Yes judgment does begin at the house of God!
1 Peter 4:12-19
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
So much of Christendom has been persuaded by the self-esteem message of the Joel Osteen's, that so many are not even born again, and many will not be prepared at the judgment seat of Christ.
The bible teaches us that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God, and all that that will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
The scripture teaches that we are not to love the world or the things in the world, if any man love the world then the love of the Father is not in him. We are to set our affections on things above, not on things of the earth.
Many are caught up and in love with materialism and in having their best life now. Many tv preachers are preaching materialism, self esteem, and leading the people to a self-centered life instead of a Christ-centered life.
So many in the churches in USA are far from loving God with all their heart with a pure devotion for Christ alone. So many have a so called love for Jesus in what He can do for them rather than who He is to them. Many have become worldly and have no true affection for God. So many are coveting after things of this world instead of Christ. Many celebrity preachers have tickled their ears instead of preaching the Word of Truth, the message of the Cross.
I have repented to God and asked Him to forgive me where I have fallen short in living and preaching His true message continually.
Yes...God is calling the masses of worldly Christians to repentance. He is calling sinners to repentance. He is calling worldly preachers to repentance. He is still chastening those that are His, out of His love for us. Judgment has already begun with the house of God so that we won't be condemned with the world. He is calling His church to come out from amongst the world to be a separated people unto to God. He is calling sinners to be saved from the wrath to come. There is the wrath of God that is coming that only Jesus can save us from. We must warn others of sin, and the need of trusting Christ completely and continually.
But, we must never say that their is no more mercy. We must never say that God's judgment is without mercy and that we as Christians should not pray for mercy. His judgment without mercy is only to them who have showed no mercy. We should never say that God condemns His righteous one's (those who have been made righteous in Christ) right alone with the wicked. God does make a difference in those who serve him and those who don't.
Judgment and wrath will be unleashed on all the world when Christ comes back on those who obeyed not the gospel.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
But here is where God admonishes us so that we will be prepared. But he also comforts us Christians in saying that we are not appointed to wrath.
Thessalonians 5:1-11
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Brethren, we are to warn of the wrath to come but we are also to comfort others with God's desire for us in Christ. His desire is definitely not for us to experience wrath if we are truly His.
Blessings...rbanks