II Timothy 4:3&4 (NLT) For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

What an interesting scripture. I believe it adequately describes the days we are living in right now. Though many believe that we are entering into great times in the church today, seasons of revival and refreshing, I look around and see that we have more confusion than ever before. When one looks at the overwhelming ignorance of 'Christians' who are more fascinated and excited about picking up a Harry Potter book or movie (which promotes witchcraft, occult and demonic practices, such as casting spells on your enemies) and even reading it or showing it to their children than weeping over a lost generation and crying out vehemently with a true spirit of prayer for the power of God to reach out and rescue the dying millions of teenagers across America and the nations of the world, I have to wonder where we are at in the Church today. I wouldn't be concerned if we were only talking about a handful of people, but the sad reality is that we are talking about a growing number of 'believers' today.

Another troubling thought tonight has to do with the subject of humanism. The definition of humanism is "an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than 'divine' or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems." I believe that many churches that are 'emerging' today fall into this category. The Bible says in Judges 21:25 'In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.' This Scripture describes much of what we see coming out of pulpits and books today. Scriptures do not back the teachings of this new movement; rather, people are encouraged to 'question' Scriptures. This is such a dangerous trap. Once you begin questioning Scriptures, where does it end? You begin to question God and find yourself on a slippery slope where there are no absolutes.

In spite of the foolishness I have just mentioned, I firmly believe that there is a remnant that God has reserved and whom He is preparing to launch a full-scale attack on the lies of the enemy. People who have been through deep valleys of brokenness and yet have survived by holding tightly onto the One Who called them. People who are madly in love with Jesus Christ and who long for the day where they can kiss His nail scarred hands and feet. People who have been love struck by their Savior and thereby infused with a holy love for this broken generation. People who will give their lives in a righteous cause to see justice and deliverance for every child locked in cages tonight in India and Thailand, held captive as they are raped, tortured, and then programmed and forced into child prostitution. People who will not only weep but wrestle and win against the forces of darkness that have enslaved a generation to drugs, alcohol, sexual immorality, perversion, depression and fear. I pity 'Christians' who are so spiritually numb they need a witchcraft fairy tale to give their anemic spirituality a boost. I cringe at the thought of people who will embrace an 'idea' of spirituality in the form of humanism, yet hear at the Judgment Seat of Christ; "depart from me...I never knew you."

There's no real way to end this post tonight, so I will leave you with this quote from the late Leonard Ravenhill:

Could a mariner sit idle if he heard the drowning cry?
Could a doctor sit at ease and just let his patients die?
Could a fireman watch men burn and still give no hand?
Can you sit at ease in church with the world around you damned?