The Lion Is Roaring: Are You Protected?

Now we command you, brethren, 

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

that ye withdraw yourselves from 

every brother that walketh disorderly, 

and not after the tradition 

which he received of us.

1Timothy 3:6 

     Today in far too many Churches there is not discipline towards those that walk in sin. Abortion, breaking of laws, homosexuality, adultery, fornication, among many other sins that are in need to be confronted and corrected. Discipline is not just for punishment, rather it is to be a training to act in accordance with rules, to have activity, or exercise that would improve a person to follow Jesus Christ. Discipline is to bring a person under obedience. Yet, discipline has a punitive side as well, to chastise, to remove that person who is in need of discipline from the congregation, the Church so as to ensure purity. This rare aspect of the Church and for the Church leaders to impose is lacking due to the influx of world culture, that pluralistic, multiculturalism, the inclusion of all, has led many to believe in that which Jesus Christ never had in mind, never in the mind of the disciples. 

     We are all product of teaching! Whether this teaching comes from the Church, school, or the media, etc., all have an affect upon a person. Therefore it is our responsibility to be taught truth and the truth is to be found, not in a man's teaching, rather that which is simply provided for our learning in Scripture. It is not that all pastors or teachers are teaching some form of heresy, for their are many who are teaching the truth: but how do we know? Only by comparing what is taught in Scripture. Now, to do this one must do they can to examine by the simplicity of Scripture, not allowing for what we do know, and we do know, that which is worldly thinking. Do not expect to become perfect, as some preach, nor that you will come to know quickly, but if you take the time to pray, to think upon what God has inspired for us, you will come to see that much of what is being done in our Churches today are far from Scripture, far from the Gospel. 

     It seems as though Satan is some mystical figure hardly ever spoken about in our Churches and has been forgotten, other than some remembrance that he caused Adam and Eve to sin but has little to do with our sinning. The world is as a lion and this lion, the world is a product of the one lion that has caused sin: Satan. The world is the product of those who are following this lion, Satan, being taught by those who are led by Satan. This lion has also invaded many Churches and the thinking of many who call themselves Christian. Peter gives this warning: "Be sober, be vigiliant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1Peter 5:8). The Greek word translated "sober" is not just from some alcoholic, or mind altering (marijuana, or other drugs) product, no, it means to have circumspect, to be vigiliant and not to be intoxicated in any means, whether from mind altering drugs, alcohol, but from other means, that take your mind off of Jesus Christ.  Clement of Rome writes: "It is the part of the wicked to vex the righteous.Ye are fond of contention, brethren, and full of zeal about things which do not pertain to salvation. Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit. Observe (Or, “Ye perceive.”) that nothing of an unjust or counterfeit character is written in them. There   (Or, “For.”) you will not find that the righteous were cast off by men who themselves were holy. The righteous were indeed persecuted, but only by the wicked. They were cast into prison, but only by the unholy; they were stoned, but only by transgressors; they were slain, but only by the accursed, and such as had conceived an unrighteous envy against them. Exposed to such sufferings, they endured them gloriously. For what shall we say, brethren? Was Daniel (Dan. vi. 16.) cast into the den of lions by such as feared God? Were Ananias, and Azarias, and Mishael shut up in a furnace (Dan. iii. 20.) of fire by those who observed (Literally, “worshipped.”) the great and glorious worship of the Most High? Far from us be such a thought! Who, then, were they that did such things? The hateful, and those full of all wickedness, were roused to such a pitch of fury, that they inflicted torture on those who served God with a holy and blameless purpose [of heart], not knowing that the Most High is the Defender and Protector of all such as with a pure conscience venerate (Literally, “serve.”) His all-excellent name; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. But they who with confidence endured [these things] are now heirs of glory and honour, and have been exalted and made illustrious (Or, “lifted up.”) by God in their memorial for ever and ever. Amen."

     Wake up! God has called us to be an ambassador for Him. We are to have Him as our priority, not entertainment, and not all is bad, not overdoing alcohol, or other things that would alter you thinking, but to have obedience to His word. That will be a pleasing thing to God for you are being faithful to His calling for all those who claim to be Authentic Christians. Are you looking for blessings? Quit looking! You do not need to look for blessings as God will bless you when you are obedient and in His providential manner. Our faith is in a faithful God, not in ourselves, how we feel about a certain thing, but how we become obedient and one sure way to find out what it means to be obedient: well....it is in His inspired word.

The LORD rewarded me according 

     to my righteousness: according

to the cleanness of my hands hath

     He recompensed me. For I have 

kept the ways of the LORD, and have

    not wickedly departed from my God.

                       2Samuel 22:21-22

What are you looking for?

Richard L. Crumb