The born-again believer who follows hard after Jesus Christ is able to evaluate everything in terms of the Bible which brings unity among those who love Him. When there is disunity, biting, and devouring one another we know the devil and self will is behind it.
Galatians 5:15 "But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another."
These are very difficult times in which to live. Many people who attend church gatherings are more interested in defending their worldly ways than they are in discovering God's heart.
Because of this, we see a superficial love, performance-based, that shuns those who want to go deeper into the Spiritual life with Christ.
Performance-based love means that friendliness and kindness are only extended to those who think the same as those who dominate the group. Its referred to as "group think" by some who have watched this dynamic of excluding or shunning those who have differing views.
Pride is at the root of shunning those who dare to evaluate everything according to God's Word.
Galatians 4:15-17 "…15 What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them."
Paul experienced it in His day as well as Jesus Christ Himself. Most people in the world reject Christ, but it is greater grief when we see believers rejecting one another without a desire to work through differences with prayer and study of the word.
John 13:35
"35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.”
It is human nature to feel embarrassed to be corrected or rebuked. The key to being able to grow in holiness is to ignore the "feelings" of embarrassment while praying for understanding to discern the truth. The devil will use embarrassment and rejection by others to keep us from growing in holiness.
When there is a mentality that someone is my enemy because they do not think like me there will be divided over the silliest things.
We must be so concerned about holiness and right thinking that we will embrace challenges to rethink what we believe. I remember many years ago I was being challenged by the Holy Spirit to ask God for the truth no matter how many traditions or beliefs I would be giving up to follow Him. I have never regretted praying for wisdom about the wrong things I was taught.
It was astounding how many beliefs I was taught all my life that were not Biblical or even loving and kind.
When we follow hard after Christ, desiring to believe only truth it places us on the outs with most people in the church today. We live in a traditional-oriented culture that places comfort and safe feelings above Christ.
The saddest phrase we will ever hear is: "but we have always done it this way." There is so much freedom and peace in seeking God to live according to His Word.
Fear is rampant in the church because there is a lack of faith. Most things are handled according to what the people can figure out with their own minds, not through prayer and obedience to God.
After praying for wisdom on the things I was taught the peace that came over me was astounding. I no longer had to be concerned about what others wanted me to do or believe, I was free to seek Christ and free to obey Him.
There is bondage in worrying about what people will want, the bondage of "people-pleasing" is everywhere now. We are not free in Christ to completely disregard what others think, some may be led by the Lord. However, we ought never to take on the beliefs of people merely to be accepted.
Everything we believe ought to be led by the Holy Spirit according to the Word of God. It is not a good idea in these days of apostasy to first ask people what they think about something. It is best to go to prayer first asking God what He wants. When God tells us something there will be another witness from God's people who will affirm what He has said to you.
I am sure Noah and Lot did not have affirmation, so in these last days, we can expect to be alone a lot if we are seeking Christ.
We are living in the last days in which it will be difficult to find those who want to hear from Christ, don't let this intimidate you into following people.
Acts 5:29-30 "29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree.…"
Many people love "religion" more than they love God!
