Second reason for the church´s loss of identity

2. Intimate relationship and enslavement to this World

 The second reason for the church's loss of identity is its intimate relationship and enslavement to the world. For thus says the Lord, “The roads to Zion (church) mourn, for no one comes to her appointed feasts. All her gateways are desolate, her priests groan, her maidens grieve, and she is in bitter anguish. Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. The Lord has brought her grief because of her many sins. Her children have gone into exile, captive before the foe. All the splendors have departed from the daughters of Zion, her princes are like deer that find no pasture; in weakness they have fled before the pursuer” (Lamentation 1:4-6).

Regardless of how difficult it is for many of us to conceive, the church is in the world, but it is not of the world, the church is not a part of the system which governs this world, our admonition is to; "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities" (Revelation 18:4-5).

In Jesus' prayer to the Father on behalf of His disciples Jesus prayed saying; "But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world" (John 17:13-18).

The church's call of duty is to go into the entire world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned: It is when one believes and is baptized that he/she is added to the church. It is not the church`s call to invite the world into the church, the church is not a sanctuary for sinners as being portrayed. The church is not to be conformed to this world, but needs to be transformed by the renewing of the mind, that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph