“They talk the talk, but they
don’t walk the walk.” That is a good way to say, “They’re
just giving lip
service.”
The Merriam-Webster
dictionary defines “lip service” as: support for someone or something that is
expressed by someone in words but that is not shown in that person's actions.
God puts it like this: “These
people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their
hearts are far from me.” (Isaiah 29:13a)
He goes on to say, “Their
worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. Therefore
once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of
the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.” Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their
plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who
will know?” You turn things upside down,
as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to
the one who formed it, “You did not make me”? Can the pot say to the potter,
“You know nothing”?” (Isaiah 29:13b-16)
There is an old saying, “One
bad apple will spoil the whole bunch.” That can be seen en masse today. Even
those who say they are Christians are giving only lip service to God. The world
apart from God has gone to hell in a hand basket, and many in the churches are
standing in line with them.
Those who are truly of Christ
should stand out like a sore thumb. It isn’t that they are better or more
important, but only because when we follow Jesus, we travel a different road.
Most people today don’t want
to stand out. They want to blend in. They want to be part of the “in-crowd.”
They want to be politically correct. They want to be liked by everyone. We have
become so politically correct, we are spiritually worthless. Another saying is,
“They could gag a maggot.” I think Jesus had that in mind in Revelation 3:16
when speaking to the church of Laodicea.
“So then, because you are
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” (NJKV)
How’s that for a vivid mental
picture? God does not mince words, even when it isn’t politically correct. He
just tells the Truth.
It is almost impossible to
find a body of believers today who are actually serious about what a church
body should be, as defined by the Bible. Most of it is man-made hoopla.
When speaking to Israel God
had this to say about their “church” services:
“I hate all your show and
pretense—the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.”
(Amos 5:2 NLT)
“I hate, I despise your
religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me.” (Amos 5:2 NIV)
I wonder if He is saying the
same thing to most of today’s churches when they all gather on Sunday for their
self-promotion, rah-rah activities.
Look, as Christians, there isn’t
one of us who doesn’t have room for improvement in our Christian lives when it
comes to serving Jesus Christ as He means for us to, and makes so plain in His
Word the Bible. I know that. That isn’t the problem. The problem is the vast
majority of so-called Christians who make up various church groups who don’t
know this and could care less as long as their little world is running
smoothly.
Is our Lord’s church in
trouble? No, not His true followers. They are sprinkled here and there in
various church groups and will stand firm until the Rapture when they are
called home. However, the secular church, Laodicea, is leading millions away
from God to judgment.
I know in my heart that Jesus
is returning soon to retrieve His Church in what the Bible calls the Rapture. I
don’t know when and I may or may not even be alive at that time, but it can’t
be much longer now. How many of us are looking for Him? Just from listening to
people, I feel that many true Christians are eagerly anticipating Jesus return.
The problem arises when that
is compared as a percentage of the whole. What is the percentage? I don’t know,
but I’m sure the Lord knows. However, I don’t think it takes a mental
heavy-weight to conclude that the vast majority of the “church” is not looking
for Christ’s return, and don’t give it much thought anyway. These same ones
would probably rather He wait, not so more people may be saved, but so they can
enjoy their little world that much longer. “Good grief, at least wait until
after my vacation Lord.”
Lip Service: You are running
for office. I listen to what you have to say and accept one of your cards. I
tell you how impressed I am with your stand on the issues, and I’m behind you
all the way. Election Day comes and goes. I keep my word and do not vote for
your opponent. Unfortunately, I don’t vote for you either, since I didn’t
bother to vote anyway.
This is exactly what many are
doing with Christ. They praise Him with their lips, and it stops there.
May I provide another
example? Thank you: Our group had a special memorial gathering to honor you and
your work. We really had a great time. We laughed; cried, shouted, heard a
bunch of interesting stories and the singing was fantastic. I’m sorry it wasn’t
exactly what you had in mind and we kind of forgot you, but at least we had a
good time. Well anyway, we’ve got to run. Have to beat the lunch crowd. We’ll
catch you next week though. Have a good one!
This is just about all Jesus
Christ, the Savior, gets on Sundays anymore; a little rah-rah gathering once a
week and off we go back to our little worlds.
I’ve always wondered if Jesus
will return for His church on a Sunday morning while all the churches are
gathered together. I guess you know what I’m going to say next. Yep, how many
will still be sitting in the pews after the true church is gone in that
twinkling of an eye?
There is too much lip service
today toward our Creator God. We each, who claim Jesus as our Savior and Lord,
need to do a punch list of our lives. We cannot do this for anyone else, and no
one else can do this for us. This is solely solo. Are we a “lip service”
candidate? We must know now, and we must correct it, if need be. If I need a
Savior, He will be my Savior if I ask Him. If I haven’t been serving my Savior
as Lord, I need to change that right now. No more lip service.
Jesus is coming soon, and
thousands upon thousands of people are going to be horrified because they have
been misled by the evil one.
In this country, generally
speaking, life is easy, and it is so easy to give lip service to God and go our
way. However, when the true Church is gone in the Rapture, hell will be
unleashed upon this world and that includes the United States of America. Life
will not be easy. It will be the most horrific time this world has ever seen.
It will hit every single individual, none excluded. A stand for Jesus during
that time will probably cost you your life. The “lip service” days will be
over.
While there is still time,
and while it is still so easy, put your faith in Jesus now to be your Savior
and Lord. Stand for Him, unashamedly. He is coming back.
“For I am not ashamed of the
gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who
believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16 NIV)
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
