Maybe I am not noticing the glass half full, but I am having a hard time understanding this current Christian world. On the surface, it seems that a large number of people are trying to live as close as they can to the world instead of trying to live as close as they can to God.
For and example, there are Christian musicians that either look and/or act like the secular bands (such as rock, hip-hop, etc) and claim they are trying to reach those that others do not reach. I have to wonder if that is really the focus or perhaps there are issues they have not yet dealt with in their lives which allow their fleshly desires to justify their apparent secular longings. We could justify such actions but would it not be better to focus on charging up the “church” and having them go out and win those souls. Or even see the true power of God come back into the church and no longer need to go out and fetch them in, they will knock down the door to get in the churches.
Recently, a minister I have seen a bit decided for some reason to get a Christian tattoo (one with Christian symbols). Right out of the gate here, I will say I do not believe that ANYONE who claims to be a Christian should go out and get ANY kind of tattoo. That desire should not be in them and if it is, there is probably a root cause that needs to be dealt with, we should not be in that type of carnality!
There were a few other things that started to change a bit with him. Now I find that he is growing his hair out down to his shoulders. When I saw him, I would have equated him with a person in a mission or street person. Okay, some will give that line above that maybe it is to reach some of those that others cannot reach. I still find it hard to believe that a mature grounded Christian would desire to mark up their body for any reason, or find the need to look just like the darker side of life, more like those that do not know God. It is not the tattoo nor the hair (I had long hair when I was first saved and continued until I met my wife who did not like it, but it was all I knew, it was not a change to try looking rebellious), it is more a seeming insecurity or whatever brought this change. Maybe there is a cry for help in there shown by the desire for these changes.
Yep, here it comes:
Rom 12:1-2 ~ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We are not to be conformed to this world. In other places we are called to be holy, to abstain from all “appearances” of evil, to be called out from among them, that we should walk with a newness of life. If we are truly “Born Again”, then there should be a new life in us, we should not have any desire for the darker, rebellious things of this world. We are “Saints in Light” and should strive to promote this, not the darker things of this world.
I once had a Christian man tell me a story when he had his pastor come over for dinner and he asked him what he wanted to drink, he made a joke about asking him if he wanted a beer and kind of looked at me odd as if he would have had one for him. It is not an issue of drinking or not drinking beer, it is the rebellious joy that seemed to radiate from him as he told the story, more of one flirting with the edge of destruction. This should not be in us as Christians, Christ followers, those that have been Born Again. This is exactly what needs to be crucified every day, we need to put this away from us.
There are many things I battle in my Christian walk, and the fleshly man is there just ready to take over. I know I deal with things like pride, anger, frustration, greed, lust for things I know I do not need and the list goes on. But we have to pray and yield more of ourselves to God so that He can fill those parts with His presence and keep those fleshly traits put down.
We are the people of God, we need to act like it. When we see Christians leaning over to these errors, we need to help them if possible, but for sure we need to pray for them. This kind of immaturity in the Body of the Christ is hindering the move of God and thus people suffer because of it.
It is time that everyone who calls themselves Christian, should strive for Holiness and not only get our lives cleaned up, but even rid ourselves of every appearance of evil!
Come on people, the time is to short to be playing games, we need to get the Body of the Christ built up and ready for battle. The world is in bad shape and getting worse, it is time to bring the light into this dark world, we cannot do that if we do not shine! If the world can not tell any difference between us and them, then there is no light..