Greg Stevenson reviews ‘Rebel Church’ by Peter Sammons (Glory to Glory Publications, 2013).

This timely book is a sensitive and hopeful challenge to Christians about the condition of some sections of Jesus' Church today that are, in various ways, in rebellion against their Lord. It is written clearly as both a warning and an encouragement for the believer in the truth of the Bible, especially those who find themselves in liberal or institutional churches that in some way reject God's word, or change the truth to accommodate modern worldly mores.

The author begins with reminders of Jesus' warnings of deception, false gospels and false messiahs as signs of the end times, and of Paul's strong caution about teachers who would present another Jesus, another spirit, another Gospel, and of people who would not put up with sound doctrine, but embrace ideas that their itching ears want to hear (2 Cor 11:4; 2 Tim 4:3). These are key texts for this much-needed book, for this disease is very evident in our day, from ordained archbishops to 'atheist' churches.

The book points out that Jesus spoke much about rebellion and its consequences, both in the generic and individual sense. Sammons reflects on shocking recent actions of the comfortable institutional Church, especially in Western nations, detecting three currents of rebellion:

• Syncretism through compromise with other religions;
  
• Sexual licence presented as 'love' or 'equality';
  
• Termination of life as a norm, presented as a choice, a right or as medical 'treatment'.

This timely book is a sensitive and hopeful challenge to Christians about the condition of some sections of Jesus' Church today that are, in various ways, in rebellion against their Lord.

Sammons recognises a distinction between the true ekklesia (those believers called out to new life in the Spirit, set apart from the world for God's Kingdom) and the lukewarm, institutional structures that many churches have become, focused on repetitive ritual, dualistic 'clergy and laity', or top-down career positions. He points out that disciples of the King are called into the 'Kingdom', not into the 'Church'.

Itching Ears

The chapter on 'Itching Ears' presents a serious picture of the Church giving out to a wide audience (church-goers and non-believers) the message it wants to hear, subject to worldly relativity and to vocal pressures from secular anti-God lobbies. Sammons shows clearly the major influence of Greek philosophy in the presentation of the Gospel and the Platonic divergence from biblical truth that has been carried over into post-Reformation Protestant church thinking.

He demonstrates the growing compromise with the demands of liberal, non-Bible-believing leaders in both Church and state that are clearly in rebellion against God's revealed truth. Many examples are given, as warnings, of secular influences in the Church.

A Prodigal Church?

How to address these increasingly apostate changes over the past 50 years, and turn back to live under God's law? It is an urgent challenge.

The last three chapters identify key areas in which the Church must become more aware of the warnings in God's word for these days, including the signs of the times and the Bible’s teaching about the return of the Lord Jesus, the Hebraic roots of the Christian faith, study of the whole Bible as one progressive revelation and the call to no compromise with the world.

Sammons recognises a distinction between the true ekklesia, set apart from the world for God's Kingdom, and the lukewarm, institutional structures that many churches have become.

For individual believers, Sammons presents 'steps to 20-20 vision for these days', including exhortations to:

• Listen intently to the Shepherd's voice, as to our first and highest love;
  
• Boldly share the Gospel message in the realities of the end-time world;
  
• Believe God's purpose for Jew and Gentile unity as ‘one new man’ in Christ;
  
• Rejoice in our Hebraic root as Gentiles engrafted into the olive tree;
  
• Engage in prayer and practical works for persecuted believers;
  
• Be fully committed to intercession and Bible study.

Britain is under the fire of God's judgment at present, having repeatedly turned against him in rebellion. Yet the established Church is largely silent. This book, Rebel Church, is realistic, honest and challenging, but also full of hope. It is vital reading for believers who desire to walk with the Master by his Spirit in the terrible times of the last days (2 Tim 3:1).

The author asks, finally: ‘Will the church be prodigal?’ The answer is: yes! – and no!

'Rebel Church' is available from Christian Publications International (formerly Glory to Glory Publications) for £9.99. Also available on Amazon.