Many who say they are Christians are not born-again. They are cultural Christians who do not care about obeying God but they want to feel safe pretending to be protected by Him.
We live in a world full of fantasy now, people think they are something merely by believing in it without any proof in their lifestyles that they are really that thing.
I have noticed something, I never hear "cultural Christians" confess Christ with their mouths. They will say "I attend church" if asked but they rarely offer the information. They also never say words like "born again" or "Christ follower." I have been told a few times "I go to such and such church", when I ask if they are born-again. Most Christians now see their "church group" as their identity not Christ.
Cultural Christians will speak with glowing words about their pastor or the music at their gathering but never about Christ. This suggests to me that cultural Christians do not have a "relationship" with Christ but instead, they have a relationship with their church group and their pastor.
We can discern the mindset of a person by their responses to questions about their life and what they love the most.
Many people I have met who say they are conservatives speak about their political party, political news, and healthy food but rarely does the name of Christ flow from their mouths. They will judge a person based on politics, food, and health care never giving a thought to the character or mental disposition concerning Christ.
And, even more disturbing than this is that those who attend church gatherings every week almost never speak of the Holy Spirit. They mention their decisions in life without consulting the Holy Spirit. I have even been mocked for asserting that we must ask the Holy Spirit as though I was being silly for it.
The Holy Spirit should be everything all the time in our lives. He is the Spirit of Christ living in us to guide us, change us, teach us, and give us discernment, without Him, we are left to our own failing human thought processes not to mention the influence of the failed culture around us.
Living in the apostate age is difficult for believers who want more than anything else to seek Christ in all things and surround themselves with those who love Him as much as we do. Those who love Christ are few so we are left without dedicated companions much of the time. We are not lonely nor are we in need of validation from people but we do grieve at times that so many do not love Christ.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
We must keep speaking, teaching, and obeying Christ even if we do it alone. But we are not completely alone because the Lord has given us the Holy Spirit and the internet to connect with other dedicated believers. I praise Him continually for this blessing to us.
2 Timothy 1:13
"Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus."
1 Timothy 4:1-3
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; ."
We are in Spiritual boot camp being prepared for the time when we will rule with Christ in the Millennium. I have to believe that all we learn on this earth, all that we go through that teaches us great lessons will not be lost when we leave this world.
Hallelujah!
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