Listen To Most Current
Grace Notes Archive
December 2023 (1)
November 2023 (4)
October 2023 (4)
September 2023 (5)
August 2023 (4)
July 2023 (5)
June 2023 (4)
May 2023 (4)
April 2023 (5)
March 2023 (5)
February 2023 (4)
January 2023 (4)
December 2022 (5)
November 2022 (4)
October 2022 (5)
September 2022 (6)
August 2022 (4)
July 2022 (5)
June 2022 (4)
May 2022 (4)
April 2022 (7)
March 2022 (4)
February 2022 (4)
January 2022 (5)
December 2021 (5)
November 2021 (4)
October 2021 (5)
September 2021 (4)
August 2021 (4)
July 2021 (6)
June 2021 (4)
May 2021 (5)
April 2021 (4)
March 2021 (5)
February 2021 (4)
January 2021 (5)
December 2020 (4)
November 2020 (4)
October 2020 (5)
September 2020 (4)
August 2020 (5)
July 2020 (21)
June 2020 (29)
May 2020 (28)
April 2020 (31)
March 2020 (5)
February 2020 (4)
January 2020 (5)
December 2019 (5)
November 2019 (3)
October 2019 (5)
September 2019 (4)
August 2019 (5)
July 2019 (4)
June 2019 (5)
May 2019 (4)
April 2019 (4)
March 2019 (4)
February 2019 (6)
January 2019 (4)
December 2018 (4)
November 2018 (5)
October 2018 (4)
September 2018 (4)
August 2018 (4)
July 2018 (3)
June 2018 (4)
May 2018 (4)
April 2018 (4)
March 2018 (4)
February 2018 (5)
January 2018 (4)
December 2017 (4)
November 2017 (5)
October 2017 (4)
September 2017 (5)
August 2017 (4)
July 2017 (4)
June 2017 (5)
May 2017 (4)
April 2017 (5)
March 2017 (3)
February 2017 (4)
January 2017 (3)
December 2016 (5)
November 2016 (4)
October 2016 (4)
September 2016 (5)
August 2016 (3)
July 2016 (4)
June 2016 (5)
May 2016 (4)
April 2016 (5)
March 2016 (4)
February 2016 (4)
January 2016 (5)
December 2015 (4)
November 2015 (4)
October 2015 (3)
September 2015 (4)
August 2015 (5)
July 2015 (5)
June 2015 (4)
May 2015 (5)
April 2015 (2)
March 2015 (4)
February 2015 (4)
January 2015 (5)
December 2014 (4)
November 2014 (5)
October 2014 (4)
September 2014 (4)
August 2014 (4)
July 2014 (5)
June 2014 (4)
May 2014 (5)
April 2014 (4)
March 2014 (4)
February 2014 (4)
January 2014 (5)
December 2013 (4)
November 2013 (5)
October 2013 (4)
September 2013 (4)
August 2013 (5)
July 2013 (4)
June 2013 (3)
May 2013 (5)
April 2013 (4)
March 2013 (4)
February 2013 (5)
January 2013 (4)
December 2012 (4)
November 2012 (5)
October 2012 (4)
September 2012 (4)
August 2012 (5)
July 2012 (4)
June 2012 (4)
May 2012 (5)
April 2012 (4)
March 2012 (5)
February 2012 (4)
January 2012 (4)
December 2011 (5)
November 2011 (4)
October 2011 (4)
September 2011 (5)
August 2011 (4)
July 2011 (4)
June 2011 (5)
May 2011 (4)
April 2011 (5)
March 2011 (4)
February 2011 (4)
January 2011 (5)
December 2010 (4)
November 2010 (4)
October 2010 (4)
September 2010 (5)
August 2010 (4)
July 2010 (6)
June 2010 (4)
May 2010 (4)
April 2010 (4)
March 2010 (5)
February 2010 (4)
January 2010 (5)
December 2009 (5)
November 2009 (3)
October 2009 (6)
September 2009 (3)
August 2009 (5)
July 2009 (4)
June 2009 (4)
May 2009 (5)
April 2009 (4)
March 2009 (4)
February 2009 (4)
January 2009 (5)
December 2008 (4)
November 2008 (5)
October 2008 (4)
September 2008 (5)
August 2008 (4)
July 2008 (3)
June 2008 (4)
May 2008 (5)
April 2008 (4)
March 2008 (5)
February 2008 (1)
Grace Notes

Current Articles | Categories | Search | Syndication

“WOE TO THEM THAT ARE AT EASE IN ZION”
by Philip Owen

            “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion,” warned the prophet Amos (6:1) during a time of national apostasy.  He then described some of the conditions of their ease:  “That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch [“sprawl”] themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David; That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments” (Amos 6:4-6a).  Amos painted a scene of people who were consumed with luxury, pleasure, and self-indulgent debauchery.  Though these circumstances would be bad any time they occurred, they were particularly egregious at that moment given the fact that “they are not grieved for the affliction [“ruin”] of Joseph [the Northern Kingdom of Israel]” (6:6b).  Because of their great apostasy, these ten northern tribes were about to be attacked and decimated by Assyria, yet they were so consumed with their own pleasures that they had no time to grieve for the fate of their nation, a fate in which they would share.

            It is very tempting at this point to apply these verses to the United States of America, to her revolt against God, her rejection of righteousness, her enshrinement of sin, and her protection of perversion of every kind, and the careless indifference of most of her populace to the entire travesty.  But I would suggest that a more appropriate parallel today would be the state of the church with its contentment with sin-filled lives and its emphasis on luxurious surroundings, sensuous music, and pleasure rather than preaching of the Word of God.

            Many of us are at ease when a cancer of self-indulgence and sin is rapidly destroying us.  We are content to go to church so long as it does not interfere with our own play and other pursuits too greatly, so long as it does not provoke us to self-examination, so long as it does not require any change in our lifestyles.   Despite the church-growth movement suggesting that the church of Jesus Christ is burgeoning, the spiritual state of many sitting in the pews is calamitous. 

            Where can we find reverent worship of the Lord our God?  Where is a hunger for hearing the whole counsel of God?  Where do we see genuine praise that honors a holy God rather than music “to themselves” (v. 5) that puts on a performance and exalts the performer?  Where do we find prayer meetings filled with people confessing their sins before God and people on their knees interceding on behalf of the spiritual needs of lost sinners and the saved alike?  Where do we go to find godly men who, like Joshua, will declare, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15).  Where will we go to discover believers, men and women, living self-sacrificial lives for the sake of the Lord and the blessing of those around them?

            These questions do not pose radical ideas.  They suggest what should be the norm for the blood-bought, blood-washed church of Jesus Christ.  Far too many of us, myself included, have fallen prey to a faith that would be barely recognizable by the One who called us unto holiness (I Thes. 4:7).  Woe to every Christian Nero who fiddles while the church burns.  Since we can still pay our bills and have sufficient left over to indulge our desires, is it a matter of indifference to us that many of our own lives, as well as the lives of our family and Christian brethren, miserably fail to reflect glory to God?  God would have to apologize to the Northern Kingdom if He beamed contentedly on the coldness exuding from many redeemed hearts today.  Will we allow our lives to be ruined by an ease that invites God’s chastening, or will we be characterized by godly hearts and holy endeavor?

Actions: E-mail | Permalink

Previous Page | Next Page