This post is the follow-up to my previous post entitled The Serpent’s Old Lie in an Updated Package. I suggest reading that link first.
In today’s world of “political correctness,” the title of this post would be frowned upon by those who hold to relativism – especially moral relativism. As was stated in my previous post, many people don’t like the thought of absolutes; especially when it comes to moral absolutes. They don’t like to be told what is sin and what is holy and the truth. This is one of the big reasons why Christianity, in general, and those who hold to biblical Christian faith are chastised, mocked, ridiculed, called bad names, targeted by those who don’t agree with them, and told to “just shut up and keep your religion to yourself.”
This is not new. The early churches (such as the church in Colossae) needed encouragement from the Apostle Paul, and to be assured of the preeminence of Christ. Why? Because almost immediately, those who hated and disagreed with believers in the resurrected Christ tried to squelch the spread of their faith. This is even more prevalent today! And, it’s currently a really sad state of affairs here in America.
The important thing to remember, however, is that we were told throughout Scripture that this would happen. The naysayers would attempt to belittle our faith and downplay its significance, not only here in America but around the world. Their goal is to attack the Gospel message and those who share it.
Whenever the raging voices in the media of mass deception continue to spread lies and propaganda because they don’t like what is happening in our current government, I am reminded that administrations will come and go…but the Word of God stands forever!
In Colossians 1:9-14, Paul requests that the people “may be filled with the knowledge of His will.”
Dr. David Jeremiah’s Bible notes tell us:
The rest of the passage describes its result in the believer’s life (4:12). Knowledge alone is never enough. God’s Word must change one’s life and pattern of thinking (Romans 12:2); James 3:13), literally filling the believer’s life and motivating every area of his or her being (Phil. 1:27). Sometimes Christians fail to live by the will and Word of God because they fall prey to false teaching; others fail through neglect, neither reading the Word nor applying it.
That last paragraph describes why there are so many “Christians” who can support leftist causes (i.e. abortion, homosexual behavior and “marriage”, transgender issues, Islamism, radicalism on any and every issue, etc.) while ignoring God’s Will and His Word. The anti-Christian groups may celebrate them and their misplaced ideology, but the question remains, are they truly reconciled in Christ? To support such issues (and, often the violence that accompanies such “causes”) shows that their Christian walk is off, their work is misplaced, their wisdom has not come from God, and probably their worship is misplaced as well.
Here’s one example. When I see how committed and virulent abortion advocates are to their “cause” it’s unbelievable to me! How can anyone justify killing a baby in a mother’s womb? Yet, there are women and men who claim to be “Christians” who place the “woman’s right to choose” above the life of that innocent baby in the womb. It’s unconscionable to me! How could anyone be so hard-hearted? What’s more, their attitude towards those who hold to the pro-life position is absolutely poisonous! They are intensely bitter, violently hostile, and malicious in their verbal attacks against Christians who believe that life begins at the moment of conception.
Why are they like that?
I think that it has to do with fear. The fear that this so-called “right” will one day be taken away. It’s also a huge money-making deal for those in the industry, so the fear of losing millions of dollars must have a lot to do with it, too. To them, it’s a “business” and they must not be in the least mindful of the killing of a human being in the womb.
Dr. Jeremiah writes in his Colossians 1:9,10 Bible notes:
The will of God and the wisdom of God are inseparably linked with saturation in the Word of God (Psalms 1:1, 2). Godly wisdom is gained by studying His Word, spiritual understanding is how his children discern His will. Both wisdom and understanding are gifts of the Spirit (spiritual); they do not come from a unspiritual or “fleshly” mind (2:18). Such spiritual knowledge provides insight into God’s will. However, no one can anticipate the will of a stranger. Christians who long to discern the will of God discover it in their growing knowledge of who God is and what He wants (Ephesians 5:17; 2 Peter 3:18).
So, being unspiritual and fleshly in the mind can lead a person to think nothing of killing a baby in the womb; not to mention making money off of the horrible procedure.
The abortion issue is just one example of the unspiritual and fleshly minds of those who have not been truly born again in Jesus Christ.
