The Invisible Church Blog

Having addressed one ditch, the other ditch of harlotry AKA easy-believeism, antinomianism etc. should be mentioned as well. Lordship lacking the love that comes with husbandship, this group loves them all, or so they think. As a spiritual harlot, they try to take Christ plus anything or sometimes plus everything. They cannot be content with one husband but must have many, as dictated by their love of the world. For these, syncretism becomes the order of the day, a mingling of two or more things that are entirely inconsistent. They think they can have Christ AND whatever comes to the imagination of their heart. They are not a devoted spouse but have multiple lovers (can be self, worldliness, licentiousness, purpose-driven etc) hence the term harlot.

This group does seem to be by far the larger of the two at present, and will make up a very important part of the anything-goes harlot in Rev 17. They simply love not Christ, for they know not what love is. Love ultimately places the object loved at the foremost pre-eminence! The spiritual harlot having devoted themselves to worship after their own imaginations, this love they have reserved for themselves rather than for Christ as husband.

http://www.theinvisiblechurch.ca/edify/What_is_Love.html

For the path to be narrow, there has to be something on the left and the right of it. If you find yourself aware of or guarding against only one of the ditches, most often you are in the other one.

The whole issue can be summed up as “Love your Husband, and He alone.”

Ezek 16:35-38 Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord: Thus saith the Lord God; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them; Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them round about against thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness. And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy.

There are always two ditches on the side of the road that the driver ought to be aware of, and likewise there are multiple sets of opposing ditches within professing Christendom. One set of ditches that I would like to address today is the ditch of antinomianism and the opposing ditch of legalism. Today they have popped up with new names, and often go under the headings of ‘easy believism’ and ‘lordship salvation’, each one being an over-correction in an attempt to prevent heading into the opposing ditch. The ditch of choice being most loudly promoted today is that of lordship salvation, so it is that ditch which I will attempt to deal with.

‘Submitting to Christ as Lord’, or’ making Christ Lord of all your life’ are common terms within the lordship group, but what exactly are these terms trying to invoke? I believe the answer lies in this direction. The better part of restraining grace being absent from them, lordship salvation proponents must take it upon themselves to invent one. What they refer to as ’submitting to Christ as Lord’, is their effort of hanging fruit on a dead tree to give the appearance of life. Oh foolish trees…..who prefer slavery to husbandry, who would rather be Hagar’s than Sarah’s, who would rather have duties than desires! They know not that ‘thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name’.

The submission to a Lord is very different than to that of a husband, which is why many will submit to Christ as Lord (Matt 7:21), who have yet to receive Him as husband (Rev 21:9). The former is similar to the submission of Islam or Romanism, the latter is that of the Bride of Christ. In life many people call me by my name, and some will even submit to the tasks I require of them, yet it is only my wife who can claim me as ‘husband’. The former may attempt duties out of obligation, or in hopes of a favour returned, yet they never reach the intimacy of the marriage relationship. This is to show that others may ‘submit to me as lord’, or call me lord, or some other such thing, but ONLY my bride can claim me as her husband. Are our wills perfectly aligned? No! Do we always agree? No! Does she always do my will? No! Does that make her any less my wife? No! The difference is that whether or not the ability to perform the things is there, the desire for that most intimate of communion is there! This desire for the very person of Christ is love, and it covers a multitude of sins. To stop at a Lordship type of salvation, leaves one terribly short of the husbandship of Christ (1 Cor 16:22). Stay on the road!

Hosea 2:16 And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi (my husband); and shalt call me no more Baali (my Lord).

There is a most oft personal question that keeps arising and I thought I will answer it here. “The question is why do you not attend church?”

Answer:

One day I heard Christ knocking on the door of the church (Rev 3:20), so I got up and answered the door. He invited me to join Him outside (Rev 18:4), so I did, and have never looked back (Luke 9:62), lest I be turned to a pillar of salt (Gen 19:26).

On the outside, none dare stand between me and Christ as pope.

On the outside, I am more attentive to sin’s consequences.

On the outside, church can’t cover up the spiritual death.

On the outside, I learned from Christ Himself who He is.

On the outside, I learned to love Christ for who He is.

On the outside, I have sweet communion with Him.

On the outside, none can silence the truth of Christ.

On the outside, He fills my cup ‘til it runneth over.

On the outside, I can only be sustained by Christ.

On the outside, I learned to be led of the Spirit.

On the outside, religious distractions are gone.

On the outside, is no balm but that of Gilead.

On the outside, are others who need Christ.

On the outside, is where Christ was crucified.

On the outside, is where Christ arose again.

On the outside, I have only Christ to hold to.

On the outside, I strengthen that grip.

On the outside, is where Christ is.

That is why I stand outside the church with Christ.

I stumbled across a person who goes by the name of Castingthelight on another blog who has some questions he would like to ask. This thread will be dedicated to the discussion.

Casting, feel free to introduce yourself.

Among other things, the seven churches of Revelation, represent seven different mindsets with regards to their approach of Christ. These mindsets are typified in our modern denominational groupings.

I have summarized the seven churches relatively simply below. Christ has something good to say about all but the last, and a rebuke of some sort for all. Those who are actually Christ’s need to examine which ‘church’ best fits their mentality (not necessarily their place of attendance) and heed the admonishment. I don’t believe that anyone would like to hear Christ rebuke them personally, so it is best for us all to heed our own rebukes and address them now while we still can.

Ephesus- Represented by the Independent Fundamental churches- Can find error well, but have little or lost their love for Christ.

Smyrna- Represented by the church in Communist and other like Countries- Persecuted unto death, need to hold fast the faith unto death

Pergamos-Represented by the Pentecostal/Charismatic churches- Bold, but not discerning and generally relish error

Thyatira-Represented by Episcopal type churches (United, Anglican, Methodist Etc.)-Good human works, but not for Christ

Sardis- Represented by the Reformed churches-Have the truth, but pride in having it keeps it from their hearts leaving most yet dead

Philadelphia- Represented by brethren wherever they may be-Well done, but are to hold fast the faith

Laodicea- Represented by the New Evangelical (EG Purpose Driven et al) type churches-Nothing good to say about it, the lukewarmness is putrid to Christ.

Each of the churches surround Christ, yet none of them have a lock on the Christ in the center. Take heed, some of the bride of Christ can be found in each one, but there will not be many of Christ’s bride in any of them!

Where art thou?