Has the Gospel changed? Does the Word of God have value any more? Or is it just a matter of what you think versus what I think?
Believe it or not! This is what Christianity has come to in this "Laodicean" age - at least