Over the past year, for financial reasons and out of frustration over the increasing indecency and immorality of television programing, we made the decision to end our cable television subscription. Since then, I have found that I have more time to do the things I enjoy doing and I am less distracted when I do the things that I need to do. One of the things I enjoy is reading, and lately, as a means of improving my Bible studies, I have been reading some of the older literature of the faith – much of it written from the 18th through early 20th Century – the writings of Charles Spurgeon, D. L. Moody, Andrew Bonar, R. A. Torrey, and Emery Bancroft.
One of the things that I have noticed about their writings that has had a profound impact on my way of thinking is the condition of the church and the fundamental understandings that many people have about the Christian faith. Over the past years, I have had several conversations where others (and myself) have lamented that our faith simply does not feel as strong as it should, how the church almost seems powerless within our communities, and how families are falling apart. This morning, while reading my morning devotional, a constant theme kept running through it: And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not (Leviticus 10:1), And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD (Numbers 26:61), and, Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein (Hebrews 13:9).
As many of my readers know, I was not brought up in a Christian household nor did my family regularly attend church. I did not become active in my faith until 2006 when I decided to become serious about my faith. Before then, I was content to let social contexts define my faith and because of that stand, I did not live the sort of life that God has called us to live: Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy (I Peter 1:16). I know now that many out there have the same struggle I had – God seems distant, your faith is weak, and often it seems that temptation and sin overcome you. You go to church seeking answers but instead, all you get is confusion. One of the things that I have noticed since my reading of the old church leaders I mentioned above is that the church, to be seen as relevant in modern society, has adopted teachings and viewpoints that no longer bear the weight of scripture, but are tainted by the teachings and viewpoints of the lost world as a way to be seen as being compassionate, relevant, and even updated to fit modern times. It is for this very reason that churches are struggling, the family is falling apart, and Christians are weak. Strange fire is being offered from the pulpits across the nation and many are being led to adopt strange and diverse doctrines that the apostle Paul warns about. It is hard to keep the place of relevance that God has called the church to hold when the church has forsaken His never-changing teachings and doctrines.
The church and the modern Christian have mostly ignored the “dangerous current” signs placed all through the scriptures and has continued to adopt ideas that should be foreign. Yesterday, while on the community college campus, I saw a bumper sticker that read, “I’m Christian and support abortion”. This is exactly the mindset that I am referring to. All through the scriptures, we see that God deems all human life as important, and even declared to the prophet Jeremiah, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations (Jeremiah 1:5). I honestly believe that God knows each of us before we are born and has a plan for each of us, providing that we make the choice to follow His will for us. Even the apostle Paul wrote, But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace (Galatians 1:15) which solidifies the concept that God There are 67 other verses in the Bible where God discusses life in the womb, yet man, in our wisdom, has proclaimed that abortion is a “woman’s right” as we collectively thumb our nose at God. If God has declared that life begins in the womb then we know that God would consider abortion – man ending that life in the womb – as immoral. In fact, the Old Testament considers it just that: If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life (Exodus 21:22-23). Whether it is out of fear of losing members of the congregation or crossing the imaginary line between politics and religion, many of our nation’s pastors and religious leaders are afraid to preach against the evils of abortion. There should be no great surprise when we read that one CNN poll reported that nearly 56% of Americans who identify themselves as Christians do not see any conflict between their faith and abortion. Again, God’s teachings have not changed, yet the church is swimming in dangerous currents.
