holding fast

There's a section in Jeremiah's prophecy where he describes the tragic state of the church in his time, and his description has a very contemporary ring to it. It's chapter 50 v 6-7, where the situation is that the pastors are leading the people astray, the people have no sense of their own to remember their resting place, and in her weakness her enemies were taking advantage of her. Same today really, considering the visible, professing, church at large - the pastors lead the people astray, the people are going off astray anyway without much encouragement, and in that weakened state false religions start to move in on her territory, businessmen exploit her with marketing ploys, and blasphemers and heretics get the biggest say. You could say that this exploitation serves her right for her backsliding. Yes, but she still belongs to the LORD (it's the church that's called by his name: he calls them even there in Jeremiah "my people") and when people take advantage of her weak and guilty condition, their sinful opportunism is an attack on God's own cause, and they are culpable. It might be only what she deserves, but it's still wrong of anyone to treat her like that.

Point being? The point is that each of us has a responsibility ... well, first of all there's the responsibility to join a church and put personal faith in the Lord of the church, but in any case, our responsibility is, not to do anything to undermine the qualities or strengths or the institution of the church (visible or invisible). Go weeping and seek the Lord together - Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant. Jeremiah 50 v 4-5. Or, in New Testament terms, "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent." "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, which are ready to die." Revelation 3 v 3 and 2.