correction is offered in love, these beloved just move along to another church. They become frustrated and angry. They don’t stay in one place long enough to develop friendships. A friend is not merely a “yes” person who agrees with everything you say or do. A friend is one who is allowed to say “no” and still be a friend. Because someone disagrees with you on any particular stance does not warrant a breaking of covenant with that person or that body. It depends on the issue at hand and if that issue is major or minor. It is a sad and lonely existence.

Here’s something for them to consider. IF one has gone to twenty five or thirty churches and experienced the same thing that they perceive as rejection, is there any chance that it might be that your expectations or motives are skewed? Just a question. Is it that you are attempting to be something that you are not? Is it that you are attempting to force your agenda onto them? Just a question.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not attempting to condemn or judge any church or any individual. I know that it may sound as if I am. I am not. Nor is it my intent to openly criticize. I am hoping to awaken someone who will look around and say, “This is not the way it was intended to be in God’s plan of things.”

It is my genuine desire to see every believer uplifted and encouraged by the whole gospel. I am saddened by the seemingly obvious that many do not understand the whole gospel. I am saddened when I see someone drop their burdens at the foot of the cross, which they should. What saddens me is their unwillingness to take one step more past the cross. Quite honestly, I am somewhat surprised that they are unwilling to go further.

Why is that?

Because we live in a, “What’s in it for me?” society and culture. Not only does our culture not understand the salvation provided through the cross but a large portion of Christianity does not understand the promises of God found past the cross. Believer, there is a lot more found on the other side of that cross than you realize. There is greater comfort, assurance, and promise of an inheritance. On the other side of the cross lays the unfolding of things that are to come. 

Remember that scene of worship that I spoke of in the fourth chapter of the Book of Revelation? Prior to that were seven letters to seven churches. Five of those churches were found lacking, but still God was giving them a chance to repent. I wonder if God wrote a letter to every church today what those letters would say? I don’t have a definitive answer, but I have suspicions. I suspect that they would be a rehashing of those seven letters found in Revelation. 

God is still waiting for the church to repent. Judgment will begin within the church. Did you know that? 

 1st Peter 4:15-19, “Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, of thief, or evildoer, or as a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the Godless man and the sinner? Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”

What is Peter saying? He is saying the righteous should live righteous and be trained in righteousness without shame. Judgment begins in the house of God. Should we then make certain that the house of God is in order? What will be the outcome of those who do not obey the gospel of God? What? Do I intend to tell you that there is some obedience called for? No. I didn’t say that. Peter said that. Notice that Peter differentiates the godless and those who are sinners. Aren’t they the same? Think about that. Better yet, pray about it. The godless have no clue. The sinner knows what sin is and partakes anyway. 

Notice that Peter states, “Therefore, those who suffer according to the will of GOD shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.” Let’s unpack that for a moment. Is it God’s will that, at least, some of us will suffer? Peter said that it is so. Peter goes on to say that in that suffering we are to entrust our souls to faithful Creator and still do what is right even though doing what is right may cause us to suffer. Lonnie didn’t say that. The Watchman didn’t say that. Peter said that.

Therein, we have assurance on the other side of the cross. We can entrust our souls to a Creator who is faithful even if our doing what is right causes us to suffer in this life. 

Skewed Perception with the church #5. God does not exist to give you what you want or provide you a life on easy street. Plain. Simple. That’s skewed Christianity. 

Now, who am I to tell you these things?

I am no body. An unknown. I am a voice crying in the wilderness. “Repent, the kingdom of God is at hand.”

IF you cannot look around you and see that our judicial system in this country is slowly being dismantled, you are either blind or have your head buried in the sand. And that’s putting it nicely. 

Now consider a few things while you ponder on that.

God sent Sennacharib, the Assyrian King to overthrow the Northern Kingdom of Israel because Israel had turned its back on God. God sent Sennacharib to plunder and to gain spoils of war. But Sennacharib had plans of his own. He set his heart to destroy. He said that he had understanding and that by his hand Israel was destroyed. He was mighty and his princes were equal to the kings of the time. God wiped Sennacharib and the Assyrian culture off the face of the earth to such an extent that it was once thought by leading scientific experts that Assyria never existed. It was said that Assyria was merely an allegory mentioned in the Bible. It was not until the middle of the 1840’s that Ninevah and other Assyrian cities were discovered, proving, in fact, that Assyria had existed. It also proved how ruthless and brutal the Assyrian empire had been. Portrayals of captives being beheaded, limbs amputated, and total body mutilation were depicted. Those captives who lived were led away with large hooks that pierced the lower jaw from underneath were the lucky ones. Or, were they?

Consider that God sent Babylon to the southern kingdom of Judah. Babylon took Judah into captivity for seventy years, leaving behind only a handful of the lowest class to fend for themselves. God then destroyed Babylon by way of Persia. Persia destroyed by way of Rome. The remains of Babylon and Persia lays in the dust and Rome is not even a shadow of what it once was. Thank God for that.

Those were the giant mega powers of the day. These United States are considered a megapower in the earth. So is China. So is Russia. To a lesser extent you can throw India and Iraq into the game too. Do you think that God is capable of wiping it all away? Yes, it is possible. He wiped out the Northern Kingdom of Israel. God wiped out the Southern Kingdom of Judah. God wiped Assyria, Babylon, and Persia from the face of the earth. But, as far as God’s people are concerned, He left a remnant. It is in this remnant that there is hope.

That remnant is found, hiding, within the church of today. Why do you think I’m pointing out these skewed perceptions or misconceptions within the church? Because I believe that it is time for the remnant to be identified, awakened, and arise in new life. I am convinced that it is not too late for the remnant to add to their numbers. Some call me a “dutch uncle” because I appear to be saying, “I told you so.” 

That is not the case. In this day of sensationalistic drama within our society it may take a little shock therapy to wake up the church. These misconceptions within the church may seem like tidbits of nit picking. These skewed perceptions within the church are just a few things that are keeping the church weakened AND VULNERABLE. What do I mean by that?

I’ve seen the signs reading, “Keep religion out of politics!” Have you ever seen those? What they are saying is that we should keep the Christian influence out of the law making process. Why would we want to do that? Is that not what our country was founded upon? Is that not why we had a free country in the first place? Notice I said, why we HAD a free country.

We are no longer free. When agendas that are being shoved down the throat of citizens in America, not Iran, not China, not North Korea, and not Russia, I’m talking about America, when those agendas are being shoved down our throat without regard to the Constitution of America and what we were founded on, we are no longer free. 

How about we say, “Keep politics out of religion!” or Maybe, “Keep politics out of Christianity!” No, we can’t do that. That puts the church on a list of terrorists because we oppose certain policies that are being put into place without our vote.

These skewed perceptions or misconceptions that I present seem insignificant. They are not. They are divisive. They weaken the church. They make the church vulnerable.

I am The Old Watchman, Ezekiel. YOU HAVE BEEN Warned!

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