The religious world today is in a tailspin. Why? The mega-churches and the community churches are drawing members away from the denominational churches. What should they do? Instead of turning back to the Bible for the answers, the denominational churches are following the demise and patterns of their rivals-the mega-churches. You know the old saying-if you can't beat them, join them!

So denominational churches are beginning to install coffee bars, hire youth ministers, add more social programs and high-tech entertainment; and of course, they require little responsibility and no accountability of the members. They tell them to come when they can and as they are but not to forget to drop their checks in the offering plate. It's religion of convenience, with no strings attached. Is this concept new to the 21st century?

First incidence of religion of convenience. "If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah. Therefore, the king asked advice, made two calves of gold, and said to the people, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt! And he set up one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan." {1 Kings 12:27-29} Unfortunately for Israel, this was its first step down a winding path that led to spiritual adultery and eventually, national destruction. Man has always searched for "shortcuts" around God's designs and patterns. Such shortcuts exist only for those who rely on human wisdom.

Dear readers, do not be lulled into thinking that the "feeding frenzy" among the denominations has not affected the Lord's church. Some of God's people have also taken the bait. Examples? Some have unity meetings with the denominations; offer the Lord's Supper on days other than the Lord's Day; have sermons that contain little or no Scripture; and convert worship services into entertainment, rather than opportunities to receive instruction about divine things and offer praise and honor to God.

Paul warned us that such days would come. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." {2 Timothy 4:3,4} How can we stop this "feeding frenzy?" We must maintain our appetites and desires for the pure plain gospel of Christ. The denominations will always have more people, bigger buildings, and more money. We need to consider whether keeping up with the "religious Joneses" is worth the cost. My soul is too high a price to pay! (KMG)