Have you ever noticed when life does not go the way we believe it should go, instead of going back to God and His Word and listening to what He tells us, often because that is too hard, we simply change our theology and how we understand what we believe God is saying?
When we have friends who are not Christians and are too timid, too afraid, even too politically correct to live our lives of faith and share our faith with them, instead of believing God’s Word which tells us that there is only one way to heaven, we simply adjust our theology and buy into the one world religion theology. After all we convince ourselves, it does not matter what you believe or in whom you believe as long as you are sincere in your faith. So, if we can convince ourselves that our friends are saved, then we do not have to confront them with their pagan, heathen, atheistic unbelief and life goes on. If our friend was a drug addict, would we do the same letting them go on abusing drugs and killing themselves? Then why would we be so malicious and let them continue to kill themselves spiritually, even putting their own soul in danger of eternal judgement. Either God has given us His Word which He means every part of it or we might as well throw out the whole book. God never said life would be easy.
Or, what about when our friends or even our own grown children begin to act in an ungodly manner? What do we do when they begin living in ways contrary to our own Christian morals? Do we confront them? Perhaps for a while we do, but then when they fail to change their lifestyle because they enjoy the sinning they are involved in, why is it that we change our theology and start sounding so much like the rest of our immoral society? You have heard it said, “You’re not supposed to judge other people.” Is that really what the Bible says? Is recognizing sin the same as judging someone? Paul reminds us that if we did not have God’s Word, especially the commandments, then we would not know what sin was; thus, the commandments are good. He also reminds us that as we do recognize sin and as our responsibility is to call attention of those we love to their sin, we are to do so recognizing our own sin as well. And finally, God does tell us that if someone continues in their sin, we are to judge them (1 Cor. 5:13), which is what we call excommunication. This calling attention to sin and even judging someone is done because we love them and want them to see the seriousness of their sin so they repent and are not eternally (forever) banned from heaven.
Perhaps before we compromise our faith and reduce our faith to that of our immoral, pagan society, we might go back to God and listen again to what He tells us in His Word. Remember, He created us to love us, and He helps us to love others, not by compromise, which leads to forever separation from Himself and each other, but through repentance and forgiveness which leads to eternal salvation.
I am reminded of the man whose son was inflicted with an evil spirit.
When we have friends who are not Christians and are too timid, too afraid, even too politically correct to live our lives of faith and share our faith with them, instead of believing God’s Word which tells us that there is only one way to heaven, we simply adjust our theology and buy into the one world religion theology. After all we convince ourselves, it does not matter what you believe or in whom you believe as long as you are sincere in your faith. So, if we can convince ourselves that our friends are saved, then we do not have to confront them with their pagan, heathen, atheistic unbelief and life goes on. If our friend was a drug addict, would we do the same letting them go on abusing drugs and killing themselves? Then why would we be so malicious and let them continue to kill themselves spiritually, even putting their own soul in danger of eternal judgement. Either God has given us His Word which He means every part of it or we might as well throw out the whole book. God never said life would be easy.
Or, what about when our friends or even our own grown children begin to act in an ungodly manner? What do we do when they begin living in ways contrary to our own Christian morals? Do we confront them? Perhaps for a while we do, but then when they fail to change their lifestyle because they enjoy the sinning they are involved in, why is it that we change our theology and start sounding so much like the rest of our immoral society? You have heard it said, “You’re not supposed to judge other people.” Is that really what the Bible says? Is recognizing sin the same as judging someone? Paul reminds us that if we did not have God’s Word, especially the commandments, then we would not know what sin was; thus, the commandments are good. He also reminds us that as we do recognize sin and as our responsibility is to call attention of those we love to their sin, we are to do so recognizing our own sin as well. And finally, God does tell us that if someone continues in their sin, we are to judge them (1 Cor. 5:13), which is what we call excommunication. This calling attention to sin and even judging someone is done because we love them and want them to see the seriousness of their sin so they repent and are not eternally (forever) banned from heaven.
Perhaps before we compromise our faith and reduce our faith to that of our immoral, pagan society, we might go back to God and listen again to what He tells us in His Word. Remember, He created us to love us, and He helps us to love others, not by compromise, which leads to forever separation from Himself and each other, but through repentance and forgiveness which leads to eternal salvation.
I am reminded of the man whose son was inflicted with an evil spirit.
“20And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21And Jesus asked his father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood. 22And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’ 23And Jesus said to him, ‘If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.’ 24Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:20-24).Perhaps we might want to offer the same prayer before changing our theology. “Lord, I believe Your Word is true. Help me accept it and even more, help the ones I love hear and believe it as well.” And God will answer your prayer so that instead of an eternal separation there might be an eternal dwelling together in heaven, which is truly a more loving way.
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