On the podium with the pastor are several young people, each are discussing a different ministry they have started for God. From the right side of the podium a young lady sneaks up with a super soaker heading to the pastor. With a high pitch cry she leaps, soaking the pastor with a steady stream of water.
For a few minutes there is chaos on the stage as each in turn try to retrieve the offending weapon. Once everything settles down the pastor asks the young lady why she attacked him. She said that she had found her niche that God wanted her to do. She was to do drive by baptisms.
With the patience of the saints the pastor had the teens sit on the stage as he began his message about finding God’s will for our lives.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
2 Timothy 4:3, 4
Unlike many sermons the world over, this church actually preached the word of God, using the skit as a means of introducing the subject matter. Sadly this is not the case in our churches today as pastors, preachers and priests find more creative ways to entertain their parishioners instead of teaching them the Word of God.
It was not to long ago that the Word of God was central to the worship services. Songs (hymns) sung would emphasis God’s Word and the doctrines therein. Sermons would be preached decrying our sins both public and private. Feelings were hurt as the Spirit of God cut our souls for the sins we were committing.
Today if one could find a church similar to the times of yore, it would be like stumbling on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Today we are taught about a relationship with God without the sacrifice of the Cross, our sins are glossed over as something that is natural to our being not a sinful act against God. We are flooded with the glories of Heaven to our hearts delight, and the horrors of Hell fade into the background.
Because we do not teach God’s Word some have never seen that without the shed blood of Christ there is not reconciliation with God nor is there salvation without it.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Romans 5:8-10
With our churches failing to base their teachings on the Word of God only is it no wonder that Christians are having false teaching seeking into their doctrines. During my day I run across many false doctrines believed by many across all denominational boundaries. Some I’ve run into recently have been Satan is Christ’s brother, Satan being coequal to God only opposite, Lilith comes up time and again and the list continues on ad nauseum.
This week take some time reviewing your Theology seeing if you are understanding God as the Bible speaks of Him or if your basing it on a lesson from outside the Bible. One hint: If there is not one aspect about God that is hard to swallow then you Theology is not based off God’ Word but is a man made construct of how we think God should be. Examples: Holiness, Righteousness, Anger, Sovereignty of God.
Father,
As I read your Word I find aspects of you that is hard for me to comprehend and find myself rebelling against you. Because of these hard truths I tend to sway toward a watered down version of You that soothes my conscience. This rebellion has led to a life that is sinful in I dishonor Your Glory and give only lip service to You. I pray that You’ll allow Your Holy Spirit to fill me and guide me into the Truth that is You and mold my life into a vessel of honor worthy of You and Your Son, Jesus.
Amen
Teaching the End of Wickedness 