Flipper,
Very good points
The following is just some thinking out load and directed at no one
I have often thought of mans desire almost need to put their faith in something. All throughout time, man has worshiped just about everything in the hope of giving this life some meaning that believe it or, this life could not fulfill.
To a larger extent in the Western culture than perhaps anywhere else, man has increasingly made idols of the heart a more commercial proposition. How so? Well, if one could not find happiness, one could at least buy it, and buy it they did. I cannot begin to say whether or not a man, woman or child who frequents a church that demands large donations weekly is or is not lost and desperately searching for the real thing.
Likewise, I know many go to church, simply because of the contacts they can make that will benefit there work. I have seen Sunday angels and weekday devils and I know from them I learned a lot; so who am I to say that God did not use them for a very specific purpose.
Another question that I have always had, but could never find an answer too is whether or not God has drawn the ones that frequent the lies and heresies of the church, only so far. I grew up in a country area and went to a tiny Lutheran primary school. (16 kids from preschool to grade 6) We were taught the Bible and I guess pretty much the standard lies, but these folk were good peope, their hearts were good and they lived honestly and cleanly.
Are such as these, of which am sure there are millions worldwide to be lumped into the same bucket as the ones Christ called the blind leading the blind? What then is worse, the one who scrapes together all the spare change they have along with some extra so that they can attend the only church in their neighborhood, or the church members which gleefully hold out their hands for every last dollar.
Never forget, that regardless of the idols of the heart, each one of is here today spiritually because it was Gods plan for us to be. Therefore, in very much the same way as a very special sister told me today, perhaps we should give more attention to where we ourselves are standing than where some others may or may not be.
Eph 2:8 -9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Just my thoughts,
With love,
Darren