The Fall (but hope) of the American Church

by Christopher Hendrix

In light of our passage in 2 Corinthians 11:12–21, and its specific demonstration that false teachers find their source in Satan, meditate on this rendering of Genesis 3 (and other verses) as applied to our present-day church. Repent where repentance needs to occur, and take up hope where despair sets in. The church belongs to Christ. He will build it.

The Temptation

Now, the false teachers were more crafty than any teacher in the public whom the Lord God had appointed. They said to the church, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not have material possessions, not interact with any homosexual, not permit women in the church, not enjoy sex, not preach Christ crucified, and not address sin in preaching’?” And the church said to the false teachers, “We may have material possessions, but not love them more than God. We may interact with homosexuals but not tolerate their sin. Women are co-heirs of grace in the church and worship together with men. Only, God has designated specific roles for each. We may enjoy sex so long as it’s between a husband and wife. We ought to preach Christ crucified and address sin in preaching. If we go beyond these things, then we will die.”

But the false teachers said to the church, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you accumulate material possessions for yourself, then you’ll be happy. When you approve and support homosexuality, then you’ll be liked by people. When you allow women to preach and be pastors, then you’ll be considered a loving church. When you permit couples to sleep together, cohabitate, and commit adultery, then there will be peace in the church. When you preach Christ crucified, then people won’t stay because it doesn’t help them in their practical lives. When you preach on sin, then that will drive people away because they won’t understand or like it.

Listen to Pastor Chris teach on 2 Corinthians 11:12-21.

The Fall

So when the church saw that material possessions would be lovely to hoard, that approving of homosexuality would gain favor with the culture, that women as pastors would be approved by the crowds, that not addressing sexual immorality would bring a lack of confrontation in the church, that focusing on Christ’s morals versus His work would make the people feel empowered, and that not using the word sin would bring and keep people in the church, the church wanted these practices. They took them and believed in these ideas while their pastors sat quietly by.

The Judgment

And the Lord God came to address His people. The church and the pastors hid from the Lord. But the Lord God called to the pastors and the church and said to them, “Where are you?” The pastors replied, “We heard of your coming and were afraid, so we hid.” God said, “What reason do you have to be afraid? Did you hoard your possessions, approve of homosexuality, install women pastors, tolerate sexual immorality, not preach Christ, and not speak up against sin?” The pastors replied, “The church you gave us demanded these things, so we did them.” God said to the church, “What is this you have done?” The church said, “The false teachers deceived us, so we followed them.” The Lord God said to the false teachers, “I did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness until judgment. I did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah. I turned Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes and to extinction, making them as an example to the ungodly. I keep the unrighteous under punishment until the final day of judgment. 1 You will be thrown into the lake of fire. 2

”To the church, He said, “I have a few things against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. You have some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught to practice sexual immorality. You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who teaches and seduces my servants to practice sexual immorality. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. You say you are rich, prosperous, and need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 3  

To the pastors, He said, “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock. Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them. They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every beast of the field and were scattered. Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand My sheep from them and make them cease from feeding sheep. So the shepherds will not feed themselves anymore, but I will deliver My flock from their mouth, so that they will not be food for them.” 4

The Hope

Behold, pastors, church, false teachers, Christ rules and reigns! Behold, he rides in on a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.  His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. 5 He will build His church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail. 6

1 2 Peter 2:1–10

2 Rev. 19:17–21

3 Rev. 2:4–5, 14–16,20–23; 3:2–3, 16–17

4 Ezekiel 34

5 Rev. 19:11–16

6 Matt. 16:18