Let Us Be Like Other Nations

'Let us be like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, and worship wood and stone.'

- Ezekiel 20:32b

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations."

- 1 Samuel 8: 4-5

Reading history, one is struck by the truth in the adage "history repeats itself". Indeed when the wise man proclaimed that there is nothing new under the sun, much apostasy and heresy in the visible church today are simply rehashes of ancient heresies.

Israel wanted to be like the other nations around them. They desired to have a human king even though they already had the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. They followed the surrounding nations in their worship of rocks and trees and brought the judgment and wrath of God upon themselves for their rebellion.

Is not the visible church doing likewise today? We will not have God to rule over us, instead He has to submit to our will, our plans, our designs. He has to change His plans according to Man's decisions lest He infringes upon Man's sovereign will. God has become a glorified genie-in-a-lamp that must give us what we want or else we would not worship Him.

Similarly in the evaluation of a church, it is no longer according to the standard set in the Bible but rather to the standards of the World. No longer do we consider whether a church is faithful in its proclamation of the Gospel or Holy Scripture. No longer do we strive for Truth and Holiness amongst the brethren nor warn men of the judgment to come. Rather, the standard of success seen in the church today is the standard set by the World. The biggest, the wealthiest, the most "happening", the most seeker-friendly church is seen as the godliest church.

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

- 1 Timothy 6:3-5 (KJV)

For the church today so seeks to be like the World, to compete with it in terms of grandeur, achievements, size, entertainment, etc... Are not the churches that are lauded in Singapore today those with large memberships? Or those with exciting worship services that employ an array of multimedia, drama and dance? Or those with charismatic and personable preachers? Or those that provide a "comfortable" environment where "everyone is accepted" and there is no preaching on the "hard" topics of sin or repentance or self-denial?

Let us turn to the Lord while He is still near, lest we go the way of rebellious Israel and suffer under His Wrath.