This morning I was thinking about many professing Christians who
should know better but who allow themselves to be duped by Satan. On
one hand they support and proselytize for their denomination, viewing
all others with suspicion; and on the other hand they take part in
activities, whether directly or indirectly, that are not of God. If
anything, many of their choices glorify Satan.
Why am I “picking on” Christians this morning instead of the
unbelievers? The answer: Christians, who should know better, bear much
responsibility since they claim to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God
and to be followers of Jesus.
I am convinced that those who profess to be Christians and are not
trying to live up to and even beyond what Jesus taught while on earth
(1), are directly contributing to the corruption of the world instead of
bringing an example of “heaven on earth.” (2) In my opinion, by their
preaching of “cheap grace” they are responsible for slowing down the
conversion of the world’s population to a higher spiritual plane.
As the Bible says, Christians are in the world but are not to be of
the world (3). There’s a big difference. “Cheap grace” keeps standards
low by discouraging those who have the sensitivity and intelligence to
discern the things of God. I’ve written about my experience many years
ago of having a “professing Christian” try to convert me with “cheap
grace” tactics: just say the words and your sins are forgiven – past,
present, and future. Wow! Isn’t that great! Praise the Lord!
I’ve also noticed that many “professing Christians” flaunt their
cruelty while using the Bible to shut up anyone who questions their
choices. Blood sports and the wholesale torture of billions of animals
that is spreading around the world cannot be excused by pointing to
out-of-context Bible scriptures.
How can anyone claiming to be a follower of Jesus participate in any
way in the horrendous cruelties that are commonplace – much of it hidden
in factory farms and laboratories? Yes, I mean participate! Those who
pay others to do the dirty work are supporting the factory farms,
slaughterhouses, the skinning alive of dogs and cats for fur trim that
is seen everywhere, etcetera.
If Christians do nothing to expose and end this ungodliness, are they
really followers of God the Creator? If they hide the truth (4), pretend
that the cruelties do not exist, and participate directly or indirectly
in them, are they following Jesus or are they following Satan?
(1) In John 14:12, Jesus says:
12. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works
that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do;
because I go to the Father.”
~ New American Standard Bible
(2) In Matthew 6:9 and following, Jesus gives us an example of how we
should pray. Here is a part of the Lord’s Prayer. I wonder how many
people really think about “Thy will be done, On earth as it is in
heaven.”? Is killing in His will? Is there killing in heaven? Of course
not!
9. "Pray, then, in this way:
'Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.
10. 'Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
~ New American Standard Bible
(3) In John 17:14-18, Jesus says to God the Father:
14. "I have given them Thy word; and the world has hated them,
because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15. "I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep
them from the evil one.
16. "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17. "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.
18. "As Thou didst send Me into the world, I also have sent them
into the world.
~ New American Standard Bible
(4) The word “truth” is used 202 times in the Bible. In this passage
in John 3:20-21, Jesus says –
20. "For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come
to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21. "But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his
deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."
~ New American Standard Bible
