Compromising the Truth

      I ran across a meme the other day on Facebook.  I don't know who created it but it said so much that I wanted to share it with others.  The central truth found in this meme is something we all need to seriously think about in this age in which we live.  

     He did not compromise truth or soften it in any way, but proclaimed the life changing way to salvation.  When God regenerates a heart, He replaces the stony, hard, sin-filled heart with a new one of flesh that desires to live for Him.  In other words, once we come to faith in Christ, our lives should reflect a new worldview as revealed in God's Word.

     In confronting sin, one of the best examples is the woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8:3-11).  The Scribes and Pharisees wanted to test what Jesus would say concerning this woman.  According to the Law, she should have been stoned to death for her sin.  However, Jesus turned to them and said, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her" (vs.7b).  At this, they began to walk away for they knew they were also sinners.  Jesus lifted her up, saved her life and gave her the "Good News":  "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more" (vs 11b).  This wasn't just a physical rescue.  Our Savior did not leave her where she was at nor did He in any way excuse her sin.  He lovingly told her to go and sin no more. An encounter with Christ brings about change in our lifestyle, our friends, our actions, our thoughts....or it should.  However, if we try to compromise with the world and excuse sin (as laid out clearly in the Bible), we are not being faithful to the truth of God's Word and His call to make disciples of all nations.

      A verse I never understood until now is found in Matthew 10:34:  "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I have not come to bring peace, but a sword."  He goes on to say that it will bring division even in a family when a person becomes a follower of Christ.  John MacArthur in his study notes on this verse says:  "Though the ultimate end of the Gospel is peace with God, the immediate result is frequently conflict.  Conversion to Christ can result in strained family relationships, persecution, and even martyrdom" (MacArthur Study Bible ESV pg 1377).  Why is that?  Because we are aligning ourselves with the truth found in Jesus Christ and in His Word.  Christian beliefs stand in opposition to this world system and call for a life far different than one which revolves around "me" and what I want.  Christ came to give us a new life through His sacrifice on the cross where our sins have been imputed to Him.  We are to be a new creation according to 2 Corinthians 5:17:  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!"  We are not to live only for ourselves any more but for Him to bring glory and honor to His name.

     Dear ones, the world wants us to compromise our faith so we can fit in better with our culture.  There are some who have followed this siren's call in order to keep the peace.  However, God calls us to live in holiness according to His standards as found in the Word of God which is our foundation.  Just as Jesus did not leave the woman to live in adultery by blessing her and sending her back to live in sin, so we must share the truth of Christ's love with others so their lives will be delivered from sin as well.  It can be costly, painful or hard at the time, but the results of our faithfulness is to one day hear our Father say:  "Well done, good and faithful servant...enter into the joy of your Lord" (Matthew 25:23).  Selah!

Don't Be Deceived

     Magic shows are fun to watch, but we know from the start that there is some sleight of hand or movement undetected by the audience that makes it seem real.  Perhaps we enjoy being fooled.  However, when it comes to our walk with Christ, we are warned to be on our guard.  There are false teachers, philosophies, and "empty deceit" just waiting to snatch any listening ear....even Christian ears.

 

   This point is driven home as I watched "The Truth Project" for the sixth time on a Wednesday evening.  Del Tackett, the tour guide, in this wonderful teaching series pointed out that even Christians are capable of being deceived by the ideas promoted in our world.  He pointed to the letter Paul wrote to the Colossians (2:6-8):  "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.  See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."  Unfortunately, the Church at Colossae as well as in Galatia had been dealing with false teachings that pulled them away from the truth of the Apostle's instruction.  They lost sight of true doctrine.  This should not surprise us because from the beginning of the church until now there have been many strange teachings, philosophies, and ideas that have crept into the body of believers.  Instead of believers influencing the world, we are more often influenced by them and accept as truth something which God has not condoned. 

     Sources of disinformation abound today now that we have electronic devices which can connect us instantly to ideas, theories and philosophies which may have no basis in truth.  Even in Paul's day, word could travel quickly in a village simply by passing a story on.  Today, however, we have instant messages that travel the globe in a click of a button.  Instant information, though, does not equal godly wisdom.  According to Paul, we need to be careful to walk in Christ daily...that is...His Word of truth.  His teachings (doctrine) should be close to our heart so that we are not deceived when someone introduces a "new understanding" on an issue to the church.  If we are rooted and established in our faith following the Apostle's teaching, we will not be easily led astray.  

