Malachi 1:6-2:9, Why Is the Church Dwindling?

Malachi 1:6-2:9 and the Question of a Dwindling Church

Malachi chapter 1 from verse 6 to chapter 2 verse 9. Hear the word of the Lord. A Son honors his father and a servant his master. If then I am a father. Where is my honor and if I am a master? Where is my fear says the Lord of hosts to you.

Oh priest? Who despise my name? But you say How have we despised your name by offering polluted food upon my altar, but you say how we polluted you. By saying that the Lord's table may be despised when you offer blind animals and sacrifice.

Is that not evil. And when you offer those that are lame or sick? Is that not evil? Present that to your governor. Will he accept you or show you favor says the Lord of hosts and now and treat the favor of God that he may be Gracious to us with such a gift from your hand.

Will he show favor to any of you says the Lord of hosts? Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain. I have no pleasure in you says the Lord of hosts and I will not accept an offering from your hand.

For from the rising of the Sun to its setting. My name will be great among the nations and in every place incense will be offered to my name and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations says the Lord of hosts.

But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted and his fruit That is its food may be despised. But you say what a weariness this is and you snort at it says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick and this you bring as your offering.

Shall I accept from your hand says the Lord? Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock and vows it and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished for I am a great king says the Lord of hosts and my name will be feared among the nations and Now Oh priest this command is for you.

If you will not listen if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name says the Lord of hosts. Then I will send a curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them because you do not lay it to heart.

Behold, I will rebuke your offspring and spread dung on your faces the dung of your offerings and you shall be taken away with it. So show you know that I have sent this command to you that my covenant with Levi may stand says the Lord of hosts.

My covenant with him was one of life and peace and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth and no wrong was found on his lips.

He walked with me in peace and uprightness and turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge and people should seek instruction from his mouth. For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

But you have turned aside from the way you have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi says the Lord of hosts. And so I make you despise and abased before all the people and as much as you do not keep my ways.

But show partiality in your instruction. Make the Lord at his blessings to the reading of his Holy Word. Well earlier this year Gallup released a poll that found for the first time in his 80 year history.

Less than half of Americans or members of a church or some other kind of religious institution. They found that only 47 of people were members down from remaining around 70 when they first asked the question in 1937 until just as recently about 60 years later in 1999 of course.

The first question is is why? Why is the church dwindling at least at the USA now worldwide over about the same time? Christianity has grown rapidly. It has quadrupled in size over the last century. Around the world particularly in Asia in Africa, but in America after remaining steady about 70 for about three generations.

Now.

It's as though the bottom has fallen out.

Why?

What's causing the decline? After all like any good business the Church in America has been trying to adapt its product to meet market demands. For some time since the 19th century the so-called second Great Awakening Churches began to focus on getting more people in the door.

They geared themselves for that goal after all more foot traffic in the doors means more cash flow in the offering plate. I don't think that's what they all did it for just for the money. They wanted to reach people and they thought we've got to meet their their demands what they want.

And so the music and the messages were crafted to appeal To more people what the people want. Psalm singing faded away. The songs became more sentimental of the sermon more emotional or more practical.

The end result of that was that churches thought that they were putting out a form of Religious entertainment. And it even seemed to work for a while for a long while actually as the Gallup poll reminded us 70 church membership and as recently as year 2000.

Earlier than that the churches didn't have a whole lot of Quality competition for the entertainment time and dollar, but now that's all changed intelligent young people raised in the church. It's all about religious entertainment and nothing about discipleship.

Nothing about a God to be worshipped with reverence and awe. Such people will correctly see that they can get much better entertainment at home watching their satellite TVs or Online or at the movies or at a concert so the market for the church's product is.

Dwindling.

Now some of the newer churches have tried to correct this by making the style of its services more appealing particularly more appealing to young People more contemporary music less formalism more practicality the sermon now feeling either like a motivational.

Speaker or.

Maybe you know like your friendly neighbor leaning over the fence giving you long care tips. That kind of style their goal. They say is to be sensitive to what the customers Want. What do the people want?

