The Christian churches of today are filled with believers who do not know the Lord, who have not come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God. It is imperative that Christ empower and direct all the gifts and ministries of the Spirit so that many will be brought to maturity in preparation for His appearing.

The Lord Jesus will not forsake us if we are willing to become blind that we may by led by Him in ways we have not known.

We have many gods in America. Money probably is the chief of the American gods. We trust in money for survival, security, pleasure, and achievement.

Following closely on the heels of money is sexual lust in every perverted form. Sexual lust, including pornography, is an American sickness.

Entertainment ranks high among American idols. What would happen to our culture if every television went dead? Could we survive? What would we do?

Violence is esteemed in America. While we moan about the amount of crime traceable to television programs and the current music, no one has the power to stop the promoting of violence. It is too popular.

Professional sports are worshiped in America. Money that should be spent on social needs is lavished on stadiums, sports arenas. Even Christians regard endless discussions of football and baseball as an acceptable use of time. They redeem the time by telling who won what game. Can you imagine the Lord Jesus spending His time reading the sports page of the newspaper? Sports are an American idol.

The American Christian sitting back in his recliner, reading the funnies, watching football on the television, has no idea he is in the middle of a war. Bullets are flying everywhere. He is being wounded and does not realize it. A trap is being set that may bring him down to spiritual destruction. Soon it will be sprung. He is not aware of it as he feeds his idols.

Popularity and bigness are looked on as meritorious and valuable without too much regard for the destructiveness or constructiveness of the factors involved. The idolatry of bigness has seriously affected the Christian churches in America, almost always necessitating a watering down of the strict requirements of discipleship.

Partying and drunkenness are favorite American idols. "Let's have a party!" Christians love parties. They play silly games while their brothers and sisters are being tortured and killed in Sudan, China, and Peru.

"Oh, but we are having fellowship." No you're not. If you were having fellowship you could pray, speak in tongues, prophesy, pray for the sick, sing in the Spirit, talk seriously about the Lord, with no change in the social milieu. Try these at your next "fellowship" and you will know whether you are having a party or fellowship.

"Nice things" are idols in America. We must have "nice things." In India the villagers stick buffalo dung on the sides of their huts to dry out. The people of India, even the poorest, place great value on interpersonal relationships. They get along somehow without "nice things."

What if the Lord told us to worship in a chicken coop or cellar? Could we do so even though the surroundings were not "nice"? Could we do so with grace and joy? If not we need to go to the Lord about our problem with "nice things."

To be continued.