Sinning Church in Sin Loving Society — E.A. Johnston

Spiritual Declension and the Church's Conformity to the World

When the church is indistinguishable from the world and they both travel in the same direction, it is time for deep concern. Times of spiritual declension in the church create a stupor that is fog-like in nature, where leaders of denominations live like blind dogs who chase the latest scent of pleasure, like that mythological tale of the king with no clothes.

The church lies naked in her corruption and cannot see herself for what she has become. The sign of Laodicea hangs over the doorway of the modern church, because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.

Apostasy and the Loss of the True Gospel

And knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. The title of my message today, friends, is Sinning Church in a Sin-loving Society. And I fear we are living in the last days where the church has fallen into apostasy and the spirit of Antichrist runs rampant in the land.

The true gospel no longer sounds forth in this country of reprobate church members who live a life alienated from God as they gorge themselves like Romans at a vomitorium. Apart from the Dark Ages, there's never been a time in church history where the situation is so bleak.

Moral Chaos and the Dearth of True Conversions

When there is moral chaos in society and religious institutions that have lost their voice of authority, the sad result is a dearth of true conversions. People slide into hell's torments by the minute, while sin-loving society spins out of control.

God's Holiness and Israel's Rebellion

God is holy, and he demands holiness from his followers. But like the people of God in the days of the prophet Hosea, Israel continued to turn their backs on the living God, to worship idols and their sinful actions, provoke the righteous indignation of a holy God who declared in Hosea 8 -7, For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.

The Church Reaping What It Has Sown

And that is where the church in America is today, reaping the seeds they have sown for the last sixty years. God has withdrawn himself from among us and left us to our own devices. The church exists on an island of self-preservation as it fortifies her embankments with money and manpower.

Israel's Forgotten Maker and Coming Judgment

A similar situation existed in Israel as seen in Hosea 8 -14. For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and built the temples. And Judah hath multiplied fenced cities. But I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

Israel's Whoredom and the Church's Present Condition

The backslidden Jews were chastised for their horlatory. God tells them, Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy is other people. For thou hast gone whoring from thy God. And that is our sad situation today, friends, with a sinning church in a sin-loving society.