     Paul echoes his teaching of being prepared in his second letter to the Corinthians 10:3-5:  "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinions raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ...."  We are in a battle....a war of ideas in our present world.  Our fight is against arguments, opinions and ideas which try to distort God and His Word.  As Ephesians 6:12 tells us:  "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."  This verse is more relevant today than ever.  We live in a time of spiritual confusion and darkness.  This is why we need to be prepared by putting on the full of armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-18) and make certain that we take every thought captive to Christ.

     Knowing that it is possible for us to be deceived as we walk in this world should encourage us all to be students of the Word....both Old and New Testaments.  God's Word does not change nor can we pick and choose what we want to obey.  His truth sets us free and creates in us a new heart and mind in Christ.  Therefore we must make certain we are  "rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith".  Don't let the enemy steal your joy or deceive you with worldly philosophies and ideas.  This world is passing away but God's Word will stand forever.  While magic can be fun to watch, we all need to live in the real world founded on the rock of Christ and the Bible.  With the Lord, there are no tricks but abundant life.  Selah!

The Joy of Obedience

     Growing up on a farm presented me with many opportunities for lots of outdoor activities.  Most of them were fun, harmless and good physical exercise (eg. riding my bicycle, playing in the sprinkler) but there were other activities that often led to disastrous results.  My mother warned me countless times not to run full speed without keeping track of where I was going.  Personally, I thought she was being a spoil sport, but one day, I fell against our stone steps outside which left a gash near my left eyebrow.  This called for a set of stitches which certainly "spoiled my sport"!!!!  However, I did not learn my lesson as I once again assaulted my left eye with another gash by running full speed to the stairway and tripped.  Once again, I was headed for stitches near my left eye.  By this time, most of you would think I had learned my lesson, but no,  ever the daredevil, I decided to jump on a roll away bed mattress.  The frame was metal and my mother called out to me that I should not be doing that because I could fall.  Unfortunately, no sooner had she said that, I took a tumble and hit the metal frame next to my left eye once more creating a gash.  This time, we had to fetch the doctor off of the golf course to come and put stitches in the area.  To this day, I have three scars near my left eye as a reminder that I didn't listen to my mother.  Oh the pain I could have avoided had I only regarded her instruction.  The same is true for Christians in our walk with the Lord. 

     Too often, people think that the commandments of the Lord and His instruction in the Bible are antiquated, out of touch with the way people really live today or are burdensome.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  God's Word is the very foundation of our faith and a manual for how we should live before Him.  Jesus said in Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away."  Luke 21:33 tells us the same thing.  What God has established as His moral standards in both the Old Testament and New Testament remain as the foundation for the Christian church and individual believers. Again Jesus stated clearly:  "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;  I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.  Therefore, whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19).  Indeed, Jesus kept all the Law perfectly during His walk among us and then, offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to cover our sins.  Through Him, our sins are forgiven, we are set right with God, but we are called to, then,  live a holy life even as God is holy.  We do not have the option of doing away with "the Ten Commandments" or God's moral standards of conduct. These are given for our protection, our welfare and for God's glory in our dark culture.  When we choose to live in obedience to God, we have a joy that no one can steal from our hearts.

     King David in Psalm 19 declares the goodness of God's laws and standards.  Verses 7-11:  "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;  the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.  Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward." Obviously, David saw the value of following in the Lord's path.  In obedience, he found joy, but likewise, when he sinned with Bathsheba, he tasted the painful consequences that followed.

     While some in our current culture want to play fast and loose with God's precepts and moral commands, we need to remember the admonition given by the Lord in the book of Revelations that we are not to add or take away from the Word (Rev. 22:18-19).  This caution goes along with several others that warn us not to add or take away from God's Word:  Deut. 4:2; 12:32;  and Prov. 30:5-6.  Our Lord loved us so much that He gave us a foundation for living in the Bible.  Then, to further demonstrate His love, He gave us His Son to seal a new covenant with us in His blood.  Therefore, we must respond by living to His glory.

     If I had listened to my mother's instructions, I would not have three scars around my left eye.  She did her best to warn me.  In the same way, we are given God's Word that we might experience joy in obedience and the privilege of glorifying Him in this world.  May we never take the Bible for granted or allow the culture, false teachers, or others to dilute the Word of truth that is given to bring us salvation and eternal life.  Search His Word, examine your life and live in obedience to God that you may have the abundant life He promised to all who believe.  Selah!

P.S.  A great book to study in regards to the Ten Commandments is Alistair Begg's "The Pathway to Freedom".  It is well worth your time to read this.