Throughout history dictatorships have sought to eliminate God’s church or capture it as their mouthpiece.
Although the First Amendment of our Constitution says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;” we still need to be on guard.
Protecting freedom requires vigilance. Maintaining our influence also requires vigilance.
“The separation of church and state” has been the phrase attached to where our First Amendment speaks concerning the church. If you go back to the original papers and discussions of the time, you will see that this was not meant to be used to keep Bibles or prayer out of schools. Over the years, Congress actually purchased Bibles. They also endorsed a Bible on September 12, 1782, and they recommended it to the inhabitants of the United States. Going back, you will find that the First Amendment was meant to keep the government from setting up something like the Church of England. It was meant to protect the church from the government.
Furthermore, since our government was based on Judeo-Christian beliefs and our first Congress prayed and had Bible study, they fully intended our God – not some other god – to influence government. The church had influence.
Is the church still influential? Or have we become influenced over time?
When government controls the message of the pastors, they have a huge audience to disperse propaganda and forward an agenda. This does not have to be done by creating laws that directly attack a church. This can be done in various other ways. There are all kinds of regulations and taxes that affect nonprofits. A church can easily get bogged down in ways that do not change the message, but do change the ability to get the message out.
How can a church be influential? In order for the church to be influential, the members must remember that they are the church. They must remember that they answer to God, and they must remember that they carry the message, not the building. It was people that put our government together. It was people who endorsed and recommended a Bible for our country.
In Revelation, the 7 churches of Asia were all held accountable. Some feel these represent not only specific churches, but also church ages. They also feel that we are in the last church age.
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Revelation 3:15-18
If we want to truly be influential again, the church will need to overcome the same thing that was the issue in Laodicea. We are neither cold nor hot. Instead of being on fire for the Lord, and standing up for Jesus, we are comfortable.
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to take a look at the churches in Revelation. I suspect our churches are all a blend of these. Universally, we are most like the latter. Identify the weaknesses in your church. What can you do to move your church closer to God? How can it become more influential?