When we have been able to "convince" a person of something through logic rather than faith, it is likely they merely agreed intellectually and never were inwardly converted by faith.
I fear that most people today who call themselves Christians have been "convinced" intellectually" but have not had a heart change to be born again.
These people will follow rules, appearing to follow Christ on the outside but have no dedication to His Word. The reason I believe this is because they violate more scripture than they obey, make excuses for their own sinful attitudes, and do not change in their behavior or attitudes, even into old age.
These people change some of the beliefs that are more interesting to them but retain many sinful attitudes and superior stances without spiritual and emotional growth.
We are living in a world full of pretenders who are more dedicated to their own ideas and fantasies than they are to the Word of God. We know this because of the way they defend their sin, claiming it is good and Biblical, lying against the Word of God.
Lying against the Word of God is the same as lying against Christ. Christ is called the Word, He is the very essence of His Own Word. When someone claims He did no say something He did say they are lying against Him. When someone adds to the Word with human wisdom they are lying against Christ. When someone takes away from the Word by omitting important scriptures they are denying Christ Himself.
John 20:30–31
"30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
John 1:1
"1, In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The modern church is apostate in more ways we can count. The thrust of the lives of these church attendees for the most part is social more than spiritual. When people defend their pastor rather than evaluate him, they are engaging in a popish sort of worship toward a man. I used to say many years ago after leaving the Catholic church that Protestants do not realize they have their own Protestant Popes. These are men who have been trained and educated by Christian institutions rather than by the Holy Spirit. It was supposed by most people that if they were educated in seminary or Bible college they must know the truth and are qualified to teach others. Sadly this was a dilution, those who are qualified are so because they have been trained and led by the Holy Spirit. Many men coming out of Christian institutions are not born again, they lack the fruit of the Spirit of Christ.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Knowledge all by itself is dangerous when it is not enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Many preachers who have been trained by men lack the wisdom to understand the knowledge they have. This is the reason they preach damnable heresies claiming they are from God.
2 Peter 2:1-2 "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction."
It was supposed by many churchgoers that anyone educated in these "religious" institutions must be holy men merely by their human degree. This is cultural Christianity based on education, not on Christ.
It was supposed by many churchgoers that anyone educated in these "religious" institutions must be holy men merely by their human degree. This is cultural Christianity based on education, not on Christ.
Many men coming out of these institutions were never born again, the very reason they embrace a form of Psychology, self-esteem, and other heretical ideologies that defy the very Word of God.
The entire one-man pastor system purporting to be the authority over their congregations depends on the pew people to see them as elevated above them. They count on their word being law and the people submitting to them. This is Popism based on Catholicism. The tradition of elevating one man above another does not come from the scriptures but from this corrupted system of hierarchy.
Those who lead are not above others, they serve them and are deeply accountable to God and those they teach. If they are in error the learners are expected to correct them that they do not become elevated in their own minds.
If a pew person cannot evaluate or correct a teacher or pastor then they have an idol and must repent from idolatry.
29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. "
Elders and pastors are shepherds to protect the flock they are not authorities over them without accountability to them.
A pew person who will not evaluate the pastor comparing what he says with the Word of God is lazy as well as idolatrous. If we love our pastors and elders we will evaluate what they say according to the Word and correct them if needed to help them grow in wisdom.
When we have the love of God in us we are more concerned with Biblical correctness and obedience to God's Word than we are about someone's temporary feelings of embarrassment at a correction.
Than love that is concealed.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
7 A satisfied person despises honey,
But to a hungry person, any bitter thing is sweet."
When we love God our desire is for everyone, including ourselves to grow in holiness and obedience to His Word. This is not common in our day of apostasy, in fact, it is quite uncommon and even rare. Let us seek to please God more than anyone or anything else.
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