Intentionally or not, we seek the approval of others. Affirmation. Reassurance. Inclusion. Respect. We seek to be part of a group. Maybe a small group. But, a group nonetheless. Our desire is to be heard, understood, and respected.
To stand alone is hard. Difficult at best. Wobbly knees. Shaking voice. Insides like jelly. Yet, despite the pain, standing for biblical truth, is exactly what we are called to do.
One might ask, as I have, how can we stand alone when standing for biblical truth, despite the large body of those who claim to know Christ. Fair question. Complex answer.
I have wondered myself how I have felt alone despite standing in alignment with biblical principles. I have asked God to help me. Help me discern. How will I know if I am remaining in Him or if I am becoming part of the world. I have asked God to grant me the wisdom to know, the courage to stand, and the strength to speak truth. Even when no one else around me wants to hear, understand, or accept it.
We, that claim to know Christ, are held to a higher standard.
We are called to be the salt of the earth. A beacon of light that shines the Gospel to a lost, perverted, dark world. Transformed into more and more of Christ as a result of less and less of ourselves. On the pursuit of holiness despite holiness being scoffed and mocked. On the path of righteousness according to God’s standards despite the world calling righteous, forsaken.
I have grieved the call, by those who claim to know Christ, to join social movements of this world, as the “only Christian” thing to do. I have felt angered, at times, by the very words spoken. Considered the grieving heart of Christ at the very thought that His precious Name would be used as a call for support of a movement of this world (anti-Christ movement aka satanic religion). Unapologetically, I have rejected this call, and felt compelled and convicted without doubt, the “only Christian” thing to do is stand firm in biblical principles and truth refusing to be contaminated with the ways of this world.
No God fearing, Holy Ghost filled, speaking in tongues, child of God, can play patty cake or embrace the worldview in the form of social movements, EVEN IF, everyone around them demands it.
No God fearing, Holy Ghost filled, speaking in tongues, child of God, can embrace the social movements of this world that clearly denounce who Jesus is. EVEN IF, their so-called cause resonates with your feelings and fears.
So, I asked, God, how can so many be swayed to water down, wash up, dilute, and weaken your gospel to fit the worldview narrative as they claim to know you.
More importantly, help me, O God, not become part of the world, by entangling in the web of the world, but remaining faithful to you, living IN Christ.
In the book of John, we read, Jesus tell the Pharisees they remain guilty because they claim they can see. They walk in spiritual blindness. (John 9:35-41).
The Pharisees were considered religious experts of their time. They spoke to the law in great detail. Seemingly, in this never ending clash with Jesus in the days of his ministry on earth. Rejected the Gospel. Their expectation was of punishment without mercy or grace. Jesus was here to bring mercy and grace. They denounced his right to do so. They sought after worldly recompense for wrong actions according to the law of Moses and cultural expectations.
The Pharisees believed they could see yet they were blind. Spiritually blind.
Many who claim to know Christ, have walked in spiritual blindness, today. Calling for conformity, acceptance, and tolerance of worldview ideology despite their clear claim Jesus Christ and his ways are NOT absolute truth. As a matter of fact, they have openly and boldly proclaimed Christianity is outdated, not the answer for the world today, and insufficient. Tragic.
Understand.
It is fine for the world to follow social movements in the culture of this world without acknowledging who Jesus is. They are blind. Not yet with sight.
It is not fine for those who claim to know Christ to follow or support social movements in the culture of this world that deny who Jesus is. Otherwise, we are guilty but think we can see.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”
Hosea 4:6 KJV
These days are not for the faint of heart. Fancy terminology, twisted definitions of words, and worldly views are rampant. Widely accepted by the masses. Our message will not be widely received by the masses. It will not be welcomed, loved, or supported. Actually, as we have already seen, it will be rejected, considered hate speech, met with intolerance, and scoffed at.
The sting of rejection is much like the sting of the bee hidden in the flowers. As you lean in to smell, savor, and touch the beauty of the flower; the sting of the bee hurts. Leaving behind a swollen mark where their stinger lies beneath the surface of your skin. Burning. Aching. Annoying. Hurting.
Yet, despite the sting, we must soothe our souls by remaining IN Truth.
In these days, we must remain IN Christ, boldly proclaim His truth, and stand firm in the face of much adversity. The truth of Jesus is the only truth that sets free. We must separate ourselves from the world remaining IN Christ.
Loving the world compassionately as Christ does, is NOT, twisting the Gospel to conform to sin. We cannot afford to be confused. The soul is the goal.
2 Timothy 3:1-9; 1 Peter 1-12; 2 Corinthians 6:8-10;
1 John 4:4-6
Friend, Sister, Brother: prepare yourself for the times we are in. Seek the answer from Christ alone as the world will lead you astray. Be persistent. Be careful. Be wise. Be diligent. Be humble. Be bold. In Truth.
“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.”
1 Peter 5:6-11 NLT
While I do not desire to feel the sting of rejection, O God, help me, desire even more, to never serve you, with the sting of rejection.
“This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him.
If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.”
2 Timothy 2:11-13 NLT
