Drift

by Barry Grant

I watched as a man attempted to cut a large sheet of plywood in half. He was talking with a few other men while he was cutting, and it seemed that he wasn’t too concerned about making the cut straight. I noticed that he continued to cut further and further from the line that he had scratched into the piece of plywood with a nail. After he was several inches off, one of his friends tried to point it out but he pretended to ignore him. He tried to casually guide the old handsaw back towards the line, while continuing to talk with the men, not making a big deal of it. Finally, after he was more than a foot off, he stopped. He knew now that he had a problem, a problem he could not fix.

I had to think, “Is this what we are doing as the church, the bride of Christ?” We are not too serious about drifting off the straight and narrow way; we allow things to come into our midst. We say, “It’s not a big deal, let’s not be critical.” But the longer we wait, the harder it will be to straighten out. At first it shocks us; later it becomes the new normal. How do we tell if we have drifted? It should be as easy as considering where we used to be, and comparing it that with where we are now, then evaluating the change with what the Bible teaches.

Since fighting against drift is not popular, men in the church don’t want to do it. Some people in our churches who are drifting towards the world have perfected a feel-good gospel. They go on and on about how close they are getting to Jesus, and how blessed they are, but their direction is clearly not in line with the teachings of Scripture. They’re headed towards the world.

There are others who don’t want the church to drift, yet they have their own problems—the love of money, covetousness, and a love of pleasure. No one says anything because it seems that nobody wants to hear. A popular response is, “Yes, I know it’s not good, but what can we do?” “All churches have problems.” Or “Yes, I would never allow that, but I don’t feel it’s in my place to speak up about it.” “It’s not for my family, but if others want to do that, its fine.”

We live in a “me” age. Everything is about me. The conservative, Anabaptist people are getting tangled up in social media, selfies, tweeting, Facebook, and you name it. We love ourselves to the extent that we talk, act, and dress in ways that draw attention to ourselves—we promote ourselves. We talk about looking good, feeling good, and living good. What happened to promoting Jesus? Remember, Jesus said: For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it –Matthew 16:25. 

Why does it seem so hard to tell which direction we are going? If we are all about ourselves, then we are not all about Jesus. If we are into the latest fashions and the nicest cars, trucks, and houses, then we are not all about Jesus. We cannot indulge ourselves in pleasing the flesh, and still say we are Christians.

I was recently asked why some pastors lose their children to the world. In most cases, I believe it’s the same reason that many Anabaptists are losing their children to the kingdom of darkness—the fathers have lost a godly vision for their homes. They live a powerless life and allow the world to come in. Maybe they do not have television, but what about the internet? This still allows the influence of the world to come in. Also, Dad spends more time with his business and more time enjoying life than he does seeking the face of God.

Many Americans go on short-term missions. Many times, it seems that the youth who go want to hit the beach or some other pleasure and relaxation as soon as they get off the plane. Why? Because that’s what they are either taught or allowed to do back home—seek pleasure. They haven’t been taught to deny the flesh; they haven’t seen their parents deny the flesh. Some of us might be so far off the mark that we need to do like the carpenter at the beginning of this article—Humble ourselves and start over.

Husbands are pulling their unwilling wives into the world, wives are pushing their husbands into the world, and children are dragging their parents into the world. And unfortunately, since the modern church has thrown off all forms of discipline and structure, everyone can stay in the church and pollute it with their worldly ideas (at least as long as you smile and say you love Jesus.) Remember the Scriptures: If ye love me, keep my commandments –John 14:15. And, He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him –1 John 2:4. 

Here are some areas of drift in the church.

Brotherly love

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another –John 13:35. 

People have visited our church and asked if we practice the holy kiss. I reply that we do; however, understanding the need to love one another comes first. Many churches are doing away with the holy kiss, which is clearly instructed in the Word. And it seems appropriate because they have stopped loving one another. I don’t believe we understand the importance of this topic—having love one for another. When our love causes us to suffer for one another, the world sees it. Often, the reason a brotherhood stops loving each other is because they are not in the fight “together” anymore. They have become independent.

Some of the greatest acts of showing love for one another have happened on the battlefield. Men have jumped on grenades, and they have jumped in front of bullets to save their comrades. Because they have fought together, they look out for each other. What if a soldier marching out to battle would notice a fellow soldier’s ammunition clip fall from his gun? What would he do? Would he remain quiet because his comrade might get mad? Or would he remain quiet because he knew that he had his own problems? No. He would help his brother. If ungodly men on the battlefield can practice this, why can’t God’s people do so in the church? Before I was converted, I was in the military. I chose to suffer for my country. Now that I’m a Christian, I now choose to suffer for my Lord.

