Evil is now celebrated and righteousness disdained. That is our world and getting worse. I am so thankful I am a believer, even if it means to be rejected by the world. I could never want what they think they have.
Romans 5:1-5
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
God Calls a Narcissist a "Fool"
One of the very subtle tactics of the narcissist is to act as though we did something bad when we did something good. Often there is jealousy on the part of the narc when we accomplish something pleasing even if it is for them.
Normal kind, loving people appreciate acts of good intentions on their behalf. A reasonable person sees a kind act as something to be thankful for and enjoyed, even drawing the relationship closer. A narcissist will use the opportunity of a kind act to degrade and even humiliate the one who was benevolent, especially if their victim ever corrected or disagreed with them in the slightest terms.
A narcissist attempts to find something wrong in order to elevate themselves. They cannot tolerate anyone doing something that brings positive attention to anyone other than themselves, it distracts the others in the room from the narcissist.
Often the narcissists will work to undermine us if we have challenged them in any way, even the slightest correction or disagreement causes the narcissist to engage in emotional abuse, usually subtle so that others in the room do not notice.
Isaiah 5:20 "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!"
There is no profit in sharply rebuking the narc, they will only turn it around to make you the evil one in the eyes of others. The best tactic in dealing with these self aggrandized individuals is to seek God's Word for the answer. Here are some Scriptures that may help us to see the nature of the character of the narc and how to engage with them.
The best way to handle the narcissist is to first understand them according to God's Word.
Proverbs 18:2 "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion."
Proverbs 29:11 "A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back."
Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Ecclesiastes 7:9 "Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools."
A narcissists is a fool, they enjoy and feed off of the pain and suffering of others. They laugh at the pratfalls of others but never laugh at their own. They enjoy watching their victim become angry and upset. The greatest victory in the mind of the narc is to cause divisions, separate friends and family while watching it all as though in a movie theater.
Proverbs 26:4 "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him."
Proverbs 10:14 "The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near."
Proverbs 29:9 "If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet."
Never argue with a fool, when it is clear they are trying to draw us into a fight. They will consider themselves as having won, looming over their victim in superiority, as soon as someone is infuriated or frustrated.
We have all known people like this, their greatest aim is to be superior in the eyes of others, not realizing they are what the Bible calls a "fool."
We have seen them on facebook, they don't bring reasonable well thought out ideas, only superficial platitudes and name calling to elevate themselves, while frustrating all those looking on. They have won in their own minds if they have managed to get everyone fighting with everyone else including them.
Proverbs 14:7-9 "Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving. Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance."
Moral of the story is, as soon as we discern that the person we are engaging with is a fool, it is a good idea to leave the discussion and for the one who owns the page to block them. "Going no contact" with the fool, or in modern terms the "narcissists", is the only course of action that returns our peace to us and saves friendships.
Normal kind, loving people appreciate acts of good intentions on their behalf. A reasonable person sees a kind act as something to be thankful for and enjoyed, even drawing the relationship closer. A narcissist will use the opportunity of a kind act to degrade and even humiliate the one who was benevolent, especially if their victim ever corrected or disagreed with them in the slightest terms.
A narcissist attempts to find something wrong in order to elevate themselves. They cannot tolerate anyone doing something that brings positive attention to anyone other than themselves, it distracts the others in the room from the narcissist.
Often the narcissists will work to undermine us if we have challenged them in any way, even the slightest correction or disagreement causes the narcissist to engage in emotional abuse, usually subtle so that others in the room do not notice.
Isaiah 5:20 "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!"
There is no profit in sharply rebuking the narc, they will only turn it around to make you the evil one in the eyes of others. The best tactic in dealing with these self aggrandized individuals is to seek God's Word for the answer. Here are some Scriptures that may help us to see the nature of the character of the narc and how to engage with them.
The best way to handle the narcissist is to first understand them according to God's Word.
Proverbs 18:2 "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion."
Proverbs 29:11 "A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back."
Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Ecclesiastes 7:9 "Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools."
A narcissists is a fool, they enjoy and feed off of the pain and suffering of others. They laugh at the pratfalls of others but never laugh at their own. They enjoy watching their victim become angry and upset. The greatest victory in the mind of the narc is to cause divisions, separate friends and family while watching it all as though in a movie theater.