Just for the record, the sin of abortion can be forgiven just like any other sin, at the foot of the Cross of Christ.
Norma McCorvey (the plaintiff in Roe vs. Wade trial that disastrously legalized abortion in all 50 states in 1973) had a tragic life as she got caught up in the culture wars. But she died in Christ through conversion from her past sins into salvation in the Lord Jesus. She was an example (extreme one, to say the least!) of persevering in stress, despite so many haters clamoring around her because of her conversion to pro-life beliefs through her conversion to Jesus Christ.
Dr. Jeremiah writes:
When believers please the Lord constantly, that is their Christian walk (Ephesians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 4:1). When they produce fruit consistently, that is their Christian work. When they progress in knowledge continually, that is their Christian wisdom.
When they persevere in stress cheerfully, that is their Christian welfare (2 Corinthians 8:2). When they praise God correctly, that is their Christian worship. The better a person knows God and His Word, the better he or she knows what is pleasing to Him – a knowledge that becomes second nature, producing confidence by discerning God’s will rather than fear. This knowledge produces fruitful character, conduct, conversation, and contributions (giving of resources). It also increases becoming a part of who they are. They no longer rely solely on experience; they progress in their understanding of God as they progress in their understanding of His Word (2 Peter 3:18). People who take God’s Word seriously don’t just read it to see what it says; they make it a map for life so they can learn what to do–then they do it.
I like that phrase! They make it a “map for life.”
The book of Colossians is just one of many of the books of the Bible that answers the age-old questions of “why am I here?” and “what is the meaning of life?” It also gives us direction regarding “what am I supposed to be doing in this life?”
Colossians 3:1-4 reiterates to “2 Set your (our) mind(s) on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
Dr. Jeremiah’s notes:
Christ’s death enables Christians to die to their old life and makes their new life secure (John 10:28, 29; Galatians 2:20). Through Jesus, God has placed a double lock on the security of their lives –nothing can harm them, for His followers are in Christ and Christ is in God. A Christian’s true identity and purpose in life are hidden with Christ, so people outside of Christ will not understand the believer’s motivations and goals.
Paul has covered every phase of life: God’s people have been raised with Christ in the past. They are hidden with Him in the present, and they will appear with Him in the future. They may be hidden now, but they will not be hidden forever. Scripture points to the One who can supply everything their hope expects. This is every Christian’s destiny with Christ.
Tags: Bible, Christian apologetics, faith in Jesus, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, redemption, repentance, salvation, truth
Talk Wisdom 
May 10, 2017 at 9:02 pm |
Like the way Christians used to do with Jews, you mean? Or the way some Christians have treated other Christians?
An old quotation about sowing and reaping comes to mind…
Haven’t looked in a phone book lately, have you? How many pages of Christian churches are there even in your suburban community? If they’re not all “Bible-believing Christian”, then that should be a matter of concern to you and your fellow believers…but that isn’t my problem.
I will, however, bet you find a great deal more un-squelched Christians out there than not. Why, I’ve heard that some of them spread the word 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on TV and radio. Isn’t that true?
You’ve said that in reference to Obama (and W. Clinton), whom I know you didn’t vote for, and didn’t like. But I know you voted for Trump…so why are you saying this now, when the guy you helped elect is largely responsible for ‘what is happening in our current government’?
Only one person can properly answer that question…and it isn’t you.
Remember the anti-abortion advocate Paul Hill? Has there been anyone like him on the pro-choice side?
Fear could also apply to those who want an unbreachable wall built on our southern border.
A bomb can do that, too; hundreds of times over, and all at once. But I’ve never seen you write anything about that.
That depends on how one sees the Bible. Some see it as a set of helpful instructions; others, as a set of marching orders.
If God has a Plan for your life (as I am so often told), and that plan cannot be thwarted, then is there really such a thing as “free will”? That is also something I’ve often been told.
Which means, at least to me, that you shouldn’t praise Caesar, but you shouldn’t scheme to assassinate him either.
I think what’s been happening with this ‘BADministration’ lately is what’s really behind this post.
I’m on a trip, and I think I’ve wasted enough of it on this drivel. I’ll wait for the next one.
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