Cowardliness In The Church by Michael Furlonger

What a list! What a list!

But cowardliness? I understand liars, sexually immoral, witch craft, and idolaters. But cowardliness? We might be able to say that we overcame such a number of burdens and temptations in our lives, but cowardliness?

Cowardliness In The Church?

Do we have cowards in the church? Every Sunday, people come in, sing songs, dance, become completely undignified (like King David did in 2 Sam. 6 when the Ark came to Jerusalem). “How can you, Michael, even think that we have cowardliness in the church?”

Are you afraid of losing your popularity? Do you avoid preaching on godliness out of fear that you will lose church attendants? No reference to sexual immorality, even though pornography runs rampant in the church? Do you address money and greed which Colossians 3:5 says is idolatry? Or, do you give a nice gentle ‘chat’ about how God has big plans for the congregation- granted they put enough money in the offering?

Fear Rejection?

I believe that we fear having the small church. Jesus said, “Go make disciples,” and so we try to make the gospel appealing to the masses by compromising the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So, we want that 200-300 weekly attendance and once we get it, we fear losing it.

Jesus Christ, in John 6:10, had an audience of about 5000 men (not including women and children). The next day, people abandoned Jesus until there were only 12 (John 6:70).

The difference between one day to the next? John 6:26-27, Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life…”

The loaves and fish. The food. How many turn to Jesus just for the loaves and fish? The house? The car? The promised prosperity?

Jesus wasn’t afraid of losing followers for the Gospel. He preached the whole Gospel of God.

Is Cowardliness In You?

Addressing pastors and leaders in the church, are you a coward? I’m sure you’ve proudly exclaimed that you would die for the Gospel. Or die for the church. But would you live for it?

Would you address sexual immorality that has plagued the church? Address the idolatry (greed) that is the cause of many going to church in the first place? Do you even recognize the pagan witch craft that people mask as a heightened spirituality?

Or, would you cower away in your office? Address sin only if a person brings it up. Be welcomed at other churches and take the seat of honour? Get called “Prophet So and So” or “Apostle So and So”?

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