Proverbs 26:4 "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him."
Proverbs 10:14 "The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near."
Proverbs 29:9 "If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet."
Never argue with a fool, when it is clear they are trying to draw us into a fight. They will consider themselves as having won, looming over their victim in superiority, as soon as someone is infuriated or frustrated.
We have all known people like this, their greatest aim is to be superior in the eyes of others, not realizing they are what the Bible calls a "fool."
We have seen them on facebook, they don't bring reasonable well thought out ideas, only superficial platitudes and name calling to elevate themselves, while frustrating all those looking on. They have won in their own minds if they have managed to get everyone fighting with everyone else including them.
Proverbs 14:7-9 "Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving. Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance."
Moral of the story is, as soon as we discern that the person we are engaging with is a fool, it is a good idea to leave the discussion and for the one who owns the page to block them. "Going no contact" with the fool, or in modern terms the "narcissists", is the only course of action that returns our peace to us and saves friendships.
What is Your Career Question?
What is Your Career Question?
Does anyone know why people from other countries who ask to be our friends, want to know what we do for a living?
It seems like every time I get that question it is the second one after "how are you doing?"
Is it because they want to know if they can extract money from us? When I tell them that I am a homemaker, staying home to take care of my family, the next question is "what does your husband do?" I am beginning to think that these people want to ask for money or our career would not be the first thing they ask about.
As a believer it makes sense to me that the first thing one believer would ask another person would be "are you a follower of Christ?" That would make much more sense to me.
Is it possible that the whole world is infected with the disease of materialism? They think Americans are all wealthy, so they target us for funds?
When I see that question as the second question they ask, I am now blocking them. My "career" is not really very important in terms of the Christian life. The most important matter is that we have connected with like minded believers who share the Holy Spirit. Perhaps I am alerting the money mongers to the fact that the question about my career is becoming offensive to me. The career questions is a polite way of asking "how much money do you make?"
My career does not define who I am as a person, my walk with Christ does! So I guess I write this to point out that when "career" is the first things we are questioned about, I am suspect about the one writing, whether or not there is another question coming, "can I have your money?"
Just saying!!!
Does anyone know why people from other countries who ask to be our friends, want to know what we do for a living?
It seems like every time I get that question it is the second one after "how are you doing?"
Is it because they want to know if they can extract money from us? When I tell them that I am a homemaker, staying home to take care of my family, the next question is "what does your husband do?" I am beginning to think that these people want to ask for money or our career would not be the first thing they ask about.
As a believer it makes sense to me that the first thing one believer would ask another person would be "are you a follower of Christ?" That would make much more sense to me.
Is it possible that the whole world is infected with the disease of materialism? They think Americans are all wealthy, so they target us for funds?
When I see that question as the second question they ask, I am now blocking them. My "career" is not really very important in terms of the Christian life. The most important matter is that we have connected with like minded believers who share the Holy Spirit. Perhaps I am alerting the money mongers to the fact that the question about my career is becoming offensive to me. The career questions is a polite way of asking "how much money do you make?"
My career does not define who I am as a person, my walk with Christ does! So I guess I write this to point out that when "career" is the first things we are questioned about, I am suspect about the one writing, whether or not there is another question coming, "can I have your money?"
Just saying!!!
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Narcissism Described in the Bible
Proverbs 13:10
"Through insolence comes nothing but strife, But wisdom is with those who receive counsel."
Insolence: meaning boldly disrespectful!
Narcissists will be disrespectful, but claim their victim is the one being disrespectful. Remember, the narcissists doesn't play fair, nor do they have a conscience over how they harm others. They will lie against anyone who exposes their character. They will use covert and even blatant language to intimidate their victims, attempting to gain control over them.
When we meet a person who seems to delight in arguments we are probably encountering a narcissists. Beating others down in conversation is the favored tactic of the narcissist.
Narcissist definition: someone who has deeply elevated themselves above others, lacks empathy, does not do good deeds for others or does them to gain advantage or praise. They must win in any discussion. Discussions are never to gain truth, but merely to demonstrate superiority.
