The greatest threat to Christianity today comes from within the church, not without. There are so many people attending church, calling themselves Christians and yet they do not believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Many do not believe in Satan, hell or demons, but claim to follow Jesus. There are many pastors who refuse to teach about sin. What a confused and mixed message these people are sending to those who are not believers. In essence, they are claiming to have more wisdom and knowledge than God. That is a very scary thought, for I know the fate of one person who tried to ascend above the throne of God. He was cast from heaven along with one-third of the angels:
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; (Isaiah 14:12-13)
People are only fooling themselves if they think they can rise above the teachings of Christ and then claim to be His follower. They are really followers of Satan and have been deceived, just as Eve and Adam were deceived. In their case, they recognized their sin and repented. Many people today are so caught up with playing the Christian without actually walking as one; they do not recognize their sin. They think they are spiritually on point and all the people quoting Scripture are freaks, who do not interpret the Bible in light of our current society.
Let me explain something. Jesus was a radical. He did not embrace the norms of society. He did not praise the works of the religious leaders. He called them hypocrites and white washed tombs. He knew they were no longer teaching and walking according to God’s Word. They were walking according to the traditions of man. They embraced man’s way over God’s Word. Jesus Himself said the Pharisees, the great religious leaders, were heading for hell:
For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20).
I think the warning Jesus was giving each one of us was very simple and very clear, “Do not follow man; follow God.” The only way you can truly follow the Lord is to know His Word. Without the Bible, there is no way you can know God or understand the guidance He has provided for our lives. He has a great plan for every one of us, but if we choose to walk in ignorance of Him and His Word, we will miss out on His will for our lives.
As a Christian, if you choose to continue in sin and ignore God’s Word, you certainly have the freedom to follow this course of action, or inaction. You can walk in ignorance of God and His Word, but I beg of you—I plead with you—please do not tell people you are a Christian. Do not speak out when a real Christian writes a blog or a post about the biblical perspective on the moral issues in our society today. I say this because you do not know God’s Word, so you have nothing to share. All you have is your own opinion, which is foolish in the light of God’s wisdom. When you say, “The Bible does not say that,” you are only putting your biblical ignorance on display for all to see.
It is better to remain silent, not just to conceal spiritual ignorance, but to avoid causing confusion and division. When people speak out about what the Bible teaches without ever reading it, they are confusing people who are not Christians and causing division in the church. Non-Christians commonly believe the Bible is open to interpretation because they hear conflicting beliefs by so-called Christians. More often than not, the conflict is not over God’s Word, but the lack of knowledge people have of the Bible. They say the Bible says something it does not say.
Here are a few common misconceptions people like to say:
“Jesus loves everyone, so no one is going to hell,” but the Bible says:
And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day (John 12:47-48).
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats” (Matthew 25:31-32).
“The Bible says not to judge others,” but the Bible really says:
But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” (1 Corinthians 5:11-13)
“God does not judge homosexuality, only lust,” but the Bible says:
If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them (Leviticus 20:13).
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due (Romans 1:26-27).
“All roads lead to heaven,” but the Bible says:
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6)
I could continue, but I would encourage every person who claims to be a Christian to do their homework. Before you say, “Thus says the Lord, …” which carries a great responsibility, read your Bible and do the research. What does the Bible really say and what does God call His children to be.
All Christians are sinners, saved by grace. We all fall short of the glory of God. None of us should ever put ourselves above another person, but should share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in love, praying for those who are perishing. Do not get caught up with non-essential things but hold true to the doctrine of salvation.
Heed the words of Paul and avoid those who would bring division to the body of Christ: Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them (Romans 16:7).
~Staff Writer
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