But I think they missed the point. The point is that the product the church is supposed to be putting out. It's not supposed to be Putting out a a form of religious entertainment at all whether in the old style.

With the hymns the gospel songs and all that people go in a man either in the old style or in a new style. It's not like a fast-food place that kind of just lets you have it your way. It's the one place where the customer is not King.

The Lord is the product we're supposed to be putting out is God-centered worshipful lives. Followers of Jesus who show to the world that we have bowed before the greatness of the name of Jesus. Why is the church dwindling at least in the USA.

Well, we see here in the in the second disputation between the Lord and his people out of six we see Why the religion here is dwindling. Israel has returned from exile. They have Reformed. The Lord is not happy though with the product that they are producing.

We see here four points on.

A.

Dwindling but supposedly reformed church. First corrupted worship second rejected churches third defected preachers and finally Accepted pastors. Why is the church dwindling? Because of corrupted worship the Lord begins in verse 6 saying that he is a father.

He's a master to his people and both fathers and mothers. They deserve honor. But where's the honor he is do. What he's asking. Where's my honor? I Look at your worship. Where's my honor in it says that instead of honoring him. They have despised him.

They ask though back notice how out of touch with reality. They are they ask back. How have we despised your name? They are totally unaware what they're they're doing after all we're they think we're giving sacrifices that the temple is rebuilt.

Thinking we sacrifice a lot to get that temple back up and going. We worked hard we paid money. We put it as a priority even ahead of building the wall around the city. It would be as if someone today denied that they despise God because after all they think I go to services I attend church I give to the offering.

How have I despised your name. God notice the unawareness the blind spot. That goes along with corrupted worship wherever you find corrupted worship. You find people that have no idea that it's corrupted.

They think it's great.

It's meeting their needs. They like it. Why shouldn't God today? People think that anything they do is worship. God must accept is that we're doing him a favor. Right we choose our music for what pleases us not what pleases him don't we.

They'd be surprised people today to hear God accuse them of Despising him, but here God says in verse 8 you're despising me by offering polluted sacrifices. Mangy lambs.

Blind goats.

Sick calves.

Thinking that you can give God saying you think you can give me anything In you have whatever leftovers you couldn't sell them anywhere else. You couldn't sell them in the marketplace. So you quote sacrifice them to me in verse 13.

He said to them you offer what is about to die of disease. Anyway, it's gonna die. Why not offers a quote sacrifice a sacrifice is gonna die. Anyway, is it? Or even what's already been killed you're driving to church instead of giving some real sacrifice.

You stop but Pick up some roadkill along the way and offer it. Plop down a dead possum in the basket over there. This is what we brought something that cost nothing. That involves no sacrifice. You wouldn't think of offering that to your governor.

God says to them, you know, if you want to please the governor you got to give him something really nice. But for me you you offer whatever is left over and God says in verse 14. Don't you know you try to please your governor?

Don't you know who I am? I am the great king. They thought they could worship God on the cheap because they had less reverence and awe of God Than they had for their governor. Now I wonder many churches today.

Do people get the impression that we are coming before someone we regard as the great king. The Lord of hosts notice that occurs over and over again and Malachi relatively short book. It has that phrase probably is percentage wise more than any other book in the in the Bible Lord of hosts.

That is he has armies of angels at his command. Is that who we think we're approaching. Do they feel in the air that we really believe this? God is great that his word is to be trembled at that. He is someone who deserves more honor more careful attention to how we honor him.

Then we would if the president Himself was to visit us. Do people get that impression in our churches today? Or do we do we seem like a lot like these people here like in verse 13. Who are saying it what a weariness this is.

They're going to the temple and think what a weariness is. This is going to church was so weary.

Boring.

This is so boring. When will this be over? There are people today in many churches who snort it biblical worship and preaching. They may have been they may have been going to church all their lives and after 80 years of self-centered church attendance They still can't discern what is wrong with the shallowest TV preacher.

I surprised and offended an elderly lady once when I Just lady had been going to church all her life and I told her that Joel Osteen was a false teacher. She was like what?

