Post by Cindy on Jul 19, 2015 10:50:56 GMT -5
As time goes by and I watch people around me, all over the world really since we now have the internet, I get more and more frightened for those who call themselves Christians.
Churches have for so long not taught the whole truth of the Bible. We've heard a lot about a God of love, but not much of anything about a God of Truth and of righteousness and justice. We constantly hear about how God will keep His promises, but we hear nothing about obeying Him or what we're to obey Him about. We're told salvation is a free gift, but rarely does a person hear that there is a cost involved or know what that cost is. We're taught about the great commission and how we're supposed to witness to others, but we're never taught about the rest of what Jesus said in that statement - the second part where He tells us to teach them to obey all He has commanded us.
Many who call themselves Christians, don't even read their bibles and only hear it if they go to church. Others read only the New Testament and seem to think the Old testament doesn't apply to them anymore. Others read lots of "Christian" books that supposedly tell us what God teaches and even quote scriptures to "prove" that it teaches what they say. But rarely if ever do they actually check their bibles and study those scriptures and others to see if it really does teach that. We hear a great deal today about not being legalists and if anyone suggests we should obey God, that's often the first thing that comes to our minds. Yet at no time did Jesus ever say that we were not to obey God's law. In fact, He said the opposite!
We hear about how Jesus died to save us from our sins and hell, but we hear nothing about how He gives us the power and ability to live our life differently once we're saved. We hear very little about being separate from the world and it's ways and instead we find the world invited into our churches and the church itself handling things the way the world does.
We hear little or nothing about a holy fear of the Lord and instead hear talk about how He's our buddy and friend. We hear a lot about how god accepts us just as we are, and little or nothing of the fact that He also expects us to change and become Holy as He is Holy.
We hear a lot about doing good things for people and joining in various ministries to help others, but very little about the fact that God tells us that it's not about the things we do, it's about what is in our hearts, the reason we do them and our attitude doing them. We hear nothing about the fact that our thoughts and words are important to God and that He will hold us accountable for every thought and for every word we speak. Starting to sound more and more impossible to please Him now isn't it? Thankfully the Lord also tells us how we can be in control of our thoughts and words with His help, and how it will benefit us to obey Him.
We hear all kinds of stuff about "experiences" and "feelings" in churches today, whether it's speaking in tongues, prophecy, words of knowledge or wisdom, or binding Satan and having power over him, and confronting evil spirits, or being slain in the spirit, holy laughter, and all kinds of experiences. We hear little or nothing of the fact that God tells us over and over again not to trust our feelings or experiences over His Word.
There are many in the world today who call themselves Christians, but read their horoscopes, or look up astrology charts, read tarot cards, or contact psychics, or mediums, and think nothing of it. They would be shocked to discover just how much in common they have with the Israelites that God condemned for spiritual adultery, since they don't know their bibles or Him, although they claim to. It's no different then those who live in unrepentant sin, such as a homosexual lifestyle or living with someone outside of marriage. They too don't know God very well if they think He will continue to allow them to get away with their sin.
We hear a great deal about not judging others, and nothing about how Jesus told us to judge righteously. We hear a lot about how we are all sinners and therefore shouldn't judge others, and again nothing about how Jesus told us we could recognize people by the fruit of their lives. No, today we hear nothing of holding each other accountable to God, even though that's what His Word tells us to do; or of discipline and self control. Sadly, today we hear little or nothing of the Truth, and a lot about things that won't cause a person to be uncomfortable.
We hear many today warning about God's wrath to come on unbelievers, but little about how God says judgment begins with the House of God, or how these trials are separating the wheat from the chaff.
The result is that we have thousands, if not millions of people who think they're saved because they said a prayer, even though they don't know or obey God's Word. God tells us His Word is important, that it is life to us and that it should not be ignored or taken lightly. Our God is Holy and He demands that we be holy just as He is. To be honest, it scares me to death for the many I see every day that don't seem to understand how very serious God is about what He expects from us. Or perhaps they just think they have plenty of time to get right with God. I'm very much afraid that one day they're going to wake up and discover that it's too late. I can only hope and pray that God will open their eyes before then.
““Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)
“For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.” (Romans 2:13)
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)
““If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15)
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” (John 14:21–24)
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:19–20)
““Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”” (Matthew 19:17)
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:24–25)
“he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”” (Deuteronomy 32:46–47)
Churches have for so long not taught the whole truth of the Bible. We've heard a lot about a God of love, but not much of anything about a God of Truth and of righteousness and justice. We constantly hear about how God will keep His promises, but we hear nothing about obeying Him or what we're to obey Him about. We're told salvation is a free gift, but rarely does a person hear that there is a cost involved or know what that cost is. We're taught about the great commission and how we're supposed to witness to others, but we're never taught about the rest of what Jesus said in that statement - the second part where He tells us to teach them to obey all He has commanded us.
Many who call themselves Christians, don't even read their bibles and only hear it if they go to church. Others read only the New Testament and seem to think the Old testament doesn't apply to them anymore. Others read lots of "Christian" books that supposedly tell us what God teaches and even quote scriptures to "prove" that it teaches what they say. But rarely if ever do they actually check their bibles and study those scriptures and others to see if it really does teach that. We hear a great deal today about not being legalists and if anyone suggests we should obey God, that's often the first thing that comes to our minds. Yet at no time did Jesus ever say that we were not to obey God's law. In fact, He said the opposite!
We hear about how Jesus died to save us from our sins and hell, but we hear nothing about how He gives us the power and ability to live our life differently once we're saved. We hear very little about being separate from the world and it's ways and instead we find the world invited into our churches and the church itself handling things the way the world does.
We hear little or nothing about a holy fear of the Lord and instead hear talk about how He's our buddy and friend. We hear a lot about how god accepts us just as we are, and little or nothing of the fact that He also expects us to change and become Holy as He is Holy.
We hear a lot about doing good things for people and joining in various ministries to help others, but very little about the fact that God tells us that it's not about the things we do, it's about what is in our hearts, the reason we do them and our attitude doing them. We hear nothing about the fact that our thoughts and words are important to God and that He will hold us accountable for every thought and for every word we speak. Starting to sound more and more impossible to please Him now isn't it? Thankfully the Lord also tells us how we can be in control of our thoughts and words with His help, and how it will benefit us to obey Him.
We hear all kinds of stuff about "experiences" and "feelings" in churches today, whether it's speaking in tongues, prophecy, words of knowledge or wisdom, or binding Satan and having power over him, and confronting evil spirits, or being slain in the spirit, holy laughter, and all kinds of experiences. We hear little or nothing of the fact that God tells us over and over again not to trust our feelings or experiences over His Word.
There are many in the world today who call themselves Christians, but read their horoscopes, or look up astrology charts, read tarot cards, or contact psychics, or mediums, and think nothing of it. They would be shocked to discover just how much in common they have with the Israelites that God condemned for spiritual adultery, since they don't know their bibles or Him, although they claim to. It's no different then those who live in unrepentant sin, such as a homosexual lifestyle or living with someone outside of marriage. They too don't know God very well if they think He will continue to allow them to get away with their sin.
We hear a great deal about not judging others, and nothing about how Jesus told us to judge righteously. We hear a lot about how we are all sinners and therefore shouldn't judge others, and again nothing about how Jesus told us we could recognize people by the fruit of their lives. No, today we hear nothing of holding each other accountable to God, even though that's what His Word tells us to do; or of discipline and self control. Sadly, today we hear little or nothing of the Truth, and a lot about things that won't cause a person to be uncomfortable.
We hear many today warning about God's wrath to come on unbelievers, but little about how God says judgment begins with the House of God, or how these trials are separating the wheat from the chaff.
The result is that we have thousands, if not millions of people who think they're saved because they said a prayer, even though they don't know or obey God's Word. God tells us His Word is important, that it is life to us and that it should not be ignored or taken lightly. Our God is Holy and He demands that we be holy just as He is. To be honest, it scares me to death for the many I see every day that don't seem to understand how very serious God is about what He expects from us. Or perhaps they just think they have plenty of time to get right with God. I'm very much afraid that one day they're going to wake up and discover that it's too late. I can only hope and pray that God will open their eyes before then.
““Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)
“For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.” (Romans 2:13)
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)
““If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15)
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” (John 14:21–24)
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:19–20)
““Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”” (Matthew 19:17)
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:24–25)
“he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”” (Deuteronomy 32:46–47)
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