"You Can't Handle The Truth!!!"

Jack Nicholson's response to Tom Cruise's question asking for the truth in "A Few Good Men" is as famous in movie lore as "Play again, Sam" or "Frankly Scarlet, I don't give a damn!"  The TRUTH - Jesus confounded Pilate about TRUTH (John 18:33-38).  Truth has taken flight to another realm.  In fact, to better understand the mischief taking place, I recommend a couple of books for anyone seeking answers to what has/is happening today concerning the TRUTH that Jesus taught and the Bible reveals -- John MacArthur's The Truth War, and David Wells' "No Place For Truth or Whatever Happened to Evangelical Theology?"  Together, they give a snapshot of the demise in the Church's place within a community and how the Bible has been relegated to "take it or leave it" status. 

In my opinion, our pulpits failure to hold fast to a true confession of faith has conceded and capitulated  to pressures for a more acceptable modern worship that would evolve in order to gain attendance.  Quantity over quality always trumps the truth.  Or to put it another way, pragmatism is more important than a Gospel that actually accomplishes something.  Change the format, get better entertainers, drop any inhibitions that hinder a worship experience.  Over the past 4 decades, at least, I am aware of the descent to supposedly follow the cliche', "win the lost at any cost."   If anything, we have empowered generations with false hopes by denying them the truth of the Gospel.  Judas may have sold out his Lord for 30 pieces of silver, but today's American brand of Christianity has bowed to the paganism of Aaron while Moses was on Sinai.  The golden calf may look different, but it's all the same untruth. 

Paul warns Timothy of those in the pew turning away from sound doctrine as having "...itching ears...."  What a metaphor for people who now turn away from Biblical truths to a smorgasbord of myths, visions, and "Thus saith the Lord" revelations.  So, I guess, the decline in our churches did not actually start 4 decades ago but has always been a malicious virus awaiting for the host's spiritual immune system to be weakened with cultural and societal mores infecting the conscious leaving the spiritually deceived with a motto of  "I set my own destiny."

Do we just accept this as the way it is or do pastors and church leaders arise to stand firm on the orthodox truths even if the many turn away?  How miserable it would be to believe (or deceive yourself) as a preacher that all these good people came to hear ME.  No, once you truly open the Word and expose sin, the need for repentance, the only hope is in Jesus Christ, either they will flee and scatter because the TRUTH makes them uncomfortable or they will humbly realize that the love of the Father is expressed ONLY in His Son's finished work. 

Whom shall I fear?  Read Romans 8:31-39 if you need an answer and a refreshing reminder that it's all about God not me.