Here's your typical checkout line in most any store across the U.S. Filled with hundreds of impulse buy items, but mostly candy. Don't blame the store, it is a cause and effect type thing, they're not going to put them there if people aren't buying them. Then again, people probably wouldn't buy so many of they were not in the checkout aisle.
So, it is a "crazy cycle" people buy because it's there, stores put it there because people buy it. Who is at fault, if anyone? I would guess the consumer, because stores will stop stocking what they are not selling, it is a waste of shelf space and a waste of money from spoilage on items like this. Consumerism drives the stores.
Too bad this mentality has made it into the confines of church buildings. I will not say into churches, because Jesus said He would keep His people and His church, so I purposefully said buildings to differentiate. The "church" leaders pander to the people, try to "sell" them what they want and only mention God when it's convenient. This goes right along with the church described in Revelation 2 and 3. Namely Sardis, Thyatira and Laodicea.
The majority of "churches" today are nothing more than social clubs. The temple is in need of cleansing, but most of those that are truly part of the real church are so much in the minority. But then I remember that we are called the body of Christ and Christ ran the money changers out of the temple for defiling it. He was a single man and was definitely in the minority.
When are God's people going to take a collective stand against the blatant false prophets that are leading people straight to hell? This is a Proverbs 17:15 issue: He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Most that do take a stand are attacked and called Pharisaical, yelled at, cursed, called names and sometimes much worse. This is done by professing Christians because the deception runs deep. These are false converts that do not know the Lord, but yet have been duped into believing that because they said a prayer or made a decision that they are "good" or have their "ticket". Only thing is they are not saved, they have never repented and they live their lives just as they did before their profession, but are double damned because they are now fed a steady diet of "you made your decision".
I speak from experience as for 30 years I lived in deception. So many people I know claim to be Christians, but their lifestyle and fruit say otherwise and that is how the Bible say we will know them. Do not buy into the lie that we are to keep our mouths shut about false prophets. Paul was known for calling out false teachers, Jesus Himself known for His steady critique of the Pharisees. The "judge not, lest ye be judged" is taken far out of context, usually by those that are deceived and living in sin.
The deceived are on their way to hell and true Christians need to start praying a whole bunch for these souls. Christians also need to be lovingly honest with those that are deceived. Treat them as anyone else and love them, but also share the gospel with them. Be in constant prayer for your family, friends and co-workers that you may be used of God to talk to them. God will open doors and when He does He will open your mouth to speak. Look for those opportunities, because they are there. Be diligent and cast the seed of the gospel far and wide and allow God to prepare His harvest. We cannot save anyone and when you realize that you will know that spreading he gospel is what God has told us to do. He will take care of the rest.
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