In 1 Samuel 8:19-20, "The people refused to obey the voice of Samuel, saying, We shall have a king over us."
Why did the people of Israel want a human king to rule over them you may ask. Read verse 20, "That we may be like all the other nations." Israel didn't want to be different, they wanted to be accepted by the nations and people around them. This account reminds me of many churches today, for they, too, want to be like everyone else.
Have many churches lost the desire to follow the example spoken by the Apostle Paul in Hebrews 11? We read believers are to be "Strangers and pilgrims on the earth." Many Christians compromise the truths Jesus taught to fit in with the world. We are not to embrace the "world view" just to be accepted by today's culture. Now our churches have been practicing assimilation with the world way to long.
The Apostle John wrote, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but of the world," 1 John 2:15-16.
And this world is passing away due to lust, pride and greed. The church should direct a person to what our Heavenly Father desires for His children.
Brethren, this assimilation, or absorbing the ways of fallen mankind, is much too prevalent. Read what Jesus stated about this subject. "If you keep My Commandments, you will abide in My love. If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you," taken from John 15.
Herein lies the problem. No one wants to be persecuted for what they believe. But what we have been given, the Holy Spirit, has convicted us of sin. For this reason, we now belong to God. Remember, Paul instructs us that we were buried with Jesus through baptism into death. Just as Jesus was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we also should walk in newness of life, Romans 6:4.
People of Jesus Christ, the church, need to open its spiritual eyes, wake up. Our calling is not about pleasing the world by accepting blatant sin, but being separate from the "world-view," being different, a shining light in a darkening world.
I know many believe following Jesus is all about love, but it's also about obeying your Lord and striving to please Him first. The Body of Christ is called to live by and teach his ways without excuses or apologies. The scriptures instruct us in wisdom toward life and eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
In II Timothy 3:15-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof (scold), for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Our calling is not about feeling good about yourself, it's about convicting one's soul, directing us to repentance of evil and walking in newness of life. Remember, we were bought with a high price, therefore, glorify God in your body and mind for we are now property of His.
In closing, be sure your church stands for the truths put forth from the Holy Book, no compromising or politically correct standards. Sadly, it seems whatever is acceptable in our culture, ends up in the church. Trying to appeal to the masses does not work, we must strive to cling to truths that transforms a person from lust, greed and hatred. As stated earlier, the people of Israel wanted to be like all the other people around them. Bringing this example to believers today, let us become new creatures which are created according to God in true righteousness and holiness, Ephesians 4:17-24. Flee from the destructive ways of the world, and follow Jesus in the right direction, for He waits for us to choose between assimilation or separation. It's never to late.
Craig Joyner has worked and served in the Hot Springs area for more than 20 years. He has a deep passion for studying the Word of God and sharing with others his findings. His objective is for believers to draw closer to the Lord, cleaving to the truth of the Word and not be deceived during these end-times.
Religion on 04/16/2016