The Greatest Enemy of The Church

“Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory
    and stretch themselves out on their couches,
and eat lambs from the flock
    and calves from the midst of the stall,
who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp
    and like David invent for themselves instruments of music,
who drink wine in bowls
    and anoint themselves with the finest oils,
    but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! Amos 6:4-6

This passage was shared at church today. Pastor Byron was talking about Ruts, Rot or Revival a lesson by A.W. Tozer. He shared how we get stuck in routines of the past and it robs us of where God is now. I wrote down three words that came to mind when he asked “what is the greatest enemy of the church?”. A.W. Tozer’s answers was “when we make routine our Lord”. I wrote down complacency, comfort, and compromise. I suppose routine does lead to complacency, a sense of comfort and can lead to compromise. To me personally, those are some of the greatest threats to the church. The Bible backs up these with warnings.

Complacency Complacency is smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or achievements. These passages talk about being diligent in our relationship with Christ, we are called to be dependent on Him. If we are not moving forward we are being complacent.

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? James 2:19-20

Because they hated knowledge
    and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
would have none of my counsel
    and despised all my reproof,
therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
    and have their fill of their own devices.
For the simple are killed by their turning away,
    and the complacency of fools destroys them;
but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
    and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” Proverbs 1:29-33

Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Matthew 25:1-13

Comfort Comfort is a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraints. The Bible warns us that trials and tribulation will come. Our paths will not always be comfortable and easy.

And I will lead the blind
    in a way that they do not know,
in paths that they have not known
    I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light,
    the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I do,
    and I do not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

Compromise – Compromise is accepting standards that are lower than is desirable. As believers we are set apart to God, when we try to live as the world does we make small compromises that will ultimately pull us away from Him. It is a risk we are better off not taking.

Take care, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst. You shall tear down their altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they whore after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice, and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters whore after their gods and make your sons whore after their gods. Exodus 34:12-16

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
    and I will be their God,
    and they shall be my people. 2 Corinthians 6:14-16

I feel like these are tied together when we allow ourselves to get comfortable and our Christian walk it is easy to become complacent. Our complacency leads to compromise because we are no longer moving forward in God’s power. We find ourselves standing still. We are not moving forward in the kingdom, we are going backwards. Christians were not meant to be comfortable. Comforted so that we can comfort others. Forward moving. Aren’t meant to be complacent, we were called to be imitators of Christ. Jesus was never complacent and He never compromised.

Prayer – Lord, I know at times when I walk with You I have sought comfort over growth. I have sought complacency over stepping up and out in You. And I have compromised on who I know You called me to be. I know I can be my own worst enemy. Lord to surrender each day of my life to You. I want to give it all to You and do all that You have called me to. In Jesus name Amen.