It's quite depressing to read Ezekiel. He was asked by God to proclaim judgment to the Israelite. The people has been deeply engulf by idolatry, even the leaders themselves are guilty of this - 70 of them to be precise (Ezekiel 8) They were worshiping these idols in the temple. So God brought judgment to them using the Babylonians. It's just amazing how people can be so blinded and it will take more than the Babylonian's affliction to turn them to God. So who is to blame? The Babylonians? Of course not. They are just one of God's tools. We would blame the Israelite because they have turn away from their Maker, the only one and only God.
It is so easy for us to veer into the wrong direction when it comes to church. We are always in danger of not acknowledging Jesus' role as the Head of the Church. Jesus is always a sensitive issue and we are forever trying to stay true to the meaning of church without even talking about Jesus. A church has become a friendly neighborhood community service building filled with obliging people rather than the beacon that convicts people of the sins and the need of Jesus' saving grace. Church has assimilated into the surrounding culture rather than to oppose it. It has became a feel good center, a guilt curing place for lukewarm Christians. rather than a conviction and healing place.
When we turn away from the true purpose of serving in a church, God may choose to remove us all from it just like what happen to the Israelite. When people starts raiding the church, it is probably a good time for us to think and consider our ways. Are we being persecuted or is God sending us some warning?
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