An evil and adulterous generation

Matthew 12:38-39 says, “Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.” Just as the generation in our Lord’s time was seeking what was wrong, so it is today. An issue of Focus on the Family Magazine states that baby boomers (someone born between 1946-1964) expect six items in a church: “good music, social groups, big meeting rooms, a quality kitchen, ample parking, and clean restrooms.”

What do most people seek? Did you notice that none of the items the baby boomers seek are what God Himself requires? This reminds one of the principle of Isaiah 55:7-8. What man desires often is different than what God desires. One must make the decision as to what they will seek. One may immediately think that seeking a good parking space is far superior than seeking after something wicked, such as an opportunity for immorality. However, this is not how God operates. If what one is seeking after is not in God’s will, it will not please Him, no matter how morally good we may decide it to be.

Instead of those items which satisfy fleshly desires, we should seek a church with the correct characteristics. Some of which are as follows: Foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11; Matthew 16:18); law (1 Corinthians 14:37; 2 Timothy 3:16-17); name (Acts 11:26; Romans 16:16); organization (Acts 14:23; Philippians 1:1); worship (Acts 2:42; Ephesians 5:19; Acts 20:7); love toward one another (1 Peter 1:22; Hebrews 13:1; John 13:34-35); and, membership (Acts 2:38, 47; Galatians 3:26-27). Some consider differing denominations to be the different branches that Jesus spoke of in John 15. However, this is not correct for that illustration would demand a tree which bears different kinds of fruit. Not only is this impossible based upon natural laws but it is also impossible because the context indicates that individuals are the branches (John 15:5).

We are not on a hunt for a church “close” or “just about like” the church of the New Testament; we are looking for the church itself. The same can be said for the gospel. I do not want to obey the gospel in a way that is “close” to the New Testament; I want to obey just what people obeyed in the New Testament. Truly, we, too, are living in an evil and perverse generation. Let’s do what we can to seek the simple gospel of Christ. God said, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Kyle Campbell