— Critical issues concerning the Church —

Dear Believer,

Since the Field Report targets critical issues concerning the Church, this second article of a 4-part series, is not intended to comfort.  Instead, we pray it will provoke to serious thought and fervent prayer ...  for the church is rapidly spiraling into its foretold apostasy.  Indeed, entire denominations are being led astray and finding a sound congregation often entails searching beyond the large, popular and familiar brand.

In any discussion of church, it’s imperative to distinguish between God’s ... and the counterfeit.  We use "churchdom" to refer to all (including impostors) and Church or “born-agains” for the true.  Though differences are as opposite as can be their destinies, many unwary seekers are being deceived.  Other articles in this “CODfish” series provide further insight (see foot).

Rabble and the Redeemed

Are “rabble” among the
redeemed leading the Church astray?

(Part 2 of 4)

"The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat!” (Nu 11:4)

When God miraculously delivered His people out of Egypt, some non-Israelites tagged along; presumably, preferring the glory and safety of identifying with God’s people, than Pharaoh.  The KJV calls this amalgamation a “mixed multitude” (Ex 12:37-38); which “rabble” (NIV) among them later became a deadly infection.  At one point, their dissatisfaction with the wilderness diet incited the entire nation to complain.  It seems they preferred their Egyptian menu to supernaturally served manna (Nu 11:7 NIV).  Not to absolve Israelites of substantial responsibility for their “murmuring,” but scripture pointedly notes that it was the rabble who helped lead them astray.  Such were of a “different spirit,” as later the apostle Paul later mentions (2 Cor 6:14).  Clearly, a lesson for today.

Rabble in the Church

Under the greater umbrella of churchdom where all professing believers shelter, also encamp trouble-inciting rabble; non-Christians having a “different spirit.”  As our text states, this isn’t a new development.  Of all the satanic tactics to destroy the Church, few are as effective as infiltration and unbelief.  For example, scripture records that in this instance, he succeeded in preventing all but two of the 600,000 men (not counting women and children) from entering the Promised Land.  That is 99.999% of them and would merit an Olympic gold medal ... though hardly good enough to defeat the plans and purposes of our all-knowing God and Father.

Although the Bible doesn’t publish a rabble-to-redeemed ratio within that migration, it’s obvious that non-Israelites were in the minority.  Likewise, in biblically sound congregations today, unbelievers are a small minority.  However, there’s a fly in that ointment: an increasing number of local churches are NOT biblically healthy.  In fact, there is growing evidence that unbelievers now control some local churches, seminaries ... even entire sectors of churchdom.  This assertion might sound extreme, but bear with us as we examine the evidence.  To be sure, as with the Israelites, nothing can absolve today's believers of responsibility for straying from scripture or not holding leaders accountable to same.  Nor will blaming the rabble suffice at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10).

The idea that the unsaved can control a congregation’s agenda finds support in the statistic of 52,000 Christians leaving institutionalized church every week.¹  Mind you, not leaving Christianity ... but the corrupted version of a local church.  As one earnest believer recently put it, “I just couldn’t gut-it-out anymore.”  After some 30 years as an engaged Christian, he could no longer tolerate the “weakly,” watered-down or aberrant teachings pandering to the unsaved.  Then there’s the matter of far too many persons in positions of leadership who do not “walk the talk.”

The bigger picture

A recent Newsweek article¹ blared: “Are you a believer?  Provocative new surveys reveal a nation where most claim to be religious but few take their faith seriously.” In it, George Barna plus Gallup polls and other sources offer evidence that the Church has evolved into something quite different than the biblical model.  Here’s a sampling of statistics prompting such an article:

• The divorce rate among pastors now equals that of their congregation's and the world's.
• 150 United Methodist Church ministers recently came together in rebellion against Scripture and their denomination, in their determination to join lesbians in marriage.
• "Christian” TV consistently features rabble.  Purporting to speak for God, they routinely milk the flock of millions with bogus prophecies and hackneyed scams such as “hundredfold” blessings and anointed handkercheifs that primarily profit their religious businesses and themselves.
• Countless sheep were fleeced by the “Y2K” rabblers, leaving many financially weakened and fearfully imprisoned in their own armed, overstocked and barricaded homes.
• False teachers fill the media with tabloid type tripe to draw in and entrap the unwary; prophecy being a favorite lure.
• Armed with millions of dollars from the unsuspecting, prosperity rabblers hawk another gospel to keep the blind in bondage to worldly trinkets and lust of their eyes.
• Behavior, standards and performance of today’s church-goers is virtually indistinguishable from the world’s.  They look and act pretty much the same.