Dress

This is the most obvious, but also the most overlooked. The worldly church says, “It’s the heart that counts, so how we appear on the outside doesn’t matter”. Are the Anabaptists falling for this? The world used to dress modestly, but television and Hollywood began to promote a focus on the human body. Surely the church wouldn’t follow Hollywood. But what is the difference—a woman of the world who is obviously dressed immodestly, or a woman of the church dressed with a cape dress that is form-fitting, and with a little covering hanging skimpily on the back of her head? There is little difference, except the one claims to be a Christian and the other one doesn’t. Dear ones, the world is laughing at us.

So how does it all start? Subtly. First remove a pleat here or a gather there, then start using a little less material, finally, start buying brighter bolder colors. The men untuck the shirt, switch to jeans, then skinny jeans, undo a few buttons, grow out the hair a little. Buy a pair of the “cool” name brand shoes, and a cowboy hat. The devil is no fool. If you drop a frog into boiling water, it will jump out quickly. If you boil the water that contains the frog, he will slowly cook to death. Is it too late for us to jump out? With God all things are possible. Brothers and sisters, it is the heart that counts; and if we desire to look like the world, our heart is worldly and needs to be cleaned—cleaned by the ever so powerful blood of Jesus.

Pleasure

Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you –James 5:5-6. 

And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection –Luke 8:14. 

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away –2 Timothy 3:1-5. 

When we are given to pleasure, we separate ourselves from the sufferings we have been called to, therefore separating us from the reward received from suffering.

Remember, when we give in a little on any issue during our generation, our children will go farther with it. When our children enjoy going to church only because of the volleyball game that’s scheduled afterward, it’s not good. When they want to go on a mission trip because of the pleasures of the ocean, it’s not good. I’m not saying those things are bad, but when they become the focal point, we have a serious problem. Do we enjoy doing the things that God enjoys? Do we enjoy hymn sings anymore? Do we enjoy helping the poor? What about visiting the widows? I believe if the fathers have their priorities right, and they truly love doing the things of God even if the flesh suffers, then so will our children, (the next generation) for which WE are responsible. I often tell people that they don’t need to follow Jesus. They can love the world, and the pleasures of this life, but they cannot continue sitting in our church and pretend they are Christians. People might say that’s too harsh, but I believe Jesus said the same thing. 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 –Revelation 3:15-16. 

This is not a complete list as there are many other ways that the church is drifting towards the world. My prayer is that, first, we could see the problem, and second, we could deal with it. Remember a little leaven leavens the lump. (1 Corinthians 5)

There is a battle that’s raging; the kingdom of darkness is pressing in. The devil truly knows he has but a short time. Let us make a stand, put down our white flags, and pick up our swords. Let us remove the traitors, the world, and the sin that has come into the church. Let us purify the church and fight the good fight of faith.

How do we stop the drift? How do we leave behind a faithful generation? First, the fathers need to teach their children, and the leaders in the church need to teach them all. The early Anabaptists met as many times as they could, and that was usually out in the weather, in some woods somewhere. Our church here meets five times a week. Meeting on Sundays only, I believe, shows where our priorities are.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: –Ephesians 4:11-13. 

It seems that God would give us teachers, pastors, evangelists, prophets, and apostles if we would use them.

Let’s make this personal—there could be areas of drift in my life. We need to help each other before we all drift into ruin. Maybe we can maintain, but we also need to be concerned about our children. If we could get together and be honest with ourselves and with one another about what the scriptures clearly teach, then we would be more careful. If we could study God’s Word together, with open hearts and minds, I believe we could strengthen that which remains. I believe if we would fall on our faces before God, He would heal our churches. May God bless us all in a deeper walk with Him.

Freedom, or Bondage?

Freedom, or bondage—which will it be?

Or are they the same; can someone see?

People love things that money can buy,

They trade their lives, with no reason why.

The bills pile up for comforts and ease;

“What about our wives, or children to please?”

We spend all our days chasing the dollar.

The devil smiles as he tightens our collar.

We need time for God, and our families too.

Maybe less time at work could surely do.

Do we have time for that still small voice?

Or does our money talk, and give us no choice?

We all know the Bible—no work, no eat.

But money will bind us until death we meet.

The more we have, the more we need;

The love of money starts with a seed.

Lying to yourself is a foolish thing—

“Freedom, or bondage?” is the question I bring