The Judge at the Door

   He Who holds the seven stars in His right hand, Who walks among the golden candlesticks, will weigh and judge each church, and hold the church leaders responsible for whatever good, or bad, went on in that church. This is the message I hear as Jesus Christ addresses the Seven Churches in Asia. There are those who believe and teach we shall never see judgement; but Peter tells us "judgement must begin at the house of the Lord" (1 Peter 4:17) Church leaders will be held accountable.
   For what? Not only for what the did, actively, but also for what they allowed, passively. Because what was Jesus' problem with the churches of Pergamos and Thyatira? Read it again: YOU HAVE THEM THERE that hold the doctrine of Balaam; YOU HAVE THEM that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans; YOU SUFFER (allow) that woman Jezebel to teach (Revelation 2:14,15,20). It's not that these nasty people charged into the church and took over, but that the "angel" of the church (pastor and elders) accomodated  them. And church leaders today must look around on the sanctuary of the Most High God and see what spiritual vermin we've allowed to set up house!
   "I have said you are gods, and all of you children of the Most High, but you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes."  declares the LORD in Psalm 82:6-7, chiding them, "How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked?"  Are we not admonished in Ephesians 4:27, "Neither give place to the Devil"? Did not Christ give to His people the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven? (Matthew 16:19) Did He not set us as watchmen on the wall, to warn the wicked to turn from his ways? (Ezekiel 3:17-21) Have we fallen asleep at the switch?
   "Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God" Paul exhorted the Ephesian elders, further warning them to keep an eye out for false teachers rising up in the church.  In Hebrews we are told church leadership watch for our souls, "as they that must give account" (13:17) Not watch how many empty seats are in the back row, or how many minutes over the announcements ran, but to watch for the flocks' souls! 
    Again I say, we believers, both as individuals, and corporately as churches, will be judged, not only for the bad we'll do, but also for the good we don't do.  "Prove it, Matt." OK, hear the words of Jesus Himself in Luke 12:45-47.... "But and if that servant say in his heart, 'My Lord delayeth His coming'; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken, the Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for Him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder , and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to His will, shall be beaten with many stripes." 
   "Jesus wouldn't do THAT!"  He says He will. This is serious stuff. folks. Pastors, elders, bishops, deacons, and teachers will be held to a higher standard; for to whom much is given is much required! Leaders of mega-churches and denominations will be examined through Christ's eyes of fire, and their rule will be weighed in the balance!
 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore we ought to fear the Lord, and clean up our spiritual houses. Don't know about all you, but I probably got some beatin's coming. Get ready, for, as James says, "Behold, the Judge stands at the door!"

NEXT: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap!