The Urgent Need for

Reformation Today

By Dr. Peter Hammond

"I have set watchmen

on your walls,

O Jerusalem;

they shall never hold their peace,

day or night,

you who make mention of the Lord,

do not keep silent."

Isaiah 62:6

"Your watchmen shall lift up their voices…" Isaiah 52:8

Lift Up Your Voices

"Thus says the Lord:

'Stand in the ways and see,

and ask for the old paths,

where the good way is and walk in it;

then you will find rest, for your souls…

Listen to the Sound

of the Trumpet

also I set watchmen

over you, saying

'listen to the sound of the trumpet!'"

Jeremiah 6:16-19

“When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die!' and you do not speak to warn the wicked

from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.

Nevertheless

if you warn the wicked to turn

from his way,

and he does not turn from his way,

he shall die

in his iniquity;

but you have delivered your soul.”

Ezekiel 33:2-33

The watchmen were key figures in ancient Israel. Large watchtowers were placed overlooking the fields of agriculture and men would stand watch, guarding the fields which

contained the community's basic food

supply.

The Watchmen

of Israel

The watchmen needed to be alert to any threats,

whether from animals, thieves or from fire.

The watchman also had to be alert for any sign of invasion.

The watchmen on the walls of a fortified town were to monitor all the approaches and at the sign of any threat would sound the warning so

that the town could shut its gates and prepare to defend

against any attack.

The vigilant watchmen would observe the daily life of the community. He could see much of the activity in the streets, and in the markets. He

would know the people, their work, their habits and their lifestyles.

Vigilant and Alert

If his tower was near the city gates,

he could also observe the business of the

city conducted by its officials.

God uses this role of the watchman to illustrate

the responsibilities

of a minister to both comment on the conduct

of society,

and to deliver messages of warning and

instruction.

The Responsibilities

of a Minister

of God

The Word of God declares that we who have received the Word of God must give warning to the wicked.

The danger of God's judgement upon

wickedness is a far more serious danger

than that of an invading army

threatening a city. One may be able to defend a city against

a foreign invader.

The Greatest Threat

However,

no one can escape

the scrutiny of an all

all-knowing,

everywhere-present,

all-wise God!

Nor can anyone escape judgement from

an omnipresent Judge!

Neither can anyone have

any hope of victory

in a war

against Almighty God!

The prophets of God had a solemn duty to deliver a most sober and serious message. Unless the citizens of Israel acknowledged their sins,

turned away from sin, repented and resolutely obeyed the Word of God, they would die in their sins.

A Solemn and Serious Responsibility

However,

regardless of how individuals respond

to the warning,

if they hear the message, the prophet has fulfilled

his duty and is no longer responsible.

Duty is Ours – The

Results are in God’s

Hands

Duty is ours.

The results are

in God's hands. However,

if the messenger failed to deliver the warning,

his blood would be required at his hand.

"Again, when I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,'

if he turns from his sin

and does what is lawful

and right, if the wicked restores the pledge,

gives back what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without

committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

Restitution

Brings

Restoration

When the righteous turns from his

righteousness and commits iniquity,

he shall die

because of it.

But when the wicked turns from his

wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live

because of it.

Engage in conversation with some of the members of local churches and you may be surprised, probably even shocked.

I have spoken to a number of church-going people, who describe themselves as Christians, yet who believed in strange and unbiblical new

age concepts such as re-incarnation and universalism.

People who have described themselves as

"a good person",and "a dedicated Christian",

"born again" have, in all seriousness, told me that

"everyone will go to Heaven, because God is all-forgiving";

"God will keep refining us through re-incarnationuntil we are ready for Heaven";

"All religions lead to God"

and "People are basically good!"

One man claimed that he had not sinned for over 30 years!

One woman claimed that she had prayed and God had guided her to abort her child!

Looking out over a congregation on Sunday morning and assuming that everyone there is in a right relationship with the Lord

and diligently following in His steps, would be gross presumption.

Those of us who are involved in personal, one-on-one Evangelism and counselling, are left with no such illusions.

In many ways the world is evangelising,or subverting, the Church.

This should not actually surprise us.

When you consider that the average Christian spends far more time reading the newspaper than reading the Bible,

reading secular magazines, rather than Christian magazines,

secular books rather than Christian books, it is no wonder that

"Their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened."

Romans 1:21

"For in his own eyes he flatters

himself too much to detect or hate

his sin." Psalm 36:2

In households with television,

the average child has seen

some 30,000 hours of television

before leaving school.

During their high school years, the average student will listen to over 10,000 hours of music,

much of it filled with sensual, immoral and occultic lyrics.

The influence of parents and churches in the upbringing of most children today is declining at an alarming rate.

The disintegration of many families,

absentee parents and a general

absence of discipline have created a vacuum.

Violent and immoral films and videos, throbbing, pulsating

noise masquerading as music and pornographic magazines and websites are filling the

void in the aimless and meaningless lives

of all too many young people.

"Since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them

over to a depraved mind…" Romans 1:28

What we see influences what we think,

and what we think influences what we become and what we do.

Ideas have consequences. Actions flow from thought patterns.

So the question is: What form of education has moulded your thought patterns?

What entertainment and news media is filling your mind, on a daily basis?

"Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

Ephesians 5:15-16

At camps and courses, and during surveys in shopping malls,

we have found that the vast majority of church-goers have no idea what the Biblical worldview is.

If you ask: What is the Biblical position on economics, most say they don't know, some say to pay tithes.

Very few have any understanding of Biblical principles for economics.

When asked: What is the Biblical worldview on crime and punishment, most say the government should forgive! Few church-goers understand the distinction between the ministry of Grace entrusted to the church,

and the ministry of Justice entrusted to the State.

When asked if evolution can be reconciled to the Bible, many say, Yes!

When we have asked church-goers who they think are the greatest people who have ever lived, many mention the same political and

Hollywood idols that would be promoted in the secular media.

When we have asked what books and publications they read,it is extraordinary how few church-goers

are actually reading Christian publications.

Most would cite scandal rags and secular tabloids.

Blatant lying, breach of contracts, breaking of promises, stealing, even from churches and ministries, has become

no longer a rare exception, but pervasive.

Christian bookshops have to deal with shoplifting.

Christian churches are no longer open for those wanting to come in and seek the Lord in quietness in the sanctuary.

Most churches today have to be barred and bolted with security gates, burglar bars and alarms.

There was a time that a mere

verbal agreement, or handshake was sufficient.

Now even signed contracts are violated by people who claim to be Christians.

Jesus taught "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does

the Will of My Father in Heaven." Matthew 7:21

It is not so much what we say, but what we do that counts.

Actions speak much more eloquently than words.

We are commanded in Scripture: "Walk in love… but fornication and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as

is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person,nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance

in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon

the sons of disobedience." Ephesians 5:2-6

The root of this problem is the

shallow experience and superficial

message proclaimed by all too many

Christians today.

The shortcut methods and

oversimplified formulas have just

failed to work.

It is as though the devil himself has advocated another gospel(Galatians 1:6-9), polluting the Christian message,adulterating its contents and confusing the issues.

The enemy has reduced the greatest Message of all time,

alternately to a cheap over-simplified formula,

or to a dead over-complicated theology.

All too many Christians, apparently ignorant of these wiles of the devil, have accepted these corruptions.

The concept of a technical Salvation that is all theory and No experience, is ridiculous and leads to a dead theology

and a lack of reality.

The emphasis of feelings and blessings to the exclusion of commitment, obedience and discipleship is a sure way to

failure and disappointment (Matthew 7:15-23).

The notion of a, once and for all, token gesture of

commitmentto God,

being sufficientto effect eternal Salvation

and inner fulfilment, is to invite

utter disillusionment(Luke 14:27).

These concepts areall unworthy

of our great God and hopelessly

inadequatein conveying

the Biblical Message, or in promoting true

spiritual life and discipleship.

10 THINGSTHAT ARE

UNDERMINING THE CHURCH

TODAY

By Dr. Peter Hammond

What ever happened to the Prayer Meeting? For centuries the Prayer Meeting was an essential part of Church life,

an indispensable part of the weekly programme.

1 PRAYERLESSNESS

Yet few churches today have an active, vibrant Prayer Meeting in which most members participate.

"Then Jesus told His disciples… that they should always pray and not give up." Luke 18:1.

We need to know the Word of God and the God of the Word.

God guides us first and foremost through His Word.

The best way to know the Will of God is to study the Word of God.

2 NEGLECT OF THE WORD OF GOD

It is our priority to ensure that we are

"…not conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds,

then we will be able

to prove what is that

good and acceptable

and perfect will of God."

Romans 12:2.

The reverential awe, respect and fear of God

must be the fundamental attitude of our Faith.

3 LACK OF THE FEAR OF GOD

Any view of God which does not lead us to fear God and obey His Law cannot be a Biblical view.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Psalm 111:10.

Only the fear of God can produce lasting justice and righteousness

in individuals, families, churches and nations.

Jesus said: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body,

but cannot kill the soul, rather be afraid of the One who can

destroy both body and soul in hell." Matthew 10:28.

Evolutionism and its denial of the Creator,

and therefore of accountability to Almighty God on Judgement Day, erodes the very foundations of Christian civilisation.

4 EVOLUTIONISM

Evolutionism destroys all meaning, purpose and justice in life.

"You came from nothing! You are going nowhere! Life is meaningless!"Evolution is an attempt to retroactively abort God.

Yet all too many Christians have bought into the lie of Evolution

and erode the foundational truths of Genesis.

The theory of evolution, as so often propagated by films, and in many

children’s books, and in state school textbooks, is an attempt to abort

God retroactively.

The Bible says: “The fool says in his heart, there is no God. They are

corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.”

Psalm 14:1

"…For since the Creation of the world His invisible attributesare clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made,

even His Eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse."

Romans 1:18-20.

The rejection of authority and lack of respect for elders,

produces a self-centred and selfish society.

5 EGALITARIANISM

The Ten Commandments effectively forbids egalitarianism.

God is not egalitarian. Nothing in nature is egalitarian.

Each one of us are called to be faithful to our duty.

We are not to covet

what others have.

We are not to steal

other people's property,

nor are we to dishonour our parents

or other superiors.

Neither may we lie, gossip

or slander others.

Instead of an attitude

of entitlement,

we need to rediscover

the lost art of respect.

"Obey those

who rule over you and be submissive,

for they watch out for your souls

as those who must give an account.

Let them do so

with joy and

not with grief,

for that would be unprofitable

for you."

Hebrews 13:17.

"You shall rise before the grey-headed and honour the presence of an old man, and fear your God. I am the Lord."

Leviticus 19:32.

"The eye that mocks his father and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out and the young eagles will eat it."

Proverbs 30:17.

The rejection of God's moral Law inevitably leads to lawlessness,

where everyone does what is right in his own eyes.

"Sin is lawlessness." 1 John 3:4.

6 ANTINOMIANISM

"The Law is Holy and the Commandment holy

and just and good." Romans 7:12.

God spoke the Ten Commandments with His own voice.

He wrote them with His own finger upon tablets of stone.

In the New Covenant,

God has written His Law upon our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33).

"Therefore the Law was our Tutor to bring us to Christ,

that we might be justified by Faith." Galatians 3:24.

"The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Psalm 19:7.

We need to beware of technology encroaching on our lives.

Technology is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. Has the TV become your family altar and electronic babysitter?

7 WORLDLY ENTERTAINMENT

Superficial, sensational and immoral material predominates in the modern entertainment industry and it is producing an increasingly

superficial, selfish, mindless and immoral society.

"Since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind…" Romans 1:28.

"Their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened."Romans 1:21.

"Be very careful, then, how you live, not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every

opportunity, because the days are evil."Ephesians 5:15-16.

Anyone who believes that education can be neutral is mistaken.

Ideas have consequences. Actions flow from thought patterns.

8 SECULAR HUMANIST EDUCATION

Secular humanism is a religion which deifies man and dethrones God.

All education is inherently religious, because it presents

a certain perspective and selection of history, values and practices

and it prescribes a worldview.

Instead of education, teaching people

how to think, we now mostly have indoctrination, telling

students what to think.

Children do not belong to the state. Children are made in the image of God and are entrusted to parents to:

"Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.“Ephesians 6:4

"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends upon human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."

Colossians 2:8.

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.

The Great Commission should be our supreme ambition.

The last command of Christ should be our first concern.

9 LACK OF MISSIONARY VISION

The Church is called to be a House of Prayer for all nations.

We are called to "…disciple the nations, teaching obedience

to all things that the Lord has commanded…" (Matthew 28:18-20).

"In the time of those kings, the God of Heaven will set up a Kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people.

It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end. But will itself endure forever." Daniel 2:44

"All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the nations will bow down before Him,

for our dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations."Psalm 22:27-28

Real history, told from a Biblical perspective, is a treasure

of the Church that can teach us about truth that has endured.

10 IGNORANCE OF HISTORY

In the Scriptures we are commanded to understand the times

so that we may know what we ought to do (1 Chronicles 12:32).

We need to understand the events and issues of the past

that correspond with our challenges today.

Karl Marx declared:

The first battlefield is

the rewriting of history.

To liberate our thinking from current fashions and to recognise potential potholes and traps, we need to understand the people, events

and issues that shaped our past and affect our present.

History illustrates the consequences of ideas and actions.

"Now these things became our examples,

to the intent that we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted, now all these things happened

to them as examples,

and they are written for our admonition…"

1 Corinthians 10:6-11.

The devil has a counterfeitfor everything the Lord

offers. He has fake fruit to offer– it's not the real thing,

although it can look the same.

When you taste it you find it's plastic fruit.

It looks real, but it isn't! It doesn't give the peace that passes all understanding, true joy, or real love. It's plastic fruit!

Now why is it that so many who try a counterfeit product, and taste its synthetic flavour, try to hide their disappointment,

thinking that perhaps this is all that the Lord has to give?

How can we ever think that God's ways are unsatisfying?

If the way is disappointing, then its not God's way!If the fruit is unsatisfying – you need a new Spiritual diet.

God's way is not easy, but it is fulfilling. His way is not cheap, but it is the best.

His way is not trouble free, but it is the way of peace of heart and mind.

His way is not all blessings, but it is all joy.

His way does not keep us

from trials, but it does involve

God's constant love.

If you are content with a superficial, lukewarm, stagnant, defeated, mundane, mediocre existence,

then God cannot give you a deep, on-fire, over-flowing, fulfilling, victorious, supernatural life.

By settling for less, we rob ourselves

of the best. The Lord cannot give us the best,

if we settle for less. Good is the main enemy of best.

If you are content with your present spiritual state then the Lord can do no more for you.

Complacency is the deadly enemy of advancement and progress.

The trouble is that all too many Christians are in a spiritual desert, frustrated and bewildered by emptiness and dissatisfaction with their

life and Faith. To many, Jesus is not really Lord, but He is just a constitutional monarch.

Have you made Him the impersonal figurehead of your religious convictions?

You want His help, Yes, but not His interference. Jesus can save you,

He can answer your prayers, but He must not tell you what career to choose,

what friends to have, what clothes to wear, what language to use and what kind of life to live and what films to watch.

You don't really believe the truth that God gives the very best to those who leave the choice to Him.

Do you have a superficial commitment? Have you settled for the counterfeit?

Are you missing out on real Christianity: with a daily discipline of discipleship.

Do not let the label fool you. You cannot expect maximum blessing from minimum commitment. There is no shortcut method,

no four-point programme, no cut and dried, canned Salvation.

There is no alternative to full surrender to the Lordship of Christ (Colossians 2:6-7), and

wholeheartedly seeking (Jeremiah 29:13), and following God's way (1 Peter 2:21).

You have to forsake the world (1 John 2:15-17), and you must give up living for selfish reasons and motivations (Matthew 16:24).

Repent of your past sinful way of life (Isaiah 55:7),

and put all your energies, time, strength, talents, money and abilities under God's control.

Be transformed by the renewing

of your mindand live

wholeheartedly for Him

(Romans 12:1-2).

You give up your sins and your strengths, your lusts and your loves,your ambitions and your failures, your talents

and your wasted opportunities, your abilities and your hurts.

God gives you forgiveness, eternal life, abundant life, love, joy, peace, guidance, fulfilment, companionship, direction, meaning

and purpose in life.

You give up everything you have to gain

everything God gives.

Missionary Jim Elliot, noted:

"He is no foolwho gives up

what he cannot keep, to gain that

which he cannot lose."

The way of Salvation in the Bible is described as a search (Jeremiah 29:13), a journey (Matthew 7:13-14), a war (2 Corinthians 10:3-5),

and a marathon race (1 Timothy 6:12).

Christians are described as

pilgrims, disciples,soldiers,

long distance runners.

The Bible is full of words describing fighting, overcoming, advancing, conquering, struggling, suffering and succeeding..

These Biblical descriptions speak of

progress, advancement and movement.

They speak of a continuous ongoing experience and way of life.Not of a once for all gesture, or technical theory,

or mere theological understanding.

The heart of the Gospel is

a restored relationship with God

through Jesus Christ, where communication

and contact is established and

maintained with God, where your character

is developed and God's

eternal purposes are accomplished

in and through your life.

You must realise that God has so very much more to give you, to show you and to teach you. He has so much more for you to achieve.

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus, to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Eph. 3:20-21

Dr Peter Hammond

Reformation Society

P.O. Box 74

Newlands, 7725

Cape Town, South Africa

Tel: (021) 689 4480

Fax: (021) 685 5884

Email: info@ReformationSA.org

Website: www.ReformationSA.org