Let no man deceive himself. If any man among
you seemeth to be wise in this world,
let him become a fool, that he many be wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.
For it is written, He taketh the wise in their
own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth
the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
Therefore let no man glory in men....
1Corinthians 3:18-21a
The errors of cultural Christianity having been shown in previous blogs, those errors in regard to Authentic Christian Faith, its true nature. I have taken time to reveal some of the consequences that cultural, or liberal Christianity have created by their faulty thinking. Authentic Christians do all they can to live in conformity to Scripture, not some man-made doctrine or dogma that in many ways enslave people to worship that which is not of God. Cultural or liberal Christians do not live in conformity to Scripture as the Bible teaches us what is Authentic Christianity.
A major problem within cultural, or liberal Christianity is their inadequate understanding of true guilt and the evil of sin. An example of this is that Authentic Christian Faith is reduced to a Christian Faith reduced to a set of rules and regulations that act more like a way to police behavior. How? Cultural or liberal Christians have an understanding of sin that becomes formed, or shaped into how it impacts specific sins and how those sins impact society. A problem exists inasmuch as sins are weighted, that is, the quality of one sin over another as all would admit that theft, murder, fraud and some types of lying are problems that are affecting society in negative ways. Those sins are given more weight on a moral scale than such sins as idolatry, immorality, foul language, lewdness, pride, wrath, malice or revenge. Is this true? Yes! Some churches allow homosexuals to be leaders, or are given some sort of pass so that they have a church to go to, or as some do, allow for abortion, same-sex marriage. A problem is that lewdness has become softened to allow women to wear skimpy clothing, and to show as much skin as they can, and men are allowed to be disrespectful in the way they dress with an excuse that we live in a different time so it is ok. Immorality is not dealt with and church discipline does not exist in many churches, all within churches that have become cultural, or liberal. We see the rich, those who have the ability to care for those in need displaying their prosperity by excessive living. It is ok to be rich, but it is not ok to live in excess while others have need.
Cultural or liberal Christians have invented a way to downplay the dangers of certain vices by calling them freethinking, offbeat, jocular, edgy, and the like. Certain vices cannot have such language applied to them, such as, murder, or theft, or fraud because they harm people in plain view but not so with other vices so a new term a new language is given to them. Here is how this is played out in life: for some vices we give an explanation of those offenses were only spontaneous or temporary failing to resist temptation, but in others, those more serious crimes a single failure is enough to be taken to court. Men and women who have committed serious crimes are imprisoned, put to death, and are judged for life for their crimes (sounds like what happened to Cain for killing Able, a mark, a lifetime mark was placed upon him). When it comes to vices that are committed and are against God, there are no strict guidelines, so a creative king of logic is applied. How? An individual can continue to commit those crimes and still be deemed a Christian. Good conduct, even among those who are repeated sinners are deemed to be still a "good" Christian.
Well.....the Bible does have strict guidelines as how to keep oneself clean, to not commit sin, and how to keep the congregation clean. They must be followed or the congregation will become defiled and this is what has and is happening in cultural or liberal Christianity. I suppose the question is: will you do what the Bible says or will you invent a way to address sinners that seem good to you.
Woe to the rebellious children,
saith the LORD, that take
counsel, but not of me; and that
cover with a covering, but not
of My Spirit, that they may add
to sin.
Isaiah 30:1
Glory in God alone: not men
Richard L. Crumb
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