I have been preaching the Bible and its truths to people for a long time. And I have found out something: many people really don’t want to hear the truth and the reason for that is that the truth limits what they want to do in their personal lives. Good people, people who love God and His Word like to think that simply believing in the Bible as literally true is all that is needed. But, I submit that one has to believe it and put it into practice on a day to day basis for their confessed belief to be genuine.
When preaching to a church full of people, I have often asked if they believed that the Bible is infallible and inerrant while holding the Bible aloft. They would avow that they believed every word in the Holy Scripture. Jesus said that not one jot or tittle would pass away without all of the Bible being fulfilled. The people would say “amen” to that statement. “We are a Bible believing people” they would declare. It does a preacher’s heart good to hear his people say such a thing. But, he often runs headlong into the truth as he observes the lives of many of those same people. They are good people who are sincere about their belief in the truth of the Bible but then they, themselves, run headlong into a hard place when they lay their practical lives alongside what the inerrant and infallible Word says. We need a few examples at this point.
Christian people will avow that life is sacred and that, according to the Bible, God is the only one who has the ability to grant life and the only one who has the right to take life as He so desires. He gave it. Only He has the right to terminate it. In church, people will shout to the rooftops and swing from the chandeliers avowing the holiness of life and who grants it. But, some of those same people will then go and vote for someone who stands for abortion even up to the point of birth. Now which is it? Is the Bible’s statement on the issue the truth or is the real truth one’s desire and political leaning. You be the judge. And, which stance do you think God honors?
Let’s also consider the issue of drinking alcohol. Now, I know that this issue is dear to the hearts of millions of people and I am aware that people are going to imbibe whether the preacher sermonizes on it or not. That is not the issue. The issue is what does that Bible say about it? God warns people of the dangers of the drink when it “arises itself in the cup.” In other words, when one sees the bubbles ascending in the glass signaling when it will intoxicate a person. Those who will argue….”Well, Jesus drank wine”, are ill informed as to what the Bible is saying. It is too long an explanation for this article but when Jesus made the wine at the wedding at Cana of Galilee, He actually produced fresh grape juice. A study of the Greek word for wine will help one see the truth of this event and the Bible was written in Greek, not King James. In Proverbs, we are warned of the devastating effect of intoxicating drink. If one will read Proverbs 23:29-35 they will find a stark warning against drinking intoxicating beverages. It is very descriptive. Also, peruse Proverbs 20:1 where one will find out how deceptive alcohol is. Should one want to be deceived? I would like to think not! I could go on and on concerning this subject but as with abortion, a person will finally do what they want to do regardless of what God has said in the Bible. Remember, they will avow in church that the Scripture is infallible and inerrant; the Holy Word of God containing all truth. Who are you going to follow? This is the pertinent question.
The simple truth is that people will affirm God’s Word while, at the same time, falling to the lowest points of life. When its all over and a preacher is saying some words over you in your casket, what are you giving him to say? It’s tough to say comforting words over someone who has, by their life, limited what can be said in truth. We need, indeed, must have people claiming Christianity, to be as good as their confession. If God is God (and He is) then live as you confess. He knows the difference and He is the one that a person will stand before in judgment.
Satan is soooo good at fooling people. He has perfected the process of ruining lives and testimonies. It is his job. He can’t take away your salvation if it was genuine but he can ruin your testimony concerning how Christians are suppose to live. Paul deals with how a Christian struggles in this life to be pleasing to God as we find in Romans Chapter 7. He had the same problem that we experience and he gives us good advice as to how to live through it. But, his advice is not for us to continue in our disobedience and maybe God will get used to the idea before long. It doesn’t work that way. No matter how strong a person’s rationalizing power of the mind may be, God is not impressed with that and doesn’t take it into consideration when making His judgments.
At seasons such as election time, I think long and hard about people and what they stand for. As a Christian, should a person join ranks with those who stand for abortion? Should they join hands with those who think homosexuality, transgenderism, pornography and such are things acceptable to God? If a Christian does sanction such activity they are choosing to stand against God and with those who, by their beliefs and activities, are confessing that they don’t care what He says on the issues. Is the Bible, God’s revelation to us, right and good or not? What one chooses to do about such issues as mentioned above will tell one whether they value God’s guidance or not. And, if a person intentionally persists in their stance against what God approves, can they, in reality, claim that they are Christian at all? No one is perfect but they can desire to be just as God says we should be; striving for perfection. But, when a person determines in their mind that they are going to stand against what God says on an issue and still demand that they be recognized as a Christian, they have another think coming! We, as Christians, must align ourselves with God’s positions if we want to please Him. So, when a person demands that they be recognized as a Christian no matter what their lifestyle is, they must realize that what they demand is not the issue. What they ARE is the issue and God knows our thoughts and intentions. He is the one who determines whether we are truly devoted to Him through Jesus Christ or not. There is no “acceptable” middle ground on which one can stand. Sorry, but it simply does not exist.
I am aware that the questions raised in this article demand a much deeper conversation but suffice it to say that Truth Without Any Mixture of Error is the standard by which God operates and it must be our desire as well if we are to identify with Him and be pleasing to the God of this universe.
