In Psalms, chapter seventy-eight, verse eight, God’s people are exhorted not to follow in the unfaithful footsteps of their spiritual ancestors. Applied to the New Testament age, churches today should be careful not to pattern themselves after those churches, denominations, or fellowships that have grown cold and have departed from Biblical Christianity.
Some errors that have brought spiritual ruin to a church are failures on the part of leaders to discern and then warn the people that they are beginning to imitate the unbiblical ways of former God-fearing churches. Another failure is making the New Testament revelation of Christ and the apostles in the church the only source of life, truth, and direction. Another lack of success is fostering church purity in truth, doctrine, and moral matters, failure to be greatly concerned as the church slides farther from the New Testament norm, and failing to keep an intimate devotion to Christ and a fervent life of intercession central in the church’s life, as in Revelation two, verse four.
The toleration of sin by church leaders, teachers, and laypersons would have been severely dealt with in the past, as in Revelation two, verses fourteen through fifteen and twenty. Substitution of emphasis on outward success, numbers, and affluence for spirituality, such as purity, righteousness, spiritual wisdom, love, and the Spirit’s power manifested among the people. No generation of believers will inherit the kingdom of God in all its saving purpose and power if they fail to prepare their hearts to seek God and discern His Word and righteous ways. On the other hand, people whose hearts are set steadfastly toward God and who separate themselves from the corrupt world and all unholy compromise will know God’s praiseworthy deeds, strength, and wonder. To not be like their fathers and to take thought of the Heavenly Father.