What’s behind all this?  Multiple causes.  As with those first Israelites, some is incited by rabble in our midst.  However, responsibility also lays squarely at the feet of God’s erring people, including unqualified leadership.  All of which are works of the enemy to destroy the true Church through infiltration, unbelief, complacency and wolves in sheep’s clothing who preach another gospel.

Come out from her!

From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture calls God’s elect to come out of the world’s systems and assemble as a body of the redeemed (the eccslesia).  Not to segregate, but separate so as not to be “... unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? .. what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Co 6:14).  Let’s be clear about this.  For pagans to approach the Church for salvation is blessedly biblical.  However, they must never be treated as family until born-again.  We’re to be on guard against "... false brethren unawares brought in, who (come) in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage" (Gal 2:4).  Congregational gatherings are for blood-bought born-agains; evangelism venues being quite another matter.  Spiritual regeneration is prerequisite for continued attendance or to be embraced as “family."  Please see Acts 2:37-41.

Come into us!

A prime reason the average Sunday service has become unpalatable to so many seasoned believers in that it’s too heavily influenced by rabble.  Having gained the ears and favor of a church-growth oriented and business minded leadership, their unsanctified wallets buy pulpit pull.  Equally to blame are saints who’ve neither been good “Bereans” (Acts 17:11) nor call leadership to account before the Word of God.  Woe to us!

Additionally, we make church more Egypt-friendly with cafes, gift shops and by importing its music styles: absurdities such as “Christian Rock” and squishy, I-My-Me choruses.  Bad enough at the Mall; but ... in the sanctuary?!  Furthermore, like carnival barkers, we invite rabble into our midst by the zillions, then entreat them to stay with zero accountability. In effect, we wine, dine and call them family; invite them to the Lord’s holy table, then of course, fleece them; goat hair being fair game.  We make them feel at home where there should be but conviction and hope.  However, perverse pulpit pandering is carefully calculated not to make them uneasy as they nurse their Starbucks ... while many genuine wool-bearers suffer spiritual hunger.

Come out, or else!

Of the 2-3 million souls in the Egyption exodus, only two (Joshua and Caleb) eventually entered the Promised Land with its houses, vineyards, wells, etc. (Ex 3:8).  That being the Old Testament’s tangible and temporal type of the New Testament’s spiritual and eternal reward awaiting all who overcome “... by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony” (Rev 12:11).  Why didn’t the others gain their reward?  •Unbelief fostered by •un-renewed minds and •“Egyptian” hearts.  For 40 years, instead of drawing on the promises of God, they fed on rebel regrets and rabble reminiscing.  Although God freed their bodies from slavery, they did not excise Egypt from their hearts.  Though saved by the blood of the Passover lamb, all but two of the originals perished in the wilderness along with the rabble.  In spite of being God’s covenant people, they did not receive their inheritance or enter their rest.  Pleeeze ... review chapter four of Hebrews.

We’re to love the unsaved, and we do.  They’re folks like ourselves; souls that God loves and for whom Jesus died.  Our charge is to be salt and light to them; living, walking, animated testimonies of His mercy, forgiveness and love.  But always bear in mind, we redeemed have a different spirit, serve a different God and have a different destiny.  We’re called to "separate" from them and to assemble exclusively as the blood-bought, consecrated family of God.  If instead, we gather together in a rabble roost, it’ll likely be under the headship of a rebel man, at the altar of a golden ram.  Be not deceived: there’s little virtue in coming out of the world ... then inviting it into the sanctuary; into the midst of God’s called out ones.  His Word implores:  "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, that ye receive not of her plagues ... He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Rev 18:4, 2:29).

Although we redeemed rest in the security of being sealed until our final redemption, we must remain vigilant to the wiles of the enemy: rabble in the pews and our own rebel hearts of unbelief (2 Cor 2:22; Eph 6:11; Heb 3:7-19).  Wisdom suggests a periodic check up to confirm that our hearts, minds and treasures have not slipped back to Egypt.

1. Newsweek magizine, August 17, 2004 pps 37-40

— Articles in this series —

•  CODfish Denomination? — 3 million seasoned believers join it yearly. (1 of 4)
•  CODfish Wilderness — Be encouraged, it’s a time & place of preparation. (Part 3 of 4)
•  CODfish Update — Church Of the Displaced. (Part 4 of 4)

ABOUT US:  Founded in 1993, Hallelujah Living Ministries is a donation-based, non-denominational Christian outreach to uplift, inform and challenge followers of Jesus Christ.  For more information or a copy of our always-free print newsletter, please include a  postal mail address along with your comments and prayer requests. Thank you for visiting  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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