"For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things." - Mattew 12:34-35
As Christians the foundation of our spiritual understanding is the Word of God - inerrant in the original manuscripts and the infallible Truth. By the Word of God we understand how to live rightly by faith and love rightly by the power of God. So why is the "one" Body of Christ subdivided by so many variants or denominations? Estimations show there are more than 200 Christian denominations in the U.S. and a staggering 45,000 globally, that's according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity. Groups of people divided by interpretation of the Word or differences in practice. Fortunately for most they can find agreement in Peter's answer to the question that Jesus asked the disciples. "Who do you say that I am?"
"Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock [the declaration that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." - Matthew 16:16-18
A temptation that we all face is to abandon what we say is true and right when our circumstances change, either by our own doing or because of the actions of another person. We are unwilling to live with the consequences that are affecting us and seek relief. I knew a pastor in a particular denomination who had not always been part of that denomination. When I asked the "why" question he told me that he had divorced his first wife because of her infidelity. His denomination - through which he had earned a doctorate in theology - would not permit him to continue to be a pastor since he divorced. So, he found a denomination that would allow him to be a pastor. He was a good man and loved God. But his circumstances changed and correspondingly what he embraced as truth changed with them. The same truth that he had declared to be what he believed, embraced and promoted in ministry. We often embrace a "truth" so long as it does negatively affect us or what we do.
So, to my point. Like that pastor, the temptation to accommodate circumstances and compromise truth is something that we face every day. It may be a big or small thing, but when we are conflicted, it tempts us to ask the question, "Did God really say?". What we believe to be truth, as Christians, is being challenged by what our culture has declared to be true and secular laws have been established that support those cultural norms. Some of which are in opposition to the Word of God.
As an example, there is a difference between who we are genetically, created by God, and how we subsequently choose to live our lives. God says that He is not a respecter of persons. God loves mankind and sent Jesus to restore mankind to Himself. The Bible makes plain that there is no distinction between races or genders before God. But man has chosen to redefine gender to match life choices and what man declares as truth. What man cannot do is change the essence of gender - genetics, chromosomes - but I suspect he would if he could so he might continue on his quest to be like God.
So be on your guard Christian - Satan is crouching at the door - roaming about looking for the weak one in the herd. Know what you believe and why you believe it.
"take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" - Ephesians 6:13-18
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
No comments:
Post a Comment