Post by Josh Parsley on Dec 17, 2007 22:31:46 GMT -5
By Josh Parsley
In these last times it seems that the Devil will do anything to convince you that you are doing something for the kingdom when you are not. Either that or a person will lose all sense of anything eternal. I see all kinds of people get caught up in things that really have no, or very little, effect on the kingdom of God. Deception can come easy. So many are deceived into thinking they are right with God by having a calm conscience. To do this they will try to do little “good” deeds so if something does make them feel bad, they can appeal to their good works to make themselves feel a little better. Just because you don't feel you have committed crimes doesn't mean you're innocent. Just because you feel like you are advancing the kingdom doesn't mean you are. Even those who are true, born again, Christians get caught up in the silliest things and feel they are really doing God service.
This is especially true in the area of politics. Some get so wound up about abortions yet wouldn't dare abstain from sin. Sure, they will argue with the best of them about how immoral a thing is but if it makes no progress for the kingdom of God it is of no value. At least not in a purely Christian view of things. A good atheist might do the same thing. Of course they wouldn't care anything about God's kingdom, but they will take a stand for what's “right.” If you are doing something merely for political reasons you're no different than the atheist because your motives are the same- it's for your own benefit and to make it a little more comfortable for yourself.
What a shame it is to see Christians think that legislating morality will produce converts! I understand that if a nation has no sense of righteousness in it's government it is a wicked nation. The cure isn't to fight them and pass laws but to wrestle in prayer till people are converted! It would be no surprise to me if there were more Christians concerned about how Michael Vick treated some animals than wanting to preach the gospel to men who would like to treat God like one of Vick's dogs. It's a shame for someone who says they are a Christian to be more concerned about the temporal than the eternal. Souls are at stake. This world is going to burn (2 Peter 3:7) and so are many people we know if you, Christian, don't make sure your priorities are right.
I've noticed around this Christmas season several Christians getting agitated because many are saying “Happy Holidays” rather than “Merry Christmas.” I wonder if these same people care anything about how pathetic the average church is or that sinners are going to hell. I hope they are as fervent in prayer as they are about complaining. It would almost appear that most would be satisfied hearing them say “Merry Christmas” rather than falling on their face and crying out to God for mercy. Is all we want is to make things a little more comfortable for us? Do we think that if people say “Merry Christmas”, then Christianity will be accepted, then people will be converted? There are a lot of people saying Merry Christmas that will be saying “Hello” to the Devil in Hell. What's the point at getting mad at sinners because they don't say “Merry Christmas?” Again, I understand the principle behind it. The world doesn't want anything remotely Christian. They want to push God out of everything, but will getting people to say “Merry Christmas” really see them converted? Does Hell really tremble when the boldest thing a Christian can do is say “Merry Christmas?”
The modern Christan mentality just doesn't line up. Can we really imagine Paul withstanding the men of Athens to the face because they didn't say Merry Christmas? I sure can't. What I do see is Paul withstanding Peter to the face for his hypocrisy. How many will go right along with the world without a trace of conviction, but don't dare say “Happy Holidays!” They will take a stand then! Don't touch the beloved Christmas tree! Let's just forget about being crucified with the one who died on a tree, that's just too hard. Most churches today need boycotted for lukewarm Christianity rather than department stores that don't have the right label on a tree.
My point in writing all this isn't to just stir up some controversy. I hope to make some people reexamine why they do what they do. The Devil just loves to get us sidetracked on anything. How senseless would it be to be off in a corner filling your toenails while a tree just fell through your house during a storm? No one in their right mind would even take the time to do that because there would be much bigger things to deal with. Christian! We have a Gospel to preach! Don't get your focus off of what our Commander has told us. We've got the battle plan, let's go to it! Leave the toenail filling to the sissy boys and let's get to work.
In these last times it seems that the Devil will do anything to convince you that you are doing something for the kingdom when you are not. Either that or a person will lose all sense of anything eternal. I see all kinds of people get caught up in things that really have no, or very little, effect on the kingdom of God. Deception can come easy. So many are deceived into thinking they are right with God by having a calm conscience. To do this they will try to do little “good” deeds so if something does make them feel bad, they can appeal to their good works to make themselves feel a little better. Just because you don't feel you have committed crimes doesn't mean you're innocent. Just because you feel like you are advancing the kingdom doesn't mean you are. Even those who are true, born again, Christians get caught up in the silliest things and feel they are really doing God service.
This is especially true in the area of politics. Some get so wound up about abortions yet wouldn't dare abstain from sin. Sure, they will argue with the best of them about how immoral a thing is but if it makes no progress for the kingdom of God it is of no value. At least not in a purely Christian view of things. A good atheist might do the same thing. Of course they wouldn't care anything about God's kingdom, but they will take a stand for what's “right.” If you are doing something merely for political reasons you're no different than the atheist because your motives are the same- it's for your own benefit and to make it a little more comfortable for yourself.
What a shame it is to see Christians think that legislating morality will produce converts! I understand that if a nation has no sense of righteousness in it's government it is a wicked nation. The cure isn't to fight them and pass laws but to wrestle in prayer till people are converted! It would be no surprise to me if there were more Christians concerned about how Michael Vick treated some animals than wanting to preach the gospel to men who would like to treat God like one of Vick's dogs. It's a shame for someone who says they are a Christian to be more concerned about the temporal than the eternal. Souls are at stake. This world is going to burn (2 Peter 3:7) and so are many people we know if you, Christian, don't make sure your priorities are right.
I've noticed around this Christmas season several Christians getting agitated because many are saying “Happy Holidays” rather than “Merry Christmas.” I wonder if these same people care anything about how pathetic the average church is or that sinners are going to hell. I hope they are as fervent in prayer as they are about complaining. It would almost appear that most would be satisfied hearing them say “Merry Christmas” rather than falling on their face and crying out to God for mercy. Is all we want is to make things a little more comfortable for us? Do we think that if people say “Merry Christmas”, then Christianity will be accepted, then people will be converted? There are a lot of people saying Merry Christmas that will be saying “Hello” to the Devil in Hell. What's the point at getting mad at sinners because they don't say “Merry Christmas?” Again, I understand the principle behind it. The world doesn't want anything remotely Christian. They want to push God out of everything, but will getting people to say “Merry Christmas” really see them converted? Does Hell really tremble when the boldest thing a Christian can do is say “Merry Christmas?”
The modern Christan mentality just doesn't line up. Can we really imagine Paul withstanding the men of Athens to the face because they didn't say Merry Christmas? I sure can't. What I do see is Paul withstanding Peter to the face for his hypocrisy. How many will go right along with the world without a trace of conviction, but don't dare say “Happy Holidays!” They will take a stand then! Don't touch the beloved Christmas tree! Let's just forget about being crucified with the one who died on a tree, that's just too hard. Most churches today need boycotted for lukewarm Christianity rather than department stores that don't have the right label on a tree.
My point in writing all this isn't to just stir up some controversy. I hope to make some people reexamine why they do what they do. The Devil just loves to get us sidetracked on anything. How senseless would it be to be off in a corner filling your toenails while a tree just fell through your house during a storm? No one in their right mind would even take the time to do that because there would be much bigger things to deal with. Christian! We have a Gospel to preach! Don't get your focus off of what our Commander has told us. We've got the battle plan, let's go to it! Leave the toenail filling to the sissy boys and let's get to work.