I've grown weary of what is called Christian today. When I look around, I'm reminded that there are three people in the Bible...the Children of God, that's those that are washed in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and walk accordingly...there's the Children of Wrath, that's what the lost who don't know Christ as Lord and Saviour currently are--and if He isn't your Lord...He isn't your Saviour--...then finally, there are the Sons of Hell...and they're easy enough to figure out, maybe you're even one of them.
You're happy where you're at in your walk in today's Christianity. You "accepted" Him as your Lord with a little trite babbling guided by an equally misguided babbler with "pastor" in front of his or her name...never mind that Jesus doesn't give a wit about that...He is Lord, King and Saviour regardless of whether you accept that or not. If your every moment of every day walk doesn't line up with that, in the eyes of a Most Holy God, you are no better than that hopeless crack addict you keep lording your good works over.
---or---you just don't care. Even now you're angry because you didn't come here to get preached at. You might even want to work to ban such "intolerant hate speech" from off the face of the earth because you're the fittest example of what a tolerant attitude is. That's OK because God says all creation proclaims His Gospel so that folks like you can go screaming off into eternity with the full knowledge that you had no excuse not to believe otherwise. Until then, whatever it is that turns your clock...do it with all the gusto you can muster because that clock is ticking.
You see, Sons of Hell are what the old King James calls "reprobate", basically worthless pawns who live only at the behest of God Almighty, under control of the Devil himself to do his bidding, until such time that God cuts that thin cord that holds their soul to this earth, so that they can go on to the reward they so eagerly sought. Today's Christianity just makes church folks nice, unoffensive branches that bear no fruit and justify everything the worlds holds against the Church, fit only to be cast into the same fires as the tares. Being reprobate means also that they're unredeemable--they couldn't be saved if they wanted to, though they seek it with many tears.
So...which are you?
If Paul, the guy who wrote most of the New Testament, was always concerned that he himself would be a castaway (same word as "reprobate" in the Greek), how firm is your footing?
For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.---(1Co 9:19-27)
3 comments:
I think there's a big problem of consciousness for every Christian. To have a clear point about the Bible most important concepts (let's say, the 10 Commandments) then to compare his/hers own behavior to that tenets. I'm usually covered in shame when I do this exercise and see where am I and what am I - but at least, this shame is the prove that I am not right.
Some days ago, maybe three months, I read about a young Russian soldier, Yevgeny Rodionov, kidnapped by Chechens with some of his comrades then, after quite a thrilling story, beheaded after he refused to take off the cross from his neck and get into Islam religion. He was slaughtered in the day of his 19th birthday. I was shocked and turned inside out for a few days, especially when asking to myself: "would I do like him, if necessary?"
Living in safety, having food and a safe place to sleep... it's quite easy to be a believer. Get a real hard question for your Christian consciousness and you might be surprised about yourself, if honestly answered.
Thanks for posting this, sir. I guess it's really good and useful.
Thank you Chris...I've been getting negative feedback on some of the modeling forums that I am a member of. Not alot, but enough to know that some hearts are being pierced.
Know that there is grace enough for you should you ever have to face what the young soldier faced, and that it will be there when you need it, not before, lest we be puffed up with pride at how strong we are.
Blessings, grace and peace to you and yours...
I come back here, sir, just to say that your words: "Know that there is grace enough for you should you ever have to face what the young soldier faced, and that it will be there when you need it, not before, lest we be puffed up with pride at how strong we are" - is one of the most beautiful answers I ever got in my life, whatever the question was. Thought many times on them... Thank you for them and may God bless you and yours.
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