No, I do not believe that. As a matter of fact, I know that the Lord has never been one to abandon His people, even though they lost their way on many occasions. It has always been humanity that has walked away from God and His ways. It is as if the Lord led us in a certain direction with specific instructions, and although many initially followed, because of different agendas including power and politics, a different direction was begun and embraced. After many generations of error, human tradition replaced truth. Is it right to follow the way that an emperor of Rome established long ago which doesn’t follow the plain teachings of Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible? It is right to call it Christianity even though it doesn’t follow what the Apostles practiced and demonstrated? Of course it is not. There is a way that seems right to a man but the way thereof is death. (Proverbs 14:12) Because the Lord loves us so much and longs for us to turn from our own selfish ways, which sums up humanity, and turn completely to Him, God therefore will continue sending His messengers to help reach a lost world of precious souls.
Unfortunately many will not seek the Kingdom with childlike surrender and trust, and obey the plain instructions that were given to us through the apostles and the prophets. Obedience has always been the most difficult step of repentance with the total surrender of our will and replacing it with what God wants for us. Notice that he doesn’t want us as His servants but as His friends. However, Jesus said plainly, “if you love me, obey my commandments”. (John 14:15-23) I believe that we are the only creation of God with the ability to love as God loves, and also given the gift of free will. This means we choose whether to love or not. It is completely up to us whether we love God and obey His ways, or follow our own paths that will lead to destruction. Because our own will is usually the loudest voice to us, and because our will and human mind are already at war with God according to Romans 8:7 which states: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be,” scriptures such as this one let us know why the Lord stated that the way of this a narrow path that leads to life, and few will find it. Yet many will follow a broad path leading to destruction according to the Lord Himself. (Matthew 7:13) The truth of the Word of God shows and tells of our human condition of a backslidden state as in the Book of Malachi that shows when fallen humanity asks God questions such as, “What have we done that is so wrong?” or “How does it benefit us to serve you?” Because of the love for us that we cannot fully understand, Jesus will continue to call until the day of His choosing to redeem His people from the wrath to come on this world with the mystery of God finally being revealed to mankind. He will always have a called out body of believers who have completely sold out to His ways, and love Him for Who He is by obeying Him. However the choice is completely up to us to enter into His family by being truly born again of the water and the Spirit.
Do I believe that the mainstream Christian Church has lost its way? Let me be very specific with my answer. I believe that the mainstream church that is revolving around itself and its own selfish appetites and desires for riches and ‘blessings’, has indeed lost its way. Can a person give enough financial offering to be forgiven of sins? Is there any other God that is worthy of being prayed to and worshiped? Absolutely not! Yet the mainstream church has added these and other provisions for indulgences. What about those churches that state that baptism in water by immersion is not necessary for salvation, but merely a public admission of faith into a ‘church’ in spite of the commandment of the Apostles declare plainly to repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit! (Acts 2:38) Or perhaps they haven’t read the Scripture in 1 Peter 3:21 that states: “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”
Is there hope? Absolutely there is still hope. The true church is still on the Earth filled with Christ in us, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27) There is a great awakening happening in the world in the midst of a shaking that is going on with wars and rumors of wars, increasing earthquakes, and the weather going somewhat crazy as it was prophesied. There is a hunger that is in the hearts and minds of mankind, to be filled with the missing part which is the Spirit of God that can not be substituted with anything else. This is why Spirit filled churches are growing very quickly as traditional churches are literally dying, especially among the younger people. I believe that a person who is truly hungry for the truth will know the truth when he or she hears it.
So what is true? Jesus declaring dogmatically that you must be born again to see or perceive the Kingdom of God is still true. You must be born of the water and of the Spirit to enter into the Kingdom of God is still true. This journey begins with faith to believe God at His Word and make a decision to obey by repenting, being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, for this promise is for you and all that are far off, even as many as the Lord calls to Himself. (Acts 2:38-39) My challenge for you is to search this truth out for yourself. As my pastor told me long ago, “if I don’t know the Truth for myself, I will then believe anything, right or wrong”. Is there anyone who wants to reconnect to the Creator and source of mankind and all creation? His name is Jesus which literally means Jehovah has become my salvation, and He is still knocking on many hearts right now! Why not begin this wonderful journey of following Him by doing what He said to do?