Thoughts From a Prison Cell (11)--True Freedom-- Where He Leads Me, I Will Follow

 

GET OFF THE FENCE ALREADY!

After almost six decades, I have gotten caught up in the political arena, to a small extent. You would have to be some sort of long-necked bird with her head in the sand not to be aware of what is happening in our country. For me, there is so much more involved than just getting knowledgeable about what is happening in politics. To be clear, I do not believe that to be “on the right” or any other such label equates to true Christianity or defines a true believer. What drew me in to watching the political world? I got tired of being lied to by the news media and the rest of the world. I would submit to you that politics have not changed. The problem has always been one and the same. The problem is not with politics but the heart of man (Jeremiah 17:9). Where once men and women in politics were innately MANdated to keep their depraved hearts and reprobate minds concealed from the public—the very public whom they professed to “serve”, whom they relied upon to keep them in their prestigious positions—they have burst out of their closets because most of the general population now believes as they do. They are accepted, supported, and loved for their lies. True Christians who have been distracted by this world for far too long need a spiritual slap in the face and to take a good hard look at what they see. Discernment is the word of the day.

How did we get where we are? Mass indoctrination. Over time. Then, there is lack of indoctrination. In the church. Over time. None of what we see should shock us if we know the Bible.

My heart is grieving today but not for the logical reasons you may think. Last evening, I came across a Facebook post that disturbed me because it has become an all-too-familiar argument that seems to come up often. Someone I know who professes to know Christ made a statement that was radical—a kind of shock-and-awe statement. Then, he pretty much walked away from the post while the argument stirred up by his words went long into the night. The post made an unfounded, opinionated political statement; but the overall post, as so often happens, turned to defaming true believers rather quickly. I saw many professing “believers” side with the views of those who were slandering the true believers. I saw believers being called judgmental with all sorts of awful language used to describe them. Christians were peacefully defending the truths of the gospel (You will know them by their fruits.) I typically do not get involved in these types of arguments because they are fruitless. It took me years to learn that and to prioritize the importance of sharing a gospel message versus getting down and dirty with those whose agenda it is to defame the gospel by defaming those who believe it. A couple questions maybe could have ended the defamation or turned the conversation. Are you a Christian? Why do you believe you are a Christian? Let’s begin conversations like these with the basics. Define Christianity. Define what it is to be a Christian. If you can’t do that because you don’t know the answer to those questions or you can’t clearly articulate the gospel that saves, you are part of the problem.

Christians are called stupid because they don’t believe the false narrative that Satan has so craftily laid down in the minds of his followers one little brick after another over a long period of time. What refutes lies? Only truth. We don’t need to defend ourselves, only the Gospel. Unbelievably, Christians are called judgmental by professing “Christians” for applying the everlasting truths that Christ laid down in Scripture. Again, not shocking but unbelievably illogical.

I am not disturbed by professing “Christians” who obviously do not know Christ. I’m disturbed by professing “Christians” who go with the flow jumping from one side of the river to the other—who put on a Christian face with true believers but who are more comfortable with other professing “Christians” or even those who do not profess to follow Christ at all. I know this is nothing new under the sun, but it is still disturbing. Their silence and unwillingness to offend with gospel truth is all in the name of ‘love’. Come on now—God is love, and it is His hard Gospel we are commanded to share. Make a stand already! A real stand. Get off the fence. The time is coming when it will probably cost you your life but stop defaming the name of Christ by hiding behind a label that does not fit you. You know it doesn’t. If it did, you would be not only calling yourself a Christian, but you would also be sharing the gospel. Further, you would KNOW what the true gospel is and be able to clearly articulate it! We need to stop walking on eggshells in this world and be bold with the truths that crush walls built up with Satanic lies. We must destroy arguments (speculations) and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

If you believe the gospel saves, that the only treasure in this life is Christ and His gospel, then live like it! It is easy to ‘like’ FB posts without ever clearly defining or defending the true Gospel. Those of you who have only professed “Christ” for many years—know you aren’t fooling anyone but yourselves. When you ‘like’ the posts of true believers, then turn around and ‘like’ the posts of those who spew out false doctrine day in and day out—you not only reveal the fact that you do not know the true gospel of Christ, but you defame His name in the process. Just, please, get off the fence. Choose this day whom you will serve. There are only two options.

Churches start preaching the Gospel—the true Gospel of Jesus Christ! Do the hard work of studying yourself to show yourself approved! For the most part, accept that you will not be well-loved, but hated for your faith. This world is not about us and whether we are loved and accepted. This life is about Christ. It always has been.

Lastly, I am thankful for true believers, for churches that are not ashamed of the Gospel. For far too long many have preached a “gospel” not understanding why they would ever need to be ashamed of it. Why is that? It is our flesh that wants to fit in, to be loved and accepted. But if we are truly born again, we want in our spirits to obey Christ, and He said to preach the Gospel. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”