You may say that God is blessing today's church but I would argue that God is judging it.
Recently I heard many cases of domestic violence plus the way the church dealt with them, and it made me concern the present status of the church in the sight of God. Some churches teach believers rigidly that divorce is not allowed; others teach believers that unless their life is threatened, they cannot divorce their spouses. Are these churches any better than the Pharisees Jesus criticized in His time?
The church put the heavy burden on others' shoulders but it does not want to move its finger. When some church heard that its believers were suffering from domestic violence, it asked them to endure the inhuman violence. As a result, some of them lost their lives and some were disabled for the rest of their lifetime. Nevertheless, the church, wearing the beautiful clothes of morality, spirituality and love, gave the cold order: You shall not divorce. The church teaches many and even exaggerating reasons to forbid believers to divorce their spouses while ignoring its victims of domestic violence since it seldom mentioned them in the church.
In regard to domestic violence, inhuman teachings and foolish instructions prevail in the church. The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. (Proverbs 12:10) How did the church care for those sisters who suffered from domestic violence? How could they be cared for to the extent that they could be beaten to death alive?
The church is preaching love and compassion. If its mercy and love are so cruel, how wicked is it now!
I suggest that we face the problem of the church. Let us not be deceived by various spiritual lukewarm water into believing that the church is in a good state. I do not think that God is pleased with the current situation; On the contrary, I think God is judging the church biblical prophets condemned.
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law-justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. (Matthew 23:23-24, NIV)
I am afraid that this criticism of Jesus is also applicable to the present church. Some believers and pastors are committing the same sins. They are still holding on to the teaching that Christians should not divorce though many believers have lost their lives due to domestic violence. Why is our action so wicked while teaching love and kindness?
Translated by Alvin Zhou