He had no idea. How do you go to church all your life and not and not know that? What are you listening to?

Kid, no idea. They'll regard the real preaching of the word is the most depressing stuff. They want it. They'll scored it because they want to go where they can hear how to live their best life now. How great they are even with their ego puffed and then.

The the tragic thing it's just people won't understand why their kids and grandkids. They aren't interested in. The churches they go to. Why is church attendance dropping here in America, I Know people raised in evangelical churches and Baptist families that left their churches and went to traditional liturgical churches.

Churches that I would criticize for having a lot of false doctrine for using icons, which are really just idols. But they left their evangelical churches because they got sick of the shallow performances that passes itself off as worship.

At least what they left for they think has a sense of awe a sense of something holy something that's beyond them more than just Something that's been crafted. To please them as the customer about me getting my way.

You see making by us making worship the worship of God. Into a show that attracts the crowds. I mean, that's our focus. How can I please these people when we do that or when we try to make his word all about our success about?

Here's what how's how I can use this to help you have your best life now. By doing that we've lost that vision of the awesomeness of God someone. Well, so much greater and beyond us did we forget about ourselves?

And so we ask here where's my honor where's my fear. That's the one thing we cannot be without. In worship honor even fear a sense that we stand we stand sinful before a holy God. That his name is great.

And it's and he has to be it is and to be called by his name is a great honor and an end of duty. It makes an impression on us and we have an impression of the majesty of the Lord. We have that we can have the most reformed theology.

But glorious building. We don't really have a practical building but. Even if we did got the most elegant service. The most rich what they call it liturgy. But the most eloquent preacher at the most exquisite music, but if we don't have that the honor and fear of God.

Then we are worshiping.

Our worship is corrupt.

Like theirs even many reformed people that they look for the right formula the right things to do or not do. You know just sing psalms and just do this of that. Simple. And they think of you. If you keep these steps this formula you do these things.

That'll make for biblical worship. It won't if your heart is not full of awe and reverence for God. Of course worship isn't just about what we do. Here is in Romans chapter 12 verse 1. The sacrifice we offer is our entire lives as a living sacrifice.

Lived every day as an act of worship to God. And the first way we do that is to renew our minds with the Word of God.

And then.

We would learn to think like God does. Not like the world has trained us to. So we'll be changed. Worship true biblical worship all the time. It's all of our lives a result in changed lives. So the cheat in verse 14 vows one thing to God and Then he sacrifices something else.

Someone cheats God if he or she vows his best bull like here and then offers.

Roadkill.

He vows to live for God in a time of zinc great zeal and emotion to to be transformed to live God's way. With tears, you know, take me. I'll follow you wherever you go Exclaims he'll do anything go anywhere give up all to follow Jesus and then after a while He feels its weariness.

Boring.

And now he won't give up a sinful relationship. Or much money or time and. So he began offering everything that's what he pledged. But now is willing to only give up maybe some spare time some spare change on Sunday morning.

And after a while not even that and the Lord calls him in verse 14 a cheat. They're cheating God the result of corrupted worship. Maybe of us offering our lives to God a living sacrifice. Lord Take me.

And then after a while, we're tired where we consider weary and we give only a few Bear coins. The result of that is God's saying you cheated me. And then comes Rejected churches some people that they can't conceive that God actually Rejects churches that there are there are churches that would be better off If they close their doors.

Now here Israel has returned from exile. They've rebuilt that temple and then God looks at what they are doing in that rebuilt temple and says, you know. In verse 10, it would be better if you just shut it down.

Close the doors so that they forget about it here. We see a picture of the rejected Church. God does indeed reject some churches. Their their worship is so corrupt so self-centered, you know sappy songs motivational or political.

Speaking. It's moralistic. It's therapeutic. It's all about us and our feelings. They'd be about our politics our success. And so it's void of of honor and fear of the Lord. The Word of God is something they just be snored at they just ignore to be bored with that God says.

You should be closed close it down. You want to know why churches are declining. Because God is shutting many of their doors. Look at verse 10. It's better to shut the doors to a church than to perpetrate worthless worship.

