Pie or Piety?

We live in the Age of Pie or Pleasure. People go to and fro seeking something to fill their stomach, stick their privates in, and to see on the numerous screens. This period of pleasure has brought forth a death to the Age of Piety or religious devotion. People prefer to eat a pie, than be pious and seek the face of the Prince of Peace. As a result the world around us' heart has grown cold (Matthew 24:12). The self seeking lifestyle has lead to a deadness and despair that has people drone on like zombies consuming chocolate and whatever other delicacy that will assuage their sense of purposelessness.

My words are strong I know. Personally, what I find more petulant is that the pews are full of these same people. The Church has copied the world and offers pleasure in the form of listening to an entertainer on the stage, a pundit at the pulpit, and the promise of activities like Harvest Festivals (sanctioned Halloween celebrations) and other activities. None of this challenges a Christian to be more like Christ or have their character changed into His likeness. The cross has been lost and in its place is a circular pie of all the pleasures the world offers only with some Christian dressing.

I am not anti-pie or against ever enjoying food or some fun. But our society has created unending pleasure and preaches against the cross and denying ourselves; which is what Jesus said we have to do to become his disciples. (Matthew 16:24). This denial is not a self abasement or hatred of ever having good food, drink and so forth; rather it is tempering of our flesh for our Faith in Jesus Christ and becoming the New Creation we are (see Colossians 3:1-12). Unfortunately, people like to live in extremes like legalism or levity; either strict and full of self-hatred or decadent and full of selfishness.

I am so sick and tired of sewer of this world system. So much is soaked in Satan and his ways its jarring. I recently was at festival and the vendors were all mystics peddling all the old superstitions and sorceries. America has moved from Darwinism and the denial of deity to a new age of Mysticism and magic. People are done with a life devoid of purpose and now they want power. But only Jesus Christ can offer purpose and in Him is the only true power (1 John 4:4).

Discernment is almost dead. It is the least desired gift of the Spirit and yet it is one of the most needed in this day and age. From toys to treats there is the taint of our enemy. To say this many claim, "your taking this too seriously or lighten up!" Well here is what Jesus says, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14). The World is offering everything against The Narrow Way and commitment to Christ above everything else is dwindling here in the United States. I cannot speak for the rest of the World, for revival is rampant in many countries, but here in a once Christian nation there is a spirit of death and deafness. The darkness is so stark, that anyone without tattoos of devils and skulls on their bodies will likely be as my mentor said, "suspect and considered odd."

Please pardon if this post does not seem so edifying, I am sickened by what I see here in America. The shadow of Satan has fallen upon these United States and people have fallen away. Those who profess Christ are also committed to the evil spirits of Mammon (god of money), Venus (goddess of sexual love), Dionysus/Bacchus and Silenus (gods of wine and alcohols), Lamia (devourer of children: Abortion) and her children who are Mermaids and Gluttony. Churches are now compromised, praising Christ and Charites (goddesses/evil spirits of joy, charm, and beauty). My heart is sick with the divided hearts of denominations. The Church is like the rest of the world; selling pie with some piety, in fact one could argue their piety is for pie (prosperity doctrine).

My hope is in Jesus Christ, but my hope for this country and the Church within it has faded. At this point I think the last Rome or The Fourth Rome that is the United States is about to fall. The signs and the similarities to Ancient Rome are stark. At this point missionaries from other countries are coming here to reach Americans; what does that say about this once Great Christian nation? We are now worse off than any Third World Country; at least they are Christ-centric like in parts of Africa, China, Japan, and Iran. The Church abroad cannot squabble about minor doctrines and nonessentials because they know unity is essential in Emmanuel (Jesus Christ), especially in these times.

I am sick of pie. The pie churches push instead of piety and devotion to Jesus Christ, pleasures in assorted shapes and flavors. I vomit at the sight of the vanity and vitriol. Oh God Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:9), shake and chastise your Church here in America so that as many as will, will turn from their wicked ways and know you before it is too late. As David once said so I say in my sorrow, "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me." (Psalm 22:14).

Addendum:

"Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts." (1 John 5:21, NLT).