I have written unto you, fathers, because ye
have know Him that is from the beginning.
I have written unto you, young men, because
ye are strong, and the word of God abideth
in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
Love not the world, neither the things that are
in the world. If any man love the world,
the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the
flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride
of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1John 1:14-16
The pride of life is such a problem within the Church, that is, (not to use a word, "church" as it so commonly understood), rather those who attend a Church that we must address this, not I but to readdress what the Holy Spirit inspired the apostle John to write. The line between an Authentic Christian and a cultural Christian at times is blurred, in fact, hard to tell one from the other. This is especially true when it comes to worldly thing: not immoral things, rather those things of the world that are a distraction from being used by God in the manner He desires to use a person. A big distraction: wealth! Or, maybe to rise to fame, to high salaries, to be seen as successful, all things that in of themselves are not bad. It is what is the emphasis that is place upon such things that make it bad or good. What do you value most? Praise of man or praise of God? Cultural Christians place an inordinate love of worldly glory, a place of vanity that does not teach what the Bible teaches about such subject as how we are to live in this world. This is true even of Authentic Christians that place self above what God has instructed for His children to have and to exercise. We are not talking about doctrine, no, we are talking about our pragmatic use of our live, our means and if they are manifesting the truth according to the will of God. How people go to great lengths to protect this desire, or love of the world. Excuses are used as reasons. Our reputation according to the metric used by this world is more important to be seen in the eyes of men. We hate to have a loss of man's opinion of us, or to face dishonor and disgrace. We see this as unacceptable.
The apostle John gives us God's thought on this problem: His love is not in such a cultural person who claims to be a child of God: maybe they are, and maybe they are not: in either way: God is denigrated. If you call yourself a Christian and are seen as one who is really cultural, that is, just, or almost just, like them who do not believe, they only see hypocrisy and the thing you desired not to seen about you is seen in full panoramic color. So often we choose reputation over obedience. We see earthly reward to be of the highest value and worldly shame to be the lowest of value, even the greatest of possible evils. If this is the case then we are prone to change our course towards our obligations to God and we seek ways to avoid the consequences to take a stand against such worldly norm. This leads people to seek ways to serve God in ways that enable us to have earthly gain, to keep earthly gain and avoid worldly disappointment or disapproval. The result: We simply quit attempting to serve God fully. There is another way: we to to a Church where a person can lose themselves, at least for the moment, in some titillating and emotional form of worship (this makes a person to think that they are really Authentic: what hypocrisy), all to avoid following the will of God so plainly set forth all to read and learn.
The apostle John was writing to believers, those who knew the truth and reminding that we are not to love the things of this world and that if this is not true then we may not actually be in the most a child of God, or in the least one who has lost their way and need to reconcile themselves to God.
I believe, and this has been and hopefully will not be again for me, and for people at large, one who has allowed the love of this world to overcome and to lead me into a life that was not pleasing to God. Only by coming to God in repentance, true repentance, for it is our sin against a holy God that is occurring, not just a sin, but sin against God, our creator, our Saviour, our God who indwells in us to lead us in this life. Repent! Oh! How we hate that term! Do I mean that I must actually tell God how much of a sinner I am? Yes! If I am truly repentant then a change is necessary: I must change from the inside/out. I must, and you must, deny yourself and leave the things of this world behind. We all must make God our priority in life. Nothing rises above that fact.
Is this a gloomy outlook? NO! We have all that God has given, both to those who believe in Him and to those that do not. Look around: smell the roses! There is so much joy to be found in this world and if we take the time to look, it is there for us and God gives this to us. Only, and only can this be real joy if we truly understand that God is with us, and we are with Him, and that nothing that this world can give out gives God.
Okay! Gain riches, fame, success, and be seen as a really important person. You have all this now, but only for a time. Time will come when you will leave this earth and all that you have accumulated will be used by another, either in a good way, or a bad way. Furthermore, all your fame and fortune, and all that people thought of you will be lose, you will not be remembered, oh, for a time, but in time you will be as though you were never here on this earth. Think about it! Do you know anything about your great great grandfather? Probably do not even know his name, or what he did, or anything about him, in fact you probably really do not care. The things of the earth will pass away and only those things of God will remain (Matthew 24:35).
Are you really seeking God? Are you really wanting to be an Authentic Christian? If so, good! Then do what God has instructed us to do, and enjoy this life, by the witness you are supposed to be in any circumstances (as hard as it may be) and when you arrive in heaven you will hear: "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21b).
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep His commandments:
for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Take and examination of yourself
Richard L. Crumb
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