I charge thee therefore before God,
and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge
the quick and the dead at His appearing
and His kingdom; preach the word; be instant
in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke,
exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will
not endure sound doctrine; gut after their
own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears from the truth,
and shall be turned unto fables. But watch
thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the
work or an evangelist, make full proof
of thy ministry.
2Timothy 4:1-5
God in His providence gave this warning, not only to Timothy, but for all Christians as the Bible and all that was written was and is for all men. This admonition to Timothy by Paul applies to all Authentic Christians. First, you have been called into the ministry, not just pastors, or teachers, you, this ministry is for all who are Christian. Second, you have been admonished to "make full proof of thy ministry" and to examine all things so that you can hold on to the truth (1Thessalonians 5:21). Without that; how, how, can you know if you are following false teachers or truthful teachers? You cannot! It is not just enough to say that you have faith, you must also show your faith by your works (James 2:17-18). What is a distinguishing mark of cultural Christians? It is their behavior.
Many people today say that they have faith, even faith in Jesus Christ at yet when their behavior is examined we find that faith is a subject held at arm's length. False thinking about Authentic Christian Faith exists and the nature of Authentic Faith is not correctly understood. Remember, faith is that which pervades our lives so much that our lives are changed from the inside/out and everything is effected. Faith is a matter of the heart and it in the heart where reality resides and becomes our supreme influence. Authentic Christian Faith attempts to root out anything that is contrary to Scripture, to the truth and attempts to bring our hearts to be desire for God and have our affections under control: "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Psalm 37:4).
The foundation is Jesus Christ and our coming to Him in faith and it is by this faith we have true reality. It is this faith that controls our thoughts and action so that they are consistent with the truth and the presence of the Holy Spirit permeates and penetrates every ounce of fiber of our beings.
Cultural Christians differ, differ in their thinking and actions and this they do by creating a set of standards, doctrines that changes a person conception of the truth into a framework that causes them to accept these standards, these doctrines and causes a behavior not seen or warranted in Scripture.
This is cultural Christianity as the very word "cultural" admits, the culture of this world allowing these who call themselves Christian and by those teaching false doctrine have fallen under: pluralism, that which everyone can have their own beliefs as truth, to be free to live their lives as they so desire, as they wish. Cultural Christians desire to remain master of their lives, all the while speaking that they are "Christian." Jesus Christ is not permitted to possess more and more of a person, and in time the tendency is to become more cultural and less Authentic. This is regression spiritually instead of growing spiritually. Yes, those caught up in such a life do not see themselves as doing that which is contrary to Scripture: but they are if their actions and beliefs are viewed under the microscope of Scripture and not just listen to false teachers. This is what Paul was warning Timothy about. A major fight in Christianity is with those inside of Christianity that are teaching falsely. In time those cultural Christians can only be said to be nominal Christians: name only! The genesis of being under false teaching is a diminishing of Authentic Christian Faith.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
and why art thou disquieted within
me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise
Him, who is the health of my countenance,
and my God.
Psalm 42:11
Build your faith upon the truth: Scripture
Richard L. Crumb
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