We can have a fine-tuned theology it can be reformed like these people. But if our hearts are like these people in the last sentence of verse of verse 6 chapter 1 verse 6. We're full of ourselves we're so Obtuse so unaware of our corrupted worship.

We ask God how we despise your name. We like what we're doing unaware of how unsacrificial our worship is then we will be Rejected would be a rejected church. God hasn't got his left them even though they may not know it.

It's like having left your house and calling back To someone behind you. Could you close the door behind me, please? That's what God is doing here. He's left that house. And he did that temple that or the church.

Could someone please shut the door for me. I'm gone. This is about us. We think highly of ourselves for having maybe better doctrine more theologically correct music our psalm singing our expository preaching.

Our heads around the Lord's table that is our proper preparation for the Lord's Supper and and on and on. But if we have no fear of God We're just so impressed with ourself. We got the formula, right?

No reverence, no trembling at his word. Then God says in verse 10. I Have no pleasure in you. You might be enjoying what you're doing God says but I don't. Worship is to be done for an audience of one.

That's why we say it. It's not a show. Our slides might be messed up our sound system popping. I might say, um too much. Look at my notes too long. But if it's done with reverence and all it produces change lives your lives change.

Then it's worship and God would say I have pleasure in that. On the other hand if we had the money and we could pay Professional musicians we could we could pay Herbie to be a full-time song leader. He didn't have to do his physical therapy anymore.

He could just Invest all his time in this. We could have sound technicians to run the sound we could have layout artists to do the slides. And we could rehearse everything so it comes off flawlessly. It was just a show maybe it entertains you.

But it doesn't change you. God would say I have no pleasure in you. We think we're offering worship to God, but he says I will not accept an offering from your hand. He wants it shut down because in verses 11 and 12.

He doesn't want this confusing people that that this is Worship this is what worship is all about this second-rate entertainment these unchanged lives this sentimental clap-trap. Moralism how to be a better person be a nicer person therapy this like a meeting for a counseling this roadkill.

Sacrifices that require no sacrifice. This spare time and spare change given his so-called service this empty stuff. That this Is somehow worthy of God?

No.

It's not.

If your life isn't new And you aren't renewing your mind. You aren't becoming new. You aren't worshiping If we aren't transformed by the greatness of God. And see in verse 11 for from the rising of the Sun To its setting like in the psalm we sang from the rising of the Sun to its setting my name will be great.

Among the nations.

We don't feel that. We aren't worshiping. We want to see with with all that again at the end of verse 11 the name of Jesus. He says will be great.

Among the nations.

That he is the great king. I used to comment a lot more in race than I do now that some people didn't understand why I was commenting on race. Specifically condemning the racism that used to be so common here in the South.

It wasn't just to make an historical point. It certainly wasn't. Quote, you know virtue signal there were quote woke. It was to make the point.

That the religion.

That lives so harmoniously. With that racism. You know a whole century after the Civil War when the church grew rapidly in the South, but at the same time simultaneously side-by-side the culture often of the same people.

Growing these churches was so obviously and egregiously. Disobeying Jesus a second greatest command to love your neighbor as yourself. A religion that could live with that sin. Could not denounce it just not expect its members to be different.

That religion. Had a problem.

With worship.

It wasn't producing Transform lives at least not wholly transformed countercultural lives now. In our day now that that racism has faded somewhat. I think it's think it has. What do you think of the chances that we still have the problem with worship?

Deracem racism might have changed. But has the worship really changed? Now it's great that there's less racism. But that doesn't necessarily mean that we've changed the root problem with worship that we now have.

Suddenly we we have inexplicably we have new churches where our great king is now. Finally getting the worship that he deserves is that's what happening. I remember he is majestic and holy and awesome.

He's the board of hosts with armies at his command legions of angels at his beck and call planets spinning and Stars blazing as he declares his glory. He speaks and we're supposed to tremble. He says love your neighbor as.

Yourself.

Now if we're. We're real worshipers. If we're really giving him the honor that he's do we fear him. We tremble at his word.

Will obey. Will change.

