Ezekiel 5:7-8

‘Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Because you have multiplied disobedience more than the nations that are all around you, have not walked in My statutes nor kept My judgments, nor even done according to the judgments of the nations that are all around you’ – therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Indeed I, even I, am against you and will execute judgments in your midst in the sight of the nations.’ (Ezekiel 5:7-8)

I cannot help but think of the church when I read this passage. The point of the passage was that Israel, who should know better, was instead doing worse things than the nations all around them. They were given over to idolatry in a much higher sense because they knew the living God. And thus God says that He will be against them and will execute judgments in their midst in the sight of the nations. That is, He will ridicule them in front of everyone. It’s like a parent giving their child a smack not when they get home, but in front of all the child’s friends.

The judgment was to be a third fire (ie famine and pestilence), a third sword (ie. Killed by other nations) and a third scattered in the wind (ie. Taken captive or made refugees). However, some small remnant was to escape this judgment (vs. 3), of which even some of them would be subject to further judgment. Thus it was only a remnant of a remnant who would ‘escape’.

Getting back to my original point, I can’t help but think of the church when I read this passage. How much sin has the church let into itself? How much idolatry? Though we should know better. From incorrect and dangerous doctrine such as ‘Theistic evolution’ or ‘prosperity doctrine’ to habits and lifestyles suiting the children of darkness rather than the children of God, to complete abominations such as gay ministers/priests – how much sin has invaded the church? How much idolatry? And what will be/has been the price? How many ‘embarrassments’ has the church had? How many judgments upon it in view of the world? And truly, I believe that after the testing, only a remnant of a remnant of those who call themselves the church will remain. It’s sad, but it is a challenge as well. Because each of us personally has that choice – whether to be in that remnant of a remnant. It is not randomly chosen. Let’s get back to basics and trust what God has to say, with all our minds, but also with all of our hearts (ie. Our LIVES).