Let no man deceive himself, If any man among
you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him
become a fool, that he may be wise. For the
wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.
For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own
craftiness: "He taketh the wise in their own craftiness:
and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong"
(Job 5:13). And again, The Lord knoweth the
thoughts of wise, tht they are vain. Therefore
let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world,
or life, or death, or things present, or things to come;
all are yours; and ye are Christ's: and Christ is God's.
1Corinthians 3:18-22
Cultural Christians have become more like the world than like Christians and have allowed the wisdom of man to become the wisdom of God. A result of this is that many have become simple-hearted and are hindered in understanding of the things that are seductive, seductive ambition, and the approval of the world with all its pleasures. There is a simple-heart that is not of this world and it is that which does not consider themselves wise according to this world and are of those who are more able to respond to Jesus Christ, and this, with humility, penitence, and sincerity. Oh! These simple-hearted are not simple-minded as the world would accuse them to be but are those who, even though not always able to give lofty discourses about the Gospel, about emotions, are still those who can feel love for their families, friends and country.
The thought of many Christians is that while they understand something about the death of Jesus Christ and the workings of the Holy Spirit that they are the basic articles of Authentic Christian Faith, the are still so far removed from their comprehension that they can easily fall prey to those men/women that promote themselves, their understanding of Scripture, or simply false teaching. This leads a person to simply refer to the practical and moral precepts of the Gospel using an argument that it is these practical matters by which we can know and on which we should focus our attention. This is simple a reduction of the Gospel to a system of morality and discount the importance of the mysteries of the Bible, they have as Milton wrote: "Vain Wisdom all, and false philosophy" (John Milton, Paradise Lost, bk, 2, line 565).
This attempt to reduce faith to a system of ethics we must respond with the words of Jesus Christ: "The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent" (John 6:29). To often these cultural Christians, those who follow after a man, no matter who, Calvin, Arminius, Ellen G. White, Bill Johnson, Jonathan Edwards, etc., have very flimsy arguments against Authentic Christian Faith and we find it perplexing that anyone could hold to such teachings. We are not to just focus on more heavenly thins that have no application to real life. That is not Authentic Christianity. This was not the thinking of the apostles as they focus on the doctrines of Authentic Christian Faith and this they exhorted their audience to follow. What we can notice is that the pattern of practical matters of ethics and behavior are often connected to these doctrines as the expected outcome of Authentic Christian Faith. If Authentic Christian Faith is not practiced the conclusion is that many practice an unscriptural religion.
We must apply to our lives Authentic Christian Faith and cast ourselves completely on the grace of God and the work of Jesus Christ. It is Jesus Christ that is the surety of our hope and source of life. We must grow in affection and this by growth in sanctification an deepen our love for Him. We must repent of sin(s) and allow ourselves to be filled with joy and peace and hope, and this through the work of the Holy Spirit. We are to study the Bible so that we become rooted and rational. We must meditate on the passion (the cross) of Jesus Christ and as we worship Him in prayer and praise, we should attempt to practice the presence of Jesus continually.
Let us consider this: it makes no sense to take the name of Christian and not cling to Jesus Christ. Jesus is not some magic charm that whatever we ask He must do, or that by having some sort of icon, picture that we dwell on in some form of worship will bring us good luck, as do the Roman Catholics who have little images on their dashboards, or around their neck as though they will bring protection and good luck.
Jesus Christ is God, is our Lord and Savior and His name should be written on our hearts in such a way, a powerful way that it will create in us to have such a profound experience of His peach and a heart that is fill with His praise. This is Authentic Christianity, and Authentic Christian Faith. Nothing else!
Should we again break Thy commandments,
and join in affinity with the people of these
abominations? Wouldest not Thou be angry
with us, so that there should be no
remnant nor escaping?
Ezra 9:14
Seek Truth, not anything else
Richard L. Crumb
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