11/01/2020
Watered Down Christianity
Who here believes in Hinduism or Buddhism? Who here has ever said something to the effect of “Let Karma take care of it”? If you answered “no” to the first question, but “yes” to the second, I have some bad news for you. Modern American Christianity has become so watered down that only 6% of self-Identifying American Christians hold a Biblical world view (according to the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University). That means 94% of us do not follow the Bible in our day to day choices. Churches in America are now ordaining homos*xual pastors. In 2019 Methodist churches defied the United Methodist Churches ruling and began hosting same s*x marriages in their church. So, what do we do about it? Should we do anything about it?
Who ever thought you would be told you could not attend church? This is America, where we have Freedom of Religion, so no one would dare tell us that, right? Look at what is happening in California. Look on social media at the number of people who said Religious Rights were not being violated by forced church closures. They said, “you can still practice your religion, you just can’t go to church”. When it was pointed out going to church is an integral part of Christianity, we were accused of being selfish and wanting people to die. Most of the people saying things like that are the same ones who would tell Christians to “Keep it in Church” prior to the COVID-19 panic. Notice I said, “most of”, not “all of”. The sad truth is there are Christians whose faith in the ability of a virus to harm them is greater than their faith in God’s ability to heal them. There are Christians who are calling for churches to be closed until Man finds a “cure” for COVID, rather than having faith in God.
Lack of faith, including Hindu principals, and promoting sin are all symptoms of a larger problem in the United States and Christianity as a whole. Christianity has been watered down so much, there is an “anything goes” attitude among Christians today. God is very clear about watering down His word. God warns about allowing the World to influence you. Revelation 21:8 (ESV) warns:
“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the s*xually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Likewise, Romans 1:18 (ESV) says:
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”
The Wrath of God. That is not a phrase you will hear in a church very often anymore. We, as Christians, have gotten so caught up in our definition of love being affirmative, we forget discipline, correction, and punishment are all parts of love as well. Parents do not punish a child who constantly runs out in the street because they hate the child. They punish the child because they love the child and want him to be safe. They want him to learn the dangers of his actions. God wants the same for us.
But if God is love, how can he be wrathful? God IS love, but love and wrath are not mutually exclusive, unless you subscribe to the worldly, progressive definition of love. The world says if a Christian loves homos*xuals, the Christian MUST support them and everything they wish to do. God says it is the Christians duty to preach the Bible including Leviticus 18:22
“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.”
A Christian NOT supporting LGBT “rights” is an act of love. Supporting LGBT “rights” is an act of deceit. Remember Revelation 21:8? That is God (who is love) punishing people for things like telling people He is ok with homos*xuality.
Romans 12:2 tells us “Do not be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Do not be conformed. God is telling us directly not to listen to the world. The world says love means we must support and coddle everyone. God defines love very differently. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us God’s definition of love. I am going to let you read it on your own. (Note that the King James Version replaces “love” with “charity”. That is because love, in its purest form, is charity.)
Does that mean we, as Christians, should mock, attack, shame, or condemn homos*xuals to hell? Absolutely not. We must act in love, with kindness and gentleness. We must be willing to talk. And to listen. When we talk with an unsaved sinner, they should come away with a feeling of peace. Of course, there are some who will not be at peace no matter what you say. There are those who will attack you for being Christian, claim to be the victim, accuse you of hate crimes, and a mess of other accusations to try to shame you into kowtowing to them and their beliefs. Never apologize for being Christian. Just disengage from the conversation. Let the Spirit guide you.
Let the Spirit guide you. That is the key to not being “lukewarm” and not practicing watered down Christianity. Being Spirit led is the only way to be a God pleasing Christian. If the world says a virus will kill you, but the Spirit says walk in boldness, then put on your walking shoes and take a stroll. What do we really know about this virus? Between all the misinformation, conflicting reports, flip flopping, falsified statistics, and flat out lies, it is difficult to know what the truth is on a worldly level. God knows. God knows exactly where it came from, how it started in humans, what it does, how much (or little) of a danger it is to people, what ever there is to know about it, God knows. We know God knows. And yet churches in certain areas are being forced to close their doors. Pastors are being threatened with fines if they hold service. Christians are attacking each other over man’s protocols and guidelines.
Christians who put their faith in God are being attacked (verbally, and sometimes physically) for not wearing a mask, or hugging people, or simply saying God is in control, so they are not worried about the virus. They are being attacked by fellow Christians and by the world. They are being chastised, told they are not “real” Christians, being accused of thinking they are better than Jesus (because Jesus would wear a mask, even though he laid hands on lepers. Matthew 8:1-4), and of being in a cult.