A fool (narcissist), hate correction raging to combat anyone who would attempt to inform them about anything. Since they believe themselves to be superior, they cannot receive criticism on any level. The response of the narcissists is to fight bitterly against anyone who will not elevate them or will dare to correct or instruct them.
Matthew 6:1 ""Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven."
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, [a]haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
We are meeting more of these in our day. Because of the teaching of self esteem in the past 50 years, our culture has created selfish, entitled, insolent, bratty and vindictive individuals who have little or no conscience and these are the adults who are raising our grandchildren.
There are more adult children and their parents who are estranged from one another than eve before, because we have an entire generation of adult children who have never learned honor and respect while thinking they know.
Ephesians 6:2 "“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),"
God said this would happen in the last days, continuing to increase in numbers and intensity of reaction, the narcissistic problem is growing. We see them in the shootings, the divorce rate, the murdering of babies, the mentality of laziness and entitlement and much more.
Things look pretty bad, but they will get worse. There is coming a time when adult children will put to death their ailing and elderly parents just to be free from any inconvenience they might bring.
My hope and prayer is that believers would begin to call things what they are, stop hiding behind the cloak of religion to justify silence on these things. Far too many people avoid the confrontation they expect to happen when they tell the truth. We need to call things what they are, give the remedy, which is Christ Jesus and take our lumps.
Yes many will reject our message, but there are some who will listen and benefit from it. In reality it isn't our message, it's God's message. Until believers begin to be obedient and honest, there can be no influence in the world, if we don't do it, who will.....the world?
"Through insolence comes nothing but strife, But wisdom is with those who receive counsel."
Insolence: meaning boldly disrespectful!
Narcissists will be disrespectful, but claim their victim is the one being disrespectful. Remember, the narcissists doesn't play fair, nor do they have a conscience over how they harm others. They will lie against anyone who exposes their character. They will use covert and even blatant language to intimidate their victims, attempting to gain control over them.
When we meet a person who seems to delight in arguments we are probably encountering a narcissists. Beating others down in conversation is the favored tactic of the narcissist.
Narcissist definition: someone who has deeply elevated themselves above others, lacks empathy, does not do good deeds for others or does them to gain advantage or praise. They must win in any discussion. Discussions are never to gain truth, but merely to demonstrate superiority.
A fool (narcissist), hate correction raging to combat anyone who would attempt to inform them about anything. Since they believe themselves to be superior, they cannot receive criticism on any level. The response of the narcissists is to fight bitterly against anyone who will not elevate them or will dare to correct or instruct them.
Matthew 6:1 ""Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven."
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, [a]haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
We are meeting more of these in our day. Because of the teaching of self esteem in the past 50 years, our culture has created selfish, entitled, insolent, bratty and vindictive individuals who have little or no conscience and these are the adults who are raising our grandchildren.
There are more adult children and their parents who are estranged from one another than eve before, because we have an entire generation of adult children who have never learned honor and respect while thinking they know.
Ephesians 6:2 "“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),"
God said this would happen in the last days, continuing to increase in numbers and intensity of reaction, the narcissistic problem is growing. We see them in the shootings, the divorce rate, the murdering of babies, the mentality of laziness and entitlement and much more.
Things look pretty bad, but they will get worse. There is coming a time when adult children will put to death their ailing and elderly parents just to be free from any inconvenience they might bring.
My hope and prayer is that believers would begin to call things what they are, stop hiding behind the cloak of religion to justify silence on these things. Far too many people avoid the confrontation they expect to happen when they tell the truth. We need to call things what they are, give the remedy, which is Christ Jesus and take our lumps.
Yes many will reject our message, but there are some who will listen and benefit from it. In reality it isn't our message, it's God's message. Until believers begin to be obedient and honest, there can be no influence in the world, if we don't do it, who will.....the world?
Saturday, August 22, 2015
God Turns Us Over!
Romans 1:28
"28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,"
When we resist God He will not continue to pursue us forever, at some point, when we have continually rejected Him and His principles over and over and over again, no matter how many warnings he brings, He will turn us over the our own minds.
What would that look like? Read 2 Timothy 3:1-5 to find the answer. When left to our own devices, pridefully thinking we can ignore God while having things the way we want them, we are placing ourselves and those we influence in grave danger.
