“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” 1 Timothy 4:1-2
As usual, I opened my email to spend time with Jesus. I subscribe to almost a dozen devotional sites and love reading them. They help guide and grow my faith as I add them to my reading of God’s Word. For the last week I have resisted reacting to an underlying theme that has been coming through their messages. That I…and Christ’s Church…are racist!
It is a common and successful method used to change society. Say something long and loud enough and it becomes truth. With repetition, masses of people begin to believe, or at least ACT like they do. Often a person or group will willingly buy into a lie, simply to avoid being labeled a ‘hater.’ The next step is to at least SAY something favorable about the subject, even if that something is nothing more than a platitude. Then…the hook is set!
‘The Church,’ the body of born again believers and disciples of Jesus Christ, is the ONLY ‘God ordained,’ life changing, organization on Planet Earth. She is called ‘The Bride of Christ’ in the Bible because she IS! Though comprised of sinners, hypocrites, failures and even the confused, she is the ‘weak’ vessel that God is using to bring HIS truth to this planet. That ALL have sinned and need a Savior. If you are a true member, you smiled at the word ‘weak.’
It takes a LOT of work, patience, persistence and grit for a Believer to avoid losing control. We are called to ‘love,’ but not to blind ‘tolerance.’ To serve…but not ‘enable.’ To give, but to do so knowing that our very motives will be judged by our Lord. We are NOT called to be foolish or deceived. The latest groups of devotionals I have received are baited hooks for the deceived. And God’s Word DOES have something to say about that!
‘In later times’ is now. Deceiving spirits are the demonic liars who make evil pronouncements in an attempt to deceive and sway the masses. God’s Word goes on to say what Believers are supposed to DO when we see or hear their outRAGEous rants. Verse 7 says ‘be Godly’ and to ‘have nothing to do with the godless!’ So hey man… don’t try to label ‘The Church’ racist! She has been trying to reach and teach Christ’s Truth to the world for over 2000 years. The label just doesn’t stick….and this fish, in particular, ain’t bitin!
Get Jesus!
