The hand of the diligent will rule,
but the lazy man will be
put to forced labor.
Proverbs 12:24
One of them, a prophet
of their own, said,
"Cretans are always liars,
evil beasts, lazy gluttons."
This testimony is true.
Therefore rebuke them sharply,
that they may be sound
in the faith.
Titus 1:12-13
The evidence has piled up and is no longer unavoidable: Christians are lazy. This may not mean that you are one of those lazy people who claim to be Christian and then live as the secular world; or they go to Church, they may even attend Bible studies, but that is all they do, that is, they receive, they get what they want, they feel that they are so pious, God would be proud of them, but as to the things of this world, forget it they say, "God is in control and all things will work out." Just here in this county and other surrounding counties the turnout to vote some pitiful 30%-35%. And, we expect our men in authority to do things that we desire, but we will not even attempt to place into authority men of God who will make decisions according to the Bible. Worse, Liberal Christianity has become nothing more than to attend Churches that give great entertainment, or place their theology on signs and wonders, wowing the crowd, and racking in much money. Some of those who are of the Reformed faith do little, for they hold fast that God has elected some and that God will call His people whether or not they are involved. Mothers are running to and fro taking their children to things such as soccer, or baseball, or dancing, etc. and have no time for home Bible studies with their children. They have bought into the cultural of this world that we must do everything for our children or they just might have some mental issues. Baloney!! There is nothing wrong with those events, and it is not to be anathema if you participate in them, only if they are taking away your ability to have Bible studies with your children, your spouse by working so many hours making you so tired, that all this running around, and working hard leaves our children to become dupes for the culture this world will provide. Our children know the names of musicians and their music they know by heart, they are so involved in things of this world but have little knowledge of the Bible; or you say: "This is the job of the Church!" Baloney! It is your job, and the Church is to add to your teaching by raising the bar of knowledge. We have become so entertainment minded that we just feel so depressed if we cannot be entertained. The movies are so filled with sex and violence, but we go anyway, thinking that we are so "Christian" that we cannot be affected. Ha! Garbage in! Garbage out! We are so culturally minded that we have lost what it means to be an Authentic Christian. Where are the Christians? Why are the Christians not putting forward men of God that will be our leaders? If we do not even attempt to do so, then, why should we complain? We are just getting what we have allowed. Sometimes Christians are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.
Why this diatribe on Christians? First, remember this is a general statement(s) and you may not be one of those who are so culturally minded that you cannot be known as a Christian unless you tell someone that you are. Here is why! My cousin just sent me a video about the influx of Islam into the nations and the statistics are horrible for others who are not Muslim for they are winning a war without swords, guns, fighting, rather they are winning by sheer numbers of people who are Muslim and are making inroads into government, schools, and other places where they can influence decisions. These statistics I have known about when it comes to homosexuality and the fact that nations such as Denmark where freedom to be homosexual without penalty has caused great concern for births are down and the population of Danes is decreasing. This emphasis on people to be homosexual is causing the same problem in many countries including the United States. With the reduction of indigenous people the Muslims immigrate and have babies, their population is growing at a rapid paces. Yet, we complain that we have an Islamic problem; yes we do for they are not only immigrating in great numbers, the culture of this world that everyone can believe as they wish, even if those beliefs will place, in time, all people under the thumb of this political/religious regime that causes people to be in slavery. Just give me so more reality shows, Ha! Reality with cameras on a person at all times, but we have succumbed to such entertainment that our evenings are in front of the TV watching such shows that are not Christian in any way. I wonder would Jesus be invited to sit with you and watch these shows? But we go on living as though this is the only world and hope that we might go to heaven, thinking that we are safe; did not Jesus say that He would lose none of those God gave Him? Yes! But the command is for us to preach and teach, to make disciples, this we do by starting at home with our spouses, and our children. We get involved in things that would cause our children, our grandchildren, our great grandchildren, to become enslaved by men who would either kill you or convert you so that they can rule the world, their ultimate goal. But we are complacent, we sit back thinking that Jesus might just come today, yes, He might, but we do not know the time or the hour, all we know is that He is coming on the Last Day and not until, and only the Father knows that Day. Until then God has given us a mind, common sense, a duty, we are to be the light of the world, and this not only means to preach and teach the word, but to live it out caring for one another, for those who do not even believe as we do, for we do not know who are the elect of God, and we have been commanded to make disciples and God will draw men and women to Him, enabling them by giving them the faith to choose Him. We work by our faith and devotion to God. If we would do so then we have the ability to stave off those who wish to destroy Christianity and put in its place the false religion of Islam.
Paul wrote to Titus: "For the grace of god that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you. Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,... (Titus 2:11-12; 3:1). When it is said to be subject, that has been taken as though we are to do little or nothing, but this is not the Greek word, yes it means to be subject but this is a military word that means to arrange things under a commander, and in a non-military use it means to to give in by assuming responsibility, and by cooperation, to carry a burden. Is our perspective in line with Biblical teaching? The problem is large, seeming unsurmountable, but God has told us: "But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With men it is impossible,but not with God: for with God all things are possible" (Mark 10:27). Do you believe that? If so, then make the necessary changes so that you are the light of the world, so that you are teaching your spouse, your children, we are not of this world, we are just passing through for our home is heaven, we are citizens of heaven, we are new creatures, immortal as to eternity, but we cannot afford to continue to be complacent: God will ask you and me as to our works, and He will reward according to our works. It is not easy, but did Jesus shrink back from His purpose for His coming? No, He underwent a horrible death just to destroy sin, and by His destruction God sees His children through that sacrifice. We cannot allow another false teaching to continue to invade us, we cannot allow complacency to cause us to be cultural Christians. The question is: Will you do what is required?
Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us with every
spiritual blessing in the
heavenly places in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3
Pray For God's Guidance
Richard L. Crumb
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