Monday, September 24, 2012

There Are No Shortcuts! It Is Work To Avoid The Pitfalls Of Culturalism

Establish Your word to Yoour
Servant, who is devoted 
to fearing You.
Turn away my reproach
which I dread, for Your
judgments are good.
Behold, I long for Your
precepts; revive me in
Your righteousness.
Psalm 119:38-40

     We live in a world where speed is king.  Cars are shown to speed in racing fashion as though this makes for a great car.  We have the need to have our food in minutes, not several minutes.  We need our computers to operate as speeds faster than we can blink.  We hold in our hands a small computer/telephone that has all kinds of "apps" such as weather? GPS? etc.  As though we can't look out the window and see for ourselves what is the condition outside and have resources for places far distant from us, and we feel as though we must be in contact with someone at all times.  We as a people are in love with entertainment, and we do so in many ways, one of course is the cell phone with all the "apps" that we can spend hours being entertained.  Movies are so entertaining, with are the computerized action. In fact many churches have found out that they can entertain the congregants by "diddy" songs that make a person feel so good, even so pious, or demonstrations of a special anointing of the Holy Spirit causing a person to shout, laugh for no real cause, to bark like a dog, to be "slain in the Spirit" as though these things are of God. But, we are entertained and we are feeling as if it was true; God. But are we? How do we know if we are being taught the truth?  It takes work! You must read Scripture with prayer, and by using commentaries, and examining the history of the Church and how the culture as been affected by those who have taught things that are not Scriptural.  If you want to know how you got somewhere; well look back and see from where you came. Truth has been so disguised by the more tantalizing and sensationalism that is claimed to be truth that we are being duped into believing what is claimed by man and not by our study of God's word. Blaise Pascal (1623-1662 A.D.) in "Pensees" are words to heed:
"Truth is so obscure in these times and falsehood so established, that unless we love the truth, we cannot know it." (Italics mine).
     Do you love the truth? Is so then what are you doing to ensure that what you believe is the truth?  Do you believe that the Bible is God's truth given to man so that He is revealed to us and gives us how we are to live, and the purpose for our existence in this life?  Or are you listening to a man who claims things that Scripture does not reveal or require of His children? Any thought or action that is inconsistent with Authentic Biblical Truth is defective and must be resisted. To live Authentically for God is our motivation and we allow His presence to permeate and penetrate every fiber of our being. There are many who claim to be "Christian" that have set a different set of standards requiring that certain actions be stopped. Then by setting new standards they develop a conceptual framework that regulates the standards already in Scripture. They determine by these new standards to regulate not only these new standards but to re-regulate the standards of Scripture. These new standards operate in a large context or paradigm.  This self-constructed box is that while this new paradigm is the larger framework that gives action to individuals, it is in a smaller framework whereby faith has its operations in a person's life, and then a person is free to operate in faith in thoughts, time, money, and influences of life.  This new standard allows man to be the master of all that operates outside this constructed box. Examples of such operation that is allowed outside the box by this "new" paradigm is that faith is for Sunday, or if a person just meets his/her obligations, then they are free to operate as they please. The focus is on man and the Spirit of God is held captive and holds a diminished role in their lives, that is unless by this new standard the Holy Spirit is give a new role, one that is outside of Scripture, but claimed to be Scriptural. Faith is redefined, faith is something that man conjures and operates as though this is pious living when in fact all that has been done is to limit your faith causing it not to be Authentic Biblical Faith.  Your faith does not expand and grow in sanctification, rather it is limited and controlled outside of Scripture, no matter what these religious pundits claim, your faith is ineffective for God will not bless anyone who is living outside of Authentic Biblical Faith. 
     How did we come to this place in history whereby the Church has become so divided due to those competing theologies?  How have you or I been affected by this change and how do we know how this changed occurred and how we are to react to this change?  Let me ask this question: Are you willing to change? That is, if by your hard work and study find that what you believe now is not Scriptural and is not Authentic will you change? Or are you so satisfied with where you are in your walk with God that you need not make any effort to know more?  Is Jesus Christ free to possess you more and more?  Is it to live for Him that is your most precious desire? If so then you must do the work!  We have been affected and even infected with ideologies that have led to theologies that are not Authentic Biblical Truth. We can make the change but we must know what is false and then what is true before we can make any change.  It is serious business to live for God, as it affects our witness and diminishes the Gospel. So hang on, we will take our time to examine how the culture has been shaped, and how it has affected the Church.

For the message of the cross
     is foolishness to those 
who are perishing, but to us
     who are being saved it is
the power of God.
                        1Corinthians 1:18

We Wise; pray and read God's word

Richard L. Crumb

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