Repentance or Judgment: A Call to the Churches of the United Kingdom
Introduction: A Nation at a Crossroads
The current state of the church in the United Kingdom is cause for grave concern. Over the past two decades, the landscape has changed dramatically. What was once a vibrant centre of influence, shaping the moral and spiritual direction of society, is now a shadow of its former self. The churches are growing increasingly empty, and the nation has become more tolerant toward sin and rebellion against God, while simultaneously becoming less tolerant of the gospel message.
This decline has not occurred in a vacuum. It is the result of years of compromise, where many churches have embraced modernism and worldly trends instead of remaining faithful to the unchanging truths of Scripture. The focus has shifted from holiness and reverence to entertainment and approval of society’s moral standards. As the Bible warns us, “The friendship of the world is enmity with God” (James 4:4). This warning is not merely a caution but a stark reality that demands our immediate attention.
The Call of Christ: Warnings from Scripture
The Bible is full of warnings about the danger of straying from the path of righteousness. In Matthew 11:21-24, the Lord Jesus issues a solemn warning to the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. These cities had witnessed the mighty works of Christ, yet they rejected His message. As a result, Jesus pronounces judgment upon them, declaring, “Woe unto thee, Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell.”
These cities, though blessed with the presence of Christ, chose to harden their hearts and reject His truth. Jesus goes on to say that, had the same works been performed in Sodom, the city would have repented and remained until this day. The implication is clear: greater judgment is reserved for those who have received greater light and yet reject it. If this is true for cities that witnessed Christ’s miracles, how much more true is it for churches that have received the gospel but have turned from its power to conform to the ways of the world?
This call to repentance is not new. In Acts 13:10, the apostle Paul rebukes Elymas the sorcerer, calling him “full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness.” Elymas sought to pervert the right ways of the Lord, just as modern-day false teachers and corrupt church leaders do today. They deceive and mislead, twisting the gospel to suit their own agendas. Paul’s words are a stark reminder to the church today: we are called to stand firm against all that seeks to pervert the gospel.
The apostle Paul also reminds us in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 that “the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is a sobering reality—the return of Christ will bring judgment, not just upon those who have never heard the gospel, but also upon those who have heard it and rejected it. The rejection of the gospel, whether through complacency, compromise, or willful rebellion, invites the righteous judgment of God.
The Church in Crisis: Modernism and Compromise
For the past two decades in the UK, we have witnessed a profound shift in the direction of the church. New forms of evangelism, often more concerned with appealing to the world than proclaiming the truth, have taken root in many congregations. These methods, while appearing to bear fruit in the short term, are leading to the gradual erosion of biblical orthodoxy.
Churches have sought to make the gospel more palatable by watering down the message, focusing on entertainment rather than preaching the Word in its entirety. The biblical call to repentance, holiness, and separation from the world has been replaced with a gospel of comfort and worldly success. As a result, churches are increasingly filled with people who are not truly converted, but rather have embraced a form of religion that suits their desires and preferences. In doing so, they have become like the churches addressed in Revelation, who “have a name that they live, and are dead” (Revelation 3:1).
The tragedy is that many churches have not only embraced the world but have become indistinguishable from it. The apostle Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 3:19 that “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” Churches that follow the wisdom of the world, in the hope of appealing to the masses or gaining cultural approval, are not serving God but are instead building on a foundation of sand. Their efforts, no matter how impressive they may seem, will be brought to nothing when tested by the fire of God’s judgment.
The Dangers of Worldly Friendship: A Call to Separation
One of the greatest dangers facing the church today is its desire to be accepted by the world. In James 4:4, the Bible warns that “the friendship of the world is enmity with God.” This is not a minor issue—it is a fundamental spiritual conflict. When the church seeks the approval of the world, it places itself in direct opposition to God. The love of the world is incompatible with the love of God.
The apostle John further emphasizes this in 1 John 2:15-17, where he warns, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” The church must choose between allegiance to the world and loyalty to God. The tragic reality is that many churches, in their desire to remain relevant, have chosen the former. They have become enamoured with worldly success, cultural trends, and the desire for acceptance. In doing so, they have lost their distinctiveness as the salt and light of the world.
The Consequences of Rejection: A Warning of Judgment
The Bible makes it clear that there are serious consequences for rejecting the truth of God. In 2 Peter 2:20, the apostle warns, “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” The Bible teaches that those who have once known the truth but return to their sin will face a greater judgment than those who have never known the truth.
This is not a light matter. It is a sobering reality that those who turn their backs on the gospel after knowing its power will face more severe judgment than those who have never known it. The apostle Peter speaks of the danger of returning to a life of sin, warning that it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than to know it and turn away (2 Peter 2:21). This is a serious warning to the church today: if we continue to embrace the world and reject the call to holiness, we will reap the consequences of our actions.
The Future of Our Children: The Responsibility of the Church
One of the most tragic consequences of the church’s failure to repent and return to biblical truth is the impact it has on future generations. Our children are growing up in a world that is increasingly hostile to the gospel. If we, as a church, fail to uphold the truth and pass it on to the next generation, we will have failed them in the most important way possible.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 commands parents to “teach [God’s commandments] diligently unto thy children,” and Psalm 78:5-7 reminds us of our responsibility to “declare [God’s] statutes and His laws.” The church, as the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15), must take seriously its role in teaching the next generation. If we allow worldly compromise to infiltrate the church, we are not only betraying the gospel but also endangering the spiritual lives of our children.
Conclusion: The Urgency of Repentance
The call to repentance is urgent. The Bible makes it clear that God will not tolerate sin forever, and that judgment is coming for those who reject His truth. If the churches of the United Kingdom do not repent and return to the Word of God, we will face the judgment of God. But there is still hope. The invitation to repentance is open, and God is merciful. If we return to Him with all our hearts, He will heal our land.
The question remains: will we heed the warning and repent before it is too late? The time for compromise has passed. The time for revival is now.
30th March 2007
Miguel Hayworth
Director, UK Apologetics Library
https://www.ukapologeticslibrary.net