The Lord has laid upon my heart a deep concern about the deadly trend of compromise that is paralyzing God’s people. While we praise God for the thousands that are still coming to Christ, we can not at the same time ignore this subtle but deadly conversion of the church to the world!
Losing Our Song
I heard about a canary that sang an unusually beautiful song. During the summer, its owner hung the cage in a nearby tree so the bird could enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. Eventually, sparrows began to frequent the tree. At first, the canary was frightened, but soon he began enjoying his new companions. Yet through the steady exposure to the sparrows, he gradually lost the sweetness of his song as he began mimicking the dull twitter of his new “friends.”
I truly fear what happened to the canary’s song is happening to the church. Through a long series of seemingly minor compromises and constant association with the world, I believe the church is losing its distinctive message and being slowly converted to the world!
World Conversion?
When we hear the phrase “world conversion,” most Christians immediately picture a great moving of the Holy Spirit that brings a global acceptance of Christ. But there is another spirit out there that is involved in a different form of evangelism. The devil is ever working to counteract the soul-winning efforts of God by sowing tares among the wheat.
And instead of the church converting the world to Christ, I believe there is frightening evidence that in many areas the church is gradually being converted to the world!
This subtle shift from service to Christ to serving the enemy is happening so slowly many Christians are unconscious they have changed teams. This drifting trend can be lethal to our souls. Remember, Jesus said when He returns most professed Christians will be astonished that they are excluded from heaven.
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:22, 23.
Spiritual Disorientation
Do you remember when John F. Kennedy Jr.’s single-engine aircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, killing him and two others? Investigators have come to believe that while flying over the blackened ocean on a nearly moonless night, he gazed out the window for reference instead of consulting his instruments. He believed he was flying straight and level, while in reality the plane was making a wide arch downward into the dark sea. He trusted his feelings and neglected to trust his instruments.
I fear this is what the church is doing now! Instead of looking to the compass of God’s unchanging Word for guidance, we are becoming spiritually disoriented from gazing out the window at the world. And many Christians are unaware that they’re flying upside down!
Converted by Comparison
“For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 11 Corinthians 10:12.
Historically, the church continually makes the mistake of determining how holy it is by comparing itself to the world. But as the standards of the world continue to plummet, the standards of the church tend to follow close behind—retaining just enough distance to maintain the illusion of holiness.
For one example, when I was growing up in New York City, a girlfriend of mine was sent home from school for wearing immodest clothes. (Mind you, this was a public school in New York!) But what was unacceptable then is readily accepted in most Christian schools today! We cannot afford to deceive ourselves by thinking that as long as we are holier than the world, we must be pleasing God! Jesus said in Luke 16:15, “For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”
Converted by Compromise
Another common strategy of the devil is to market Christianity to the world by making a few subtle compromises. For instance, some people attach Christian words to devilish music so the lost will be more attracted to the church and feel at home. But music is not a neutral medium. Sensual music does not become holy by simply rewriting a few words. And this door swings both ways, as thousands of our Christian youth develop an appetite for worldly music they eventually lose respect for the holiness of God—and end up leaving the church!
Another example of compromise is the new trend of “dressing down” for church on Sabbath morning to create a more relaxed and familiar environment. People argue that going casual makes visitors feel less pressure to change for church. In reality, the sense of reverence and sanctity for the Lord, His sanctuary, and the occasion of Sabbath worship, is greatly diminished. Obviously some can not afford formal clothing but it seems a little strange to me that some church members will dress up for their employer, but would dress down for the Almighty.
Catatonic Conversions
Did you know that roughly 60 percent of church members rarely make it to Sabbath School because they need to “sleep in” for some reason? Just like the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25, much of God’s church is sleeping without oil reserves for their lamps. And like the apostles in Gethsemane, many are spiritually snoring when we should be watching and praying.
“Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” Mark 13:35–37.
The World: A Love/Hate Relationship
Jesus was very clear! We are not of the world, and we should make no attempt to be like the world or make peace with the enemy. Remember Delilah had to lull Samson to sleep before she could neutralize his power. Likewise the devil is trying to sedate God’s people with the pleasures of this life.
“Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4. [Emphasis supplied.]
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15.
I could cite many more examples, but I think you see the principle. This was the philosophy that brought on the great apostasy of the Dark Ages. The liberals in the church argued, “Let’s reach the pagans by making a few minor compromises.” Soon they were praying to statues, observing pagan holidays, believing pagan doctrines, and idolizing Mary and the priests! Did the church grow? Absolutely! When the church lowers its standards to reach the world to create an illusion of salvation without self-denial, the lost will always come in droves. But how likely is it that these new nominal members will be saved?
A Self Examination
Paul said, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.” 11 Corinthians 13:5.
Here are a few clues to know if a church is gradually being converted to the world: If minds go blank when someone asks for scriptural reasons for our faith . . . If members can find little time for devotions, study, and prayer but always have time for TV . . . If members don’t see anything wrong with dining out, shopping, or attending sporting events on Sabbath . . . When leaders can’t detect anything wrong with “Christian Rap” and “Christian Rock” music and prefer the shallow “7/11” songs (where you sing the same seven words eleven times) . . . If non-Christian friends don’t notice a distinct difference in the congregation’s dress, diet, or conversation . . . this church is most likely being converted to the world.
It’s important in these last days that we carefully examine all aspects of our lives, or we may be caught unaware when Jesus comes. Friend, I urge you to stand with me as I do the same and work toward allowing God to purify our hearts and His church.
So What Can We Do?
For starters we desperately need a revival, but that can only come after heartfelt repentance.
James 4:7–10: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! . . . Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
We need to look to the Word and away from the world! We need to pray for revival!
Pastor Doug Batchelor is President and Speaker for Amazing Facts Ministries. He may be contacted by telephone at: 916-434-3880 or by mail at: P. O. Box 1058, Roseville, California 95678. This article is reprinted with permission from Pastor Batchelor’s August 2003 letter.