According to his command will be transformed. Why is the church in America declining? Because of defected preachers beginning in Chapter 1 verse 6 God is addressing the priest for most of most of this.

He's addressing the priests. They are the ones Who should know the law that the law does not allow these mangy lambs and these blind goats and this rogue kill. They should know what they're allowing. It's not allowable by God's law.

They should that those aren't proper sacrifices. They know it's wrong. But they don't stand up for what's right, you know, they're probably thinking to themselves. Why should I get mr. Deep pockets these rich guys coming in offering their their second rate sacrifices.

Why should I get them angry for telling them that their possum? They picked up off the highway is not an acceptable sacrifice in chapter 2 verse 1. The Lord reminds us again that he's addressing first the priest.

This command is for you for you priest now. Sure, everyone has been in on this shabby worship. They're all in on it. But you you priests have been leading the way in the shabby worship Instead of leading the right way.

Now I've spent much of my adult life around pastors or pastors and training and some of them are some of the best people you ever hope to meet. Unselfish and caring and kind and giving and generous and godly and serious and committed but there are others that.

Well, I.

Just don't want to think about. Of all that could be said about the reasons why the church is declining. I believe the number one reason is The hireling ministry. That is those who do it do their ministry for for the money for the career.

Maybe some for some maybe not necessarily money for the recognition for the ego boost. They get to have people come and listen to them for half an hour or 45 minutes every week. They don't carry the burden of the Word of the Lord nor are they really troubled by the troubles of the sheep?

Because they're hired hands. They're doing it for themselves. Either for their pocketbook or for their ego or both. If this flock gets to be too much trouble or too little pay. Well, then they'll go elsewhere.

Where the grass is greener if the wolves attack.

They'll just run away.

They are defected preachers. They are just defective. They have defected. They have traded sides. They may have begun with some desire to serve God to see his kingdom grow to be used in that to be for Jesus, but when they saw the price to be paid and When the other side offered better pay a more comfortable lifestyle they defected.

Just like Soviet spies or pilots used to defect or still today Cuban baseball players might defect to the u .s. These preachers have defected to the side that used to be their enemy. They may have begun on the side of God's kingdom, but now they just want to protect the old boys network.

Or their pension or their status. They may have begun wanting to declare the whole Council of God, but now they'll skip over those parts. That mr. Deepak is as alike what they know might offend these people.

Maybe like he saw I hated like last week John Piper said about such men quote when the glory of God no longer satisfies the heart of a preacher. He can do two things. Leave the ministry or stay and preach for money.

Would that they all left? Would that they all left. God despises The fraudulent ministry all about pleasing people maintaining the ego or the esteem of the minister or just for the money. He despises that kind of spiritual leadership because he loves his sheep.

Jesus the true Good Shepherd died to buy the lives of the sheep that these hireling Minister so-called ministers these hirelings these people for pay are willing to sacrifice on the alters alters of their career.

Notice what he promised it to do to them in chapter 2 verse 3. This is quite bold quite severe. Chapter 2 verse 3 behold God speaking. I will rebuke your Offspring your children. Jesus will later literally rebuke the offspring of these priests.

He rebuked the priests of his own day. I.

Wonder.

For today if a reason why many were PK's they call him preachers kids have a bad reputation is that the Lord is the Lord. Fulfilling this verse. He rebukes the children of the professional ministry. Then notice there in verse 3 I will spread dung on your faces the dung of your offerings.

Otherwise, they weren't properly cleaning them and presenting them. And so he's gonna Put it on them. Gotta say he's gonna take out the excrement that is in these mangy lambs and blind goats and roadkill.

And he's gonna smear it on their faces. He said you want to know what I think of you. You're like this and rubs their faces in it. And then it says you shall be taken away. Taken away to the dungheap.

Down the sewer where you belong with the rest of the excrement. Chapter 2 verse 3. They so crave popularity and approval or money but in the end of verse 9 the Lord promises they will be despised. Says a based that means humiliated.

Before all the people they got into it for their ego God will bring them down. They cause many to stumble by their instruction he says in chapter 2 verse 8 they tell the wealthy. That their roadkill is acceptable.