The protection of the Lord is removed when He turns us over to ourselves and the devil.
1 John 5:19 "We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one."
When God turns us over to ourselves we are not in control, we come under the power of the wicked one as it says in 1 John. All those people who think they can run from God and live their lives as they please their own way, are under someone else's power, not their own. The power of the devil.
When we are under the power of the wicked one, we no longer have the ability to think in ways that help us. All our thoughts are under the sinful flesh and the devil.
Genesis 6:5 "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
The only solution for those who are running from God is to confess your sinfulness, trust Christ and let change your thinking.
Isaiah 55:9 ""For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts."
"28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,"
When we resist God He will not continue to pursue us forever, at some point, when we have continually rejected Him and His principles over and over and over again, no matter how many warnings he brings, He will turn us over the our own minds.
What would that look like? Read 2 Timothy 3:1-5 to find the answer. When left to our own devices, pridefully thinking we can ignore God while having things the way we want them, we are placing ourselves and those we influence in grave danger.
The protection of the Lord is removed when He turns us over to ourselves and the devil.
1 John 5:19 "We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one."
When God turns us over to ourselves we are not in control, we come under the power of the wicked one as it says in 1 John. All those people who think they can run from God and live their lives as they please their own way, are under someone else's power, not their own. The power of the devil.
When we are under the power of the wicked one, we no longer have the ability to think in ways that help us. All our thoughts are under the sinful flesh and the devil.
Genesis 6:5 "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
The only solution for those who are running from God is to confess your sinfulness, trust Christ and let change your thinking.
Isaiah 55:9 ""For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts."
The Fear of God is the Beginning of Wisdom
If we have no fear of God, we have no love for Him. At the core of loving God is the fear of displeasing Him. Our culture no longer reverences Him nor do they fear what He can do. Notice the BEGINNING of wisdom is the fear of God. Understanding God's power and majesty should make us quake in our boots when we are disobedience.
Proverbs 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Matthew 10:28 - "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Deuteronomy 6:5 ""You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."
Matthew 22:36-37 "36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."
Proverbs 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Matthew 10:28 - "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Deuteronomy 6:5 ""You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."
Matthew 22:36-37 "36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."
Remaining Silent is Cowardess
The problem with the modern church is not that they are not more involved with politics, it is that they are not engaged in admonishment, correction, rebuke in their lives with those around them.
The fear of man has caused the modern church to remain silent in the face of every day violations of the Word of God. Those who are politically active tend to look down on those who speak boldly about God's principles that are not popular.
Proverbs 29:25 "The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted."
When relatives who claim to be "Christian" are endorsing shack up relationships, through acceptance of them, praising others while engaging in sinful activity and complimenting others on superficial matter such as appearance, activities of pleasure and accomplishments in their life, rather than teaching and training according to the Scriptures, they are validating all the useless and sinful acts of those around them. And, we know that the only reason to remain silent is to avoid the rejection we expect when correcting anyone in this culture.
There is nearly an absence of correction when it comes to divorce and remarriage. Leaving our culture to believe that second marriages are valid ones blessed by God, when God's Word clearly condemns the practice of divorce and remarriage.
In one conversation a couple of years ago, I was bludgeoned by a "Christian youth group", for chastising the young women for wearing bikini's at the beach to be seen by men there. The thing that amazed me was the complete lack of shame, the anger that emerged was shocking.
When a person is born again, they become ashamed when confronted with their sin, they think about it and eventually repent. When a person who is not born again but claims to be a Christian, is confronted with sin, their first response it rage. They work to attack the character of the rebuker, while claiming "you don't know my heart." When given Scripture to show that we can know a person's heart by their deeds, they continue with character assassination, claiming that we were unloving, judgmental and rude. They refused to addresss the bikinis at all, ignoring all the scripture while continuing to attack the messenger.
Jeremiah 6:15 ""Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD."
Matthew 15:9 ""For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders."
We feel proud of ourselves as a Christian culture for standing against same sex marriage and abortion, but violate so many other principles of God that it must be said, our stand against "the big stuff", makes us feel special and we know there are many others on our side. However, standing against the other violations will only get the true believer mocked and excluded from family, friends and even in their own churches.
