The old-time Nazarene preacher, Uncle Buddy Robinson, after touring the sights of New York said, “I’ve seen it all, and there ain’t nothin’ I want.” This is how I feel about the brand of Christianity on display today. Both in the pulpit and pew there is giddiness whenever a politician, athlete, or actor professes to be a Christian. Once it was the walk, not the talk that characterized a person as belonging to Him. Nowadays it seems to have reversed.
These wide-gate professors are great ones for name dropping, their favorite word being “Lord.” But Jesus said, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Lordship, then, has to do with doing! We are explicitly told to keep His commandments. Not in order to be saved, but because of the fact we are saved. These “cosmetic Christians” believe their God commands nothing of them, thus He expects nothing from them. Sure is convenient, huh? No commands, no demands.
A grace that does not deny ungodliness, and worldly lusts, is a disgrace! Jude tells us, it is this sort that has turned the grace of God into lasciviousness. It seems to be the in thing today among the younger set of Christians to accept lying, fornication, thievery, and all the other sins of this filthy flesh as the norm. They believe its vogue, but God still says it is vile. Their one authority for this dogmatic ignorance is an embarrassing, yet emphatic, “I think.”
Years ago, the old Baptist preacher Vance Havner said, “The time is coming when the man picking your pocket, when caught by you will say, “It’s okay, I’m a Christian, too.” I believe that time is upon us!
No comments:
Post a Comment