False Christianity is spreading more and more while true Christianity and the disciples/followers of Christ are becoming more compact and tightly knit! It is becoming more apparent in these last days how the discerning Christian is finding out the way that so many of todays -false- Christians are into completely ignoring the word of God. They treat it as if it it doesn't exist or apply to them, somehow believing themselves to be -spiritually- above it all, without any thought or worry, as long as whatever they do is being done unto others in 2nd commandment love....
#1. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
False Christianity has thrown out Love #1 to God and who He is and doing what He says, and has replaced it with Love #2 to man instead.
The thing that most concerns us in this letter is how those who profess Christ as their Lord do not keep His word in order to love Him above all. We see no sanctificying work of truth being done in them, the kind that Jesus prayed for: "Father, sanctify them to the truth - thy word is truth!" Yet countless numbers of them who do not keep His word believe themselves to be saved. Simply put, how can one claim to be saved and justified FROM their sins through Jesus' death on a cross, who isn't also saved and sanctified TO God in Christ, and prooving it by living the kind of holy life that is sanctified to God???
For instance, when Jesus commands us to -LOVE- our neighbor as ourselves, He doesn't mean that we're to all silently fall down and become a floor mat for their every abuse and insult against God we may see or hear. No one is saying to do that! How can it be that any -sanctified- Christian allow the God that they claim to love and cherish above all, and the word they claim to treasure most, is being continually mocked and spat upon, and scorned and ridiculed???
How can anyone allow such an ungodly attitude as this continue??? I'll tell you how -- It is because they want to portray themselves as being -LOVING- Christians who don't want to say anything that might hurt, warn or offend them!!! Does anyone truly believe that by keeping silent and tolerating such open and active sin, and such sinful lifestyles as adultery, fornication and homosexualism, that somehow by their doing so they're going to -convert- them to Christianity???
A perefect example of what I am talking about can be found right here under one of these "new age" teachers such as Andy Stanley -- http://www.intergate.com/~subi/fprophet.htm#Andy
The truth is that anyone who can allow such a thing to happen has absolutely no idea of what the Gospel or of what true Christianity is all about. God calls us to be Holy, not make excuses for ours or for anothers sinful action. If those who profess to be "Christians" can do this... if their conscience allows them not to rebuke or say a word in order to speak out in the Gospel's or in God's behalf, then they are Not, I repeat: -Not- a Christian. The proof that they are Not is because they have no 1st. commandment love of God in them!
It is precisely because we love the Lord and have His words dwelling in us more than we love anyone or anything else that we speak out and tell them the truth in love. Our stand for the truth and our words are their only hope, and all because He and His words have found the number one place in our heart! We are compelled to tell them the truth! We do love them and care for their souls, and that is why we have to confront them and preach the Gospel to them so that they might see their sin and repent of it as well. However, chances are they won't like to hear what we're saying or where we're coming from, as we make them feel naked and guilty just by our presence.
So, if you Love the Truth but they don't, then when they rebel against what you are saying in righteousness to them, chances are that -you- won't be the one who leaves them, instead don't be surprised if -they- become the ones who'll leave you and want nothing more to do with you or your God. You both entertain opposing views. Two cannot walk together except both agree!
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
We are clearly told in the word not to be yoked together with unbelievers. Why? Because our hearts have been changed! We're no longer the same! They don't want what we have nor take the path where we're going, and we don't want what they have nor travel the path to where they're going. We are told to come out and be seperate from the unbeliever (i.e. from all who do not walk in the Light as we do), not because we're better than them but simply because we're "Christians" - saved Christians who obey His #1 commandment and who follow hard after their God and His Kingdom, and not after men or the things of this world!
What ever happened to abiding in scriptures as these???....
John 14:23 If you love Me, then keep (obey) My words!
Philippians 3:7-8 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
What we're seeing today is how many have taken -love thy neighbor- and made it God's requirement to enter the kingdom. These same people who profess to be followers of Christ have never sat down and weighed the costs of what it means to be a -Christian-. To be a Christian means we have to give up something; namely the power of our dead self, in order to gain something else; namely the power of His sanctified Life. Instead they just take and make their version of Christianity for granted, one without the power of a Christian life and one where the self rules.
Such people really believe that they are -loving- by excusing everyone (including themselves) as being -can't-help-it- sinners, saying they just made a -mistake-! They go on making excuses for sin themselves and like to be around others as themselves, always keeping silent when confronted by openly active sinners, believing this to be the way that every Christian walks-in-faith.
Ephesians 5:3-7 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
The true believer hears as well as understands. Those who aren't true believers are those who deem that the -other things-; that Paul talked about in Phillipians 3:7-8, have become gain to them and are more important or just as important to their welfare as Spiritual things are, and thus never receive the Spirit. They cannot bear to be parted from these -other things-, and try and incorporate them, along with love, into their version of "Christianity". Yet to them Jesus speaks....
Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Matthew 16:24-25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Remember, the false Christian doesn't mind hanging around with openly active sinners. They believe (by doing what they do) that they can save them so long as they continue to love them thus be their friend. They believe the openly active sinner will respond to this treatment if they remain silent concerning the word of God, and in their doing so they won't be offended by it!
This is the first and great commandment.
#2. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Matthew 22:37-39
The Spirit through Paul had something to say to all Christians about these things....
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
However, the truth is that no Christian can be comfortable around that which is unclean and shameful and which God has already condemned. Yet false Christianity not only tolerates it but thinks it is doing God a service by tolerating open sin as it believes that He also once did in order to save them later on.
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Offend the Lord by their unlove and actions? Always! Offend the friend through the love of the truth? Never!
May God bless you in the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ!
Biff & Suzanne