The modern church has learned which things they can stand against that will bring them much adulation and even praise. When it comes to the other violations of Scripture the modern church mocks and isolates anyone who would stand against the sin that has permeated the church gathering.
To dare to suggest that most people who go to churches are not born again and must once again hear the gospel, is to bring down the wrath of church leaders and fellow parishioners. Often the leaders themselves are not born again, which is why we hear so much of a watered down cultural form of preaching that has little if any value in uplifting the people in holiness.
The point of this article is to show that most people who claim to be Christians are violating more of the Bible than they are obeying. When our Christian culture claims to be "Bible believers", in most cases it isn't true. Many not only violate His principles but they twist them to mean what they want them to say and live as though it were true.
Matthew 15:8 "'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME."
The gist of this discussion is that all true believer must study for themselves, ask the Holy Spirit to guide them and then boldly proclaim the truth no matter who listens. Most people will not listen, but we are still responsible to warn. We can leave their response to God.
2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,"
AND!
The times we live in are rebellious and hostile to truth even in church gatherings. God said this would happen in 2 Timothy 3. Many believers are coming out of the organized church gatherings because they are being shunned for speaking truth.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
The fear of man has caused the modern church to remain silent in the face of every day violations of the Word of God. Those who are politically active tend to look down on those who speak boldly about God's principles that are not popular.
Proverbs 29:25 "The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted."
When relatives who claim to be "Christian" are endorsing shack up relationships, through acceptance of them, praising others while engaging in sinful activity and complimenting others on superficial matter such as appearance, activities of pleasure and accomplishments in their life, rather than teaching and training according to the Scriptures, they are validating all the useless and sinful acts of those around them. And, we know that the only reason to remain silent is to avoid the rejection we expect when correcting anyone in this culture.
There is nearly an absence of correction when it comes to divorce and remarriage. Leaving our culture to believe that second marriages are valid ones blessed by God, when God's Word clearly condemns the practice of divorce and remarriage.
In one conversation a couple of years ago, I was bludgeoned by a "Christian youth group", for chastising the young women for wearing bikini's at the beach to be seen by men there. The thing that amazed me was the complete lack of shame, the anger that emerged was shocking.
When a person is born again, they become ashamed when confronted with their sin, they think about it and eventually repent. When a person who is not born again but claims to be a Christian, is confronted with sin, their first response it rage. They work to attack the character of the rebuker, while claiming "you don't know my heart." When given Scripture to show that we can know a person's heart by their deeds, they continue with character assassination, claiming that we were unloving, judgmental and rude. They refused to addresss the bikinis at all, ignoring all the scripture while continuing to attack the messenger.
Jeremiah 6:15 ""Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD."
Matthew 15:9 ""For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders."
We feel proud of ourselves as a Christian culture for standing against same sex marriage and abortion, but violate so many other principles of God that it must be said, our stand against "the big stuff", makes us feel special and we know there are many others on our side. However, standing against the other violations will only get the true believer mocked and excluded from family, friends and even in their own churches.
The modern church has learned which things they can stand against that will bring them much adulation and even praise. When it comes to the other violations of Scripture the modern church mocks and isolates anyone who would stand against the sin that has permeated the church gathering.
To dare to suggest that most people who go to churches are not born again and must once again hear the gospel, is to bring down the wrath of church leaders and fellow parishioners. Often the leaders themselves are not born again, which is why we hear so much of a watered down cultural form of preaching that has little if any value in uplifting the people in holiness.
The point of this article is to show that most people who claim to be Christians are violating more of the Bible than they are obeying. When our Christian culture claims to be "Bible believers", in most cases it isn't true. Many not only violate His principles but they twist them to mean what they want them to say and live as though it were true.
Matthew 15:8 "'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME."
The gist of this discussion is that all true believer must study for themselves, ask the Holy Spirit to guide them and then boldly proclaim the truth no matter who listens. Most people will not listen, but we are still responsible to warn. We can leave their response to God.
2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,"
AND!
The times we live in are rebellious and hostile to truth even in church gatherings. God said this would happen in 2 Timothy 3. Many believers are coming out of the organized church gatherings because they are being shunned for speaking truth.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
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