The Bible says:
“And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught ... And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; saying, Let us alone.”
— Mark 1: 21-24 In this synagogue in Capernaum that Jesus taught in was a demonpossessed man.
There is nothing to tell us that he was not a regular attendee to the synagogue. He was probably faithful to go every Sabbath and participate in the service.
But nothing done in the synagogue made this demon-possessed man feel uncomfortable. The praying, singing, teaching, nor preaching bothered him and made him say “Let me alone.”
He was very comfortable and felt that he fit in. He may have been on some board or committee.
He may have held some office or title in the synagogue and carried out some important function for the synagogue. But nothing was ever said or done that made him feel ill at ease about his sinful state, until Jesus entered the synagogue and he then said, “Let us alone.”
The church in order to attract the lost dropped her biblical standards and decided to become “sinner friendly.” There are plenty of lost people that now attend church regularly and have their name on the roll.
Some have important positions in the church. But because the church has a policy to not offend anyone none of these lost people are made uncomfortable about their sinful state and repent and get saved.
The praying, singing, teaching, nor preaching bothers them and causes them to speak up and say “Let me alone.”
God’s people do not have enough God on them to make the sinner in their presence feel bad about their sin. The lost will join these churches, attend faithfully all their life, and still die without knowing Jesus as their Savior and go to Hell.
But if Jesus should ever actually get into one of these churches and into its praying, singing, teaching, and preaching the sinner would either say, “Let me alone” and leave or they would get right with God.
When Jesus is around and involved in His church through its Spirit-filled members the sinner will not be comfortable in such a church.
But he will know he has met Jesus and will recognize his sinfulness and will either run away or repent and get saved.
We need churches in which we are conscious of God’s presence again. We need revival!
James H. Cagle is a Ray City resident who pastored several churches for a total of 11 years. Email him at [email protected]
