Struggling to answer the ‘why’ questions about the church of the 21^st century I wondered:

Why does it appear there is no hunger for the things of God? Why is it difficult to distinguish between the world and the church? What is filling the hearts and minds of the church today? Is the church today hearing the Word of God or the words of man?

Undoubtedly, many shepherds are weak in their presentation of the Word of God, and the sheep weaker still, but God has commanded each one, shepherd and sheep alike to study to show themselves approved of God.

Finger pointing must stop, personal accountability must begin.

The following authors’ books appear on the May, 2013 best seller list, “compiled and distributed by the Evangelical Christian Publishing Assn.”

Sarah Young, claiming to have received revelation from Jesus through dialogue journaling (something she learned from the two “listeners” who wrote God Calling.) Her books are written as if Jesus were speaking messages directly to the reader. There were 7 books by Ms. Young on the best seller list.!!.

Francis Chan also had several books on the best seller list. Mr. Chan’ speaking of Love Wins by Rob Bell says:

“There was a lot that was good in that book. There are some good principles in there. Some of the things that he dislikes about the evangelical church today are things I have a real problem with as well. I told Rob that some of the stuff that he writes needs to be heard, and the people who need to hear it won't hear it because of the tone and some of the other things that he writes.”

After inviting former Roman Catholic Mike Gendron, www.proclaimingthegospel.org to speak at his church, Francis Chan disregarded the truth of scripture, refused to allow the scheduled Q&A that was to follow Mike’ talk, and admonished Mike from the pulpit as Mike stood beside him in disbelief. For Mike’ biblical stand against the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, he was ridiculed and berated as Chan told the audience to disregard his message and apologized to any catholics who might have been offended.

There were ‘christian/evangelical’ authors like Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts, with her panentheistic worldview and author Gary Chapman whose book, The 5 Love Languages basically teaches conditional love - “ I’ll scratch your back, you scratch mine.” His book appeals to personal felt-needs, feelings, desires, must-haves, lusts of deceit, fueling self-centered idolatry, not a servant’s heart. There were books by William P. Young’ The Shack and Cross Roads and Joyce Meyer, Battlefield of the Mind. There were books about heaven and books from the pit of hell. These best sellers are in demand by secular as well as Christian readers.

As long as the church hungers for recreation not righteousness, sensuality not spirituality and hype instead of holiness, seeking to be entertained, following the doctrines of demons rather than holy scripture, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, not recognizing that such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual and demonic the church will continue to slide further and further away from the truth found only in The Word of God and ever closer to deception and acceptance of tolerant theology and ecumenicalism.

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed…”
2 Peter 2

[many thanks to those who read these books and posted their reviews online]