Articles
Has Change Snuck In?
"WE LIVE IN A GENERATION OF EMOTIONALLY WEAK PEOPLE WHO NEED EVERYTHING WATERED DOWN FOR THEM BECAUSE IT'S OFFENSIVE, INCLUDING THE TRUTH"
Not sure who actually said this, it's being attributed to a Hollywood actor. Regardless, we can ponder its truths in today's society and see if we need to adjust anything in our own lives.
Last week, while attending some training, I heard something I had heard many times before, but I think these two sayings can run hand in hand.
"YOU ARE ENTITLED TO YOUR OWN OPINION, BUT NOT YOUR OWN FACTS".
Facts and truth are one in the same, and our opinion doesn't alter the facts. It is unfortunate that some in our society want to either water down the facts, or extinguish them all together in pursuit of something more palatable. But try as they may, the facts remain the facts. What does this have to do with Christianity?
People have been watering down scripture for a long time, to the point that true religion is getting really hard to find. It is easier to follow a teaching that doesn't restrict our desires or our life style. Our society actually encourages people to find a religion that fits them, instead of altering oneself to fit true Bible teaching. In the era of 'New Age Religion', our world looks for a God to support their agenda when in fact we should be seeking to support His.
It isn't acceptable anymore to tell people that denying God will land them in Hell one day. In fact, Hell is just about missing from most teachings now. Even many who call themselves ministers of the Gospel don't talk about eternal punishment or God's wrath much anymore. More and more, preaching on Sunday in our world is one sided and leaves church attendees with a feel good, warm and fuzzy feeling, but little conviction regarding the actual truth, including the unpleasant part. Sadly, many only get that 20 minutes on Sunday, and never turn a page in their Bibles at home.
If you and I don't pause often, and do a checkup of ourselves, we may fail to find that we have been moved off center. Changes often come slow and gradual, and sometimes unnoticed altogether. Are we staying the course? Are we holding to the teachings? Are we allowing ourselves and our beliefs to be watered down and not even see the subtle change? Have we been knowingly or otherwise influenced in ways that have weakened our faith?
Today, like every day I pray, may we return to God's word, all of it. We should preach and teach what it says, all of it. God is the same yesterday, today and forever, and while we know that and we preach that, do we insure that we remain firmly established and grounded in all the truth? Are we as strong and convicted as we once were or have we possibly been listening to the world a little, and had our belief's weakened?