They show partiality. In other words the people that can do them favors. They tell them all anything they want to hear and then the poor they don't care about. Just like today many tell some church attendees that their sins are fine.

If they're uncommitted life never really laid down as a as a living sacrifice their worldly ways of thinking. Maybe in the past their racism though. They're now their greed their materialism living for getting wealth.

It's all fine. Particularly if you're influential and can help me out. I'll tell you what you want to hear. It's amazing to me today how many otherwise, you know conservative evangelicals who are often many other subjects will will rail about Taking it all of Word of God literally.

Some of many of the very same people will pass over Jesus's teaching about money you know, Jesus said do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth and that was often just ignored today a Preacher of a prominent preacher today makes or has a net worth of 14 million dollars and They excuse that it's just he's on my side.

I like him like what he says. Okay, never mind. Jesus said Do not lay it for yourself treasure. No, never mind. We'll let it slide. Showing partiality he's on my side, right? Now being naive I once asked why in the past during the long period when the church was growing side-by-side.

During the time with slavery and segregation. Why ask why? In the why in the South? Why did white preachers correct the racism? Why didn't they rail against the racism of their church members? Why didn't they scold them for it and tell them to repent and I was told simply well because they get fired.

That's why. Well to the hireling. That that ends their argument doesn't it about whether you should speak on that. They're paid to say stuff and they say it and they take their pay. And so God promises to strike white right where they live.

They turn their religion into a business to benefit themselves. And so God promises in chapter 2 verse 2 to make the product they put out Unmarketable. People are going to them going to the temple for a blessing, you know, so they're Wife gives birth healthy children and all they have they prosper.

They want a blessing from God if they give a sacrifice, but God says he will turn these hirelings blessings into curses. Whatever they ask for a blessing for these priests They will be cursed and people soon get the connection every time I go to this priest and ask for a blessing it turns out that worse than before.

That'll dry up demand for their product quickly. In verse 2 because the priests won't take the Word of God seriously because they lack the fear of God. God promises to ruin their business. He takes his own glory that seriously, but most of all he despises the hiring ministry because that ministry despises God.

They are the people in chapter 1 verse 6 who despise God's name by choosing to pander to people's Self-centered desires to have services are all about them their sentiments their feelings their ego. Maybe their politics.

They didn't really believe that the name of the Lord would be great among the nations that the Lord is the great king they have a lot more fear a lot more respect for Their governor than they do for the Lord.

Or maybe today for preachers from for a few powerful agitators who might get them fired than they do for the prospect of standing before God One day and giving account of their ministry. Where is the fear and the awe of God that is lacking in so many churches.

It's been lost in the cowardice of the defected Preachers but not all preachers are defected some are Accepted pastors here exemplified by by Levi. He's the father of all the priests. God will judge the defected preachers notice in verse 4.

He does it as a way of setting them apart that's the defected preachers setting them apart from the accepted pastors, so The purpose of judgment you shall know. Who are the ones he's coveted with. By doing other words God is saying by doing what I'm going to do to them to these defected preachers these bad priests.

You'll know that there are true Pastors that I've called I'm gonna be able to separate them here in verses 5 to 7 we see the picture first of Levi father the priest and here a model of the accepted pastor and a type of the high priest.

That we need.

He's like a tree.

Here first in verse 5 the roots.

He fears God.

Remember how this began? Where's my fear? Where's where's the awe? Well, the accepted pastor he fears God he has it. His heart is rooted in reverence of the Lord. He knows that one day he will be judged.

The accepted pastor doesn't want to go out of his way to offend people. Let's go out and just make people unhappy just to make them unhappy Looking for a fight, but he knows that if he holds something of God's Word, he holds it back.

Just because it will make some people upset. Then he will be judged by God for that. He fears God's judgment more than man's approval. Jesus had in John chapter 12 verse 49 that the father commanded him what to say and he spoke it.

Think of that he father commanded him what to say. Jesus spoke it and that's why sometimes What he said got him in trouble got him crucified. Then the trunk of his life the accepted pastor the trunk of his life like a tree.