There are too many people who claim to be believers, however when questioned about the Bible, know far less than they think they know, even becoming angry when tested or challenged to look into the scriptures. Much of Scripture is taken out of context to justify what the professor wants to believer rather than what God actually meant.
John 17:17 ""Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth."
When we love the Lord, we eat, drink, sleep and ponder continually God's answers to all matters, our first reaction to everything ought to be automatically "what does God think of this."
1 Thessalonians 5
"1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen."
We have had the "don't judge" mantra thrown at us more times than we can count, when God teaches just the opposite. Verse 14 of 1 Thessalonians 5 tells us to warn the unruly, verse 17 tells us to pray about everything, verse 18 says to give thanks for all things, according to verse 19 we are not to quench or quiet the Holy Spirit by ignoring Him when He speaks or twisting what He says to us.
Many have become angry at us for speaking out against divorce and remarriage, while completely ignoring the principle of permanency of marriage as taught by God.
The principles about "coming out from among them", is the most violated of all principles in the Word, on the part of superficial believers. Most "Christians" want one foot in the world while enjoying the benefits of calling themselves Christian, to be elevated in their own minds and in the minds of those who base their theology on a simplistic premise that being a nice person makes one a good church goer.
Sadly the definition of "nice", has not been based on God's idea of the word, but on the worlds. In fact most of what these superficial Christians call "nice" is not nice at all, it is merely compromising to fit into the apostate church mentality and to be included in all the worldly gatherings that make up their extended family experience. Often our desire to be "nice" to people comforts them in their sin, leading them to hell or into the serious discipline of the Holy Spirit.
We almost never hear Christians speak about their love for God's principles and the desire to grow in holiness. We see little confession of sin, because it is a minor concern as long as everyone around us has accepted us "just the way we are, no matter what we do." We love the praise of men more than we love God.
John 12:43 "for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God."
God says that "bad company corrupts good morals." 1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." The more we engage with unbelievers for pleasure alone, the more we become just like them in our hearts, even if we don't indulge in all the sin they do, we become comfortable in the presence of it.
Our God is so holy that He cannot be in the presence of any sin no matter how small. As believers, being in the presence of sin should rankle us to the very core. We should be so uncomfortable in the presence of sinful attitudes, so much so, that we feel a sense of wanting to depart from it as soon as we can.
I have been perplexed often when in communication with church goers, who love to speak often about the ball games, political matters and the latest movie they saw, but act intensely embarrassed at the principles of the Bible that show the futility of trusting in these baser pleasures. We know that politics is more of a pleasure for most conservatives, because they rarely equate them to the Word of God and when they do it is to camp only on the things they don't think they are violating.
Many believers who spend much time on political matters, will prattle on and on about the injustice of the financial impact on their lives, they are rarely grieved about the rampant sin that drives the government machine, while caring deeply about their own pocket books.
We can see a person's emotional and spiritual bent by their conversation and their reactions to the conversations of others. We talk about what we love, we pay close attention to that which is important to us.
Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Colossians 3:12-15 "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."
