Dark clouds are gathering and thunder is heard in the distance. But is the church awake? Is the church aware of the storm bearing down on us? Are we equipped to handle it? Are we warning others?

Look around at our world. Are there signs of end times? Of course there are. How close are we? We can’t know the exact day or hour, but we are living in the time and season of Christ’s return. How do we know? The Bible tells us so! Jesus Himself described those times in Matthew 24, and other passages further define what that season entails. For example, 2 Timothy 3:1-7 provides a laundry list of disconcerting characteristic traits that will dominate the last days, and 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 tells us to expect deception and delusion. Unfortunately, our world displays all of the above, and those things (particularly deception and delusion) are all too common even in some churches.

Though Ezekiel 33 was not written specifically for the church, there is a principle in play that seems wise to consider: when danger is on the horizon, a watchman will be held accountable for the warning given (or not given). Thus, I join others in a clarion call to the body of Christ to know and understand the impending danger that lies ahead. It’s time for the church to wake up! We cannot expect a fallen world to act differently, but a truly redeemed body of Christ must mirror its Redeemer!

There are many dangers on the horizon, but over the next few days, we’ll focus only on a few that are quickly crippling the church.

Danger #1: Allowing government to become god.

Conservatives in America (and perhaps elsewhere) seem to put more hope in the government than in God. Even Evangelicals are looking for the Trump administration, the Republican party, or right-wingers in Congress to pull us out of the morass we face in America. There is excitement when things go our way, and (at times) there seems to be a political revival in our country. But where is the spiritual one?

Viewed in another perspective, government has become god for those entrenched in an entitlement mentality. So many are able-bodied, yet content to survive on “entitlement benefits” (aka handouts) rather than hard work that earns a paycheck. Those tend to turn to government to care for them, rather than seek God’s will in their lives. Thus, government becomes god, and is responsible to care for those who choose that way of life. However, God’s Word says, If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

Rather than put our faith in government, we must put our faith in God, the One who created us and sustains us. But the church is asleep. Either our own faith is weak, or we fail to share the hope that is found in Jesus Christ with those who have turned to government to save them.

Church family, we must rise up and BE the body of Christ. When the world watches, do they see us fret about the things of this world, or do they see unexplainable trust and unspeakable joy in the name of Jesus? Yes, we are to live out our faith in every area of life, including civic engagement. But government makes a terrible god!

Regardless of the state of our economy, the outcome of elections, or anything else, we must remain firmly rooted in Jesus Christ our Lord. We are deceived when we place trust in government, elected leaders, the economy, military might, or in anything or anyone other than Jesus. Yes, we should certainly be influential in how our government functions. But we must know and understand that government is only a framework of civility upon which we should hang our Christianity. Government cannot save us. We are called to live out our faith and to share it with others.

Allowing government to become god is only one danger the church faces. Check back tomorrow as we expose another imminent danger facing the church.