By Pastor Carmen Rizzo

35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? (Mark 8:35-36)

We read these words and understand them to be a stern warning from Christ against pursuing wealth, materialism, and hedonism, to the point where, who we are at the center becomes fragmented and indeed re-defined. Few, have taken the time to see how this very same warning applies to not only individual members of the Body of Christ, but the corporate body as well.  

I study sociology and various different subjects that most people find to be very boring, because I have seen something in the Church that has frightened me for many years. So, this study, now in its 21st year has been one that I have undertaken not because as some have said that I have "No life," but because, God's Spirit has not allowed me to rest in what would on the surface seem like a random, disconnected, disjointed, fragmented series of movements and events that are bearing full fruit in the culture that we have come to know as Western Civilization. God's Spirit has driven me to see that indeed everything is connected.

From a sermon given on the morning of January 10, 1869, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle

Introduction by Pastor Carmen A. Rizzo (May 3, 2009)

It seems that humanity never learns its lesson and thus is doomed to keep falling into the same ditches time and time again. While we, in our time, over the last several months are witnesses to great financial upheavels and the discovery of greed and treachery in the financial markets, it would be a mistake to conclude that these present events are a first for humanity.

Ultimately, whatever the Bible speaks to, it does so with truth and certainty. When Biblical precepts which are God’ s precepts are violated or ignored, the result will always be the same. Disaster and the increase of the human quotient of misery.

It has always been my hope that one day, we would all begin to take the Bible seriously and understand that what the Bible allows us to do, or not to do is for our benefit. But realistically that day will only come when Messiah returns to set up His kingdom in fullfilment of the Davidic Covenant from Jerusalem. Until that time among others two things will remain true and immovable.

• Jerusalem will remain a "Cup of Trembling" in the hands of all nations of the world
• As Solomon said: "There is nothing new under the sun."

As you read the comments below by the "Prince of Preachers" you will notice the similarities between his time and ours. The similarities follow all the way through to the spiritual realm and the present day condition of the Church. . But in spite of the sadness of this truth, we must keep in mind that the hope that he had, we have, that one day, and we hope soon, Jesus will come for His Church and after a 7 year period of climatic upheavel the restoration of all things will commence!

Until then:  "That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which it may be said, "See, this is new?"  It has already been in ancient times before us. 11 There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after." (Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 NKJ)