Today in our world many people have lost confidence in the God of the Bible. This situation has arisen over a long period of time and is a result of bad press given to God by many authors and by the media because the conduct of some that profess to represent Him has been evil and hypocritical.
THEY DO NOT REPRESENT GOD! In my memory I have seen the evil actions of some men and women create an evil influence over other men’s view of God. Examples to follow:
1. Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951), gained International fame for his novels attacking the weaknesses he saw in American society. Lewis Penned the Book, Elmer Gantry in 1927 that satirizes religious hypocrisy and bigotry in the Midwest. The Book was later made into a movie that influenced thousands perhaps millions to believe that preachers and Christians in general were mostly hypocrites. This book and the movie of the same name, in my opinion were the beginning of a decline in morality and ethics that today is shameful throughout American Society in general. It is not true that most Christians are hypocritical, it has been my experience that most true Christians are devout, honorable, pure, and good, as the following Biblical references attest:
Acts 13:5, “But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.”
Acts 17:4, “Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of devout Greeks and not a few prominent women.”
Phil 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable– if anything is excellent or praiseworthy– think about such things.”
1 Tim 5:22, “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.”
James 3:17, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” Most of the true Christians that I interact with in the world today are imitators of the Divine Nature; therefore they are not hypocrites!”
2. There is a long list of individuals that proved themselves to be enemies of the “TRUTH” (i.e., God’s Written Word), that have indeed done a great disservice to the cause of Christ because of their wickedness. Even though some of these individuals have made an effort to correct their crimes, the damage to the cause of Christ cannot be underestimated. The individual that goes about to deceive, defraud, steal, commit adultery, engage in drunkenness, and other crimes against God and man cannot seriously be consider a representative of the true God, can he? I find it to be a most slanderous act to cast upon God and all true Christians such aspersions or to suggest that these evil traits are characteristics of the true God or of truly faithful Christians.
Gal 5:19-21, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (KJV)
We find in God’s Written Word that these types of sins are not new today. In five of the seven Churches of Asia many of these sins were to be found. The writer required of them that were guilty to repent or be lost (i.e., lost in Gehenna – The lake of fire) and suggested that the faithful ones should continue to be faithful. Please read Revelation 2:1-3:22 to establish these facts. God is pure and completely perfect in every way, consequently one should not be influenced by those that are evil to doubt Him. cf., Exod 23:2, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil;”
KINGDOM CITIZENS: One of the important facets to being a Christian is duty or doing the works of God. There are times whenever it appears that most Christians have no interest in doing the works of God. As we know various religious denominations teach that salvation from sin is entirely by faith only, this view of salvation from sin is without Scriptural support but many of us in the Lord’s Church act as though we have accepted the doctrine, at least in part. I conclude that many have accepted it because so many will become a Christian then does nothing in God’s service thereafter. Work is an important part of the Christians direction to maturity. No Christian can mature in the faith that will not involve themselves in the works of God, some of the works are:
1. Assemble:
Heb 10:25, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting (one another); and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.”
2. Keep our body and mind pure:
Rom 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, (which is) your spiritual service.”
Acts 2:40, “And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” (ASV)
3. Recognize our role as we serve God:
Rom 12:3-8, “For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but so to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith. For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office: so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another. And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, (let us prophesy) according to the proportion of our faith; or ministry, (let us give ourselves) to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching; or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, (let him do it) with liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness”
4. Love others without hypocrisy:
Rom 12:9-10, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another;”
Gal 6:10,“So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.” (ASV)
5. Let us pattern our life after Paul or after Christ’s example:
1 Cor 11:1, “Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (ASV)
6. Add the seven Christian virtues:
2 Pet 1:4-8, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
7. Determine to live a faithful life until you die:
Rev 2:10, “Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.” (ASV)