Is it really a surprise that someone putting their faith in God rather than man is being attacked? Jesus said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV), and “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19 ESV). Notice that He tells us we will have trouble. We will be accused of all kinds of things, but we do not have to worry. Why don’t we have to worry?
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 5:10 ESV)
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Matthew 5:ll ESV)
Two of the Beatitudes directly address being persecuted. Jesus made a point of telling us things will not always be easy. We will have troubles. We will have trials. We will loose friends. We will be called all kinds of names. We will be accused of all kinds of things. It’s ok. We do not face it alone, and God recognizes the sacrifices we make on His behalf. It is very easy to start believing we are selfish, that we are not doing God’s will, or that we should be ashamed for bring Christian. DO NOT fall into that. Why would you allow an atheist to tell you whether you should go to church?
This year especially, we as Christians, have a decision to make. Are we going to vote for abortion? Are we going to vote for division? Are we going to vote for forcing all churches to perform same s*x marriages? Or are we going to vote as Biblically as we can? There is not a political party in America that perfectly follows the Bible. But there is one that comes much closer than the other. Do not listen to rhetoric. Do not listen to campaign promises. Look at voting records. Look at history. Look at actions. Vote by what the Bible says is right, not what the world, or your “conscious” says is right.
Why did I suddenly start talking about politics in a sermon about Christianity? Because there is a large, very vocal group that wants to eliminate Christianity from the United States. They start by guilting Christians into compromising their faith. Then they make watered down Christianity the law of the land. “God loves everyone, so sin is irrelevant.” “If you say a person’s lifestyle is wrong, you are judging, and that is a sin.” “You can have your religion, just keep it to yourself.” How many times have you heard that? Maybe you have even said something like that yourself. Every one of those statements goes against what God says. God says, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23)
God says homos*xuality is an abomination. (Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13)
God says we are to be Christian every day, not just Sundays. (Colossians 3:23)
God says do not submit to the slavery of the world. (Galatians 5:1-6, 18)
We are not to follow what the world says, regardless of what it says about us. No matter how much the world insults, lies, conspires, or demands, remember Romans 12:2
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (ESV)
Do not be afraid to seem strange to people around you. Being peculiar is one of the byproducts of accepting God into your life (Deuteronomy 14:2, 1 Peter 2:9). We, as Christians, should stand out. We should not participate in the things the Bible says are sin, but the world says are ok. We should be the kind of people that, when we walk in a room, the swearing and inappropriate talk stops. Not because we demanded it stop, but because people feel there is something different about us and are uncomfortable in their spirit using harsh language around us.
So, why can’t we live and let live? Why do we HAVE to teach (in a loving manner) what people who will listen are going wrong? Why are they our business? Why was Cain Able’s keeper? The answers to those questions are in at least two places in the Bible. First is Matthew 28. We know verses 16-20 as The Great Commission. This is right after Jesus resurrection. The eleven remaining disciples went to Galilee to a mountain where Jesus had told them to meet him. There He came to them and said “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (NIV) The command of obeying extends to all parts of the Bible, including the Great Commission. That command was not only for the disciples. It was for ALL Christians, past, present and future.
The second place that answers those questions is in Revelation. In Revelation 3:15-16, God is speaking to the church at Laodicea. He tells them “I know your works: you are neither hot nor cold. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth” (ESV) The Christians of Laodicea had gotten lazy. They allowed what the world said to influence how they followed God. He gave them a dire warning and told them exactly how to correct it.
“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:19-20).
So, where does your faith lay? Are you prepared for persecution for being Christian? Or will you be spit out? Do you believe the Bible is God’s holy word? Or do you believe, as I once did, that the Bible is a good book full of important life lessons, but still just a book? When you are at home, preparing to pray, ask yourself are there things you have placed the world’s desires before God’s over? If there are, God will forgive you, just confess them. Get into the Word. Find out what God says about a particular issue. Everything we face is addressed in the Bible. Be sure you are practicing pure Christianity, not watered-down Christianity. Get the Eastern Mysticism out of it. Reject it completely. Rely solely on God for your needs. God loves us so much He sent His only Son to die, so we could have eternal life (John 3:16). Remember that. Honor that. Go, spread the Word by your actions and words. Go and be blessed. Go and love each other as God loves you. Love you Brothers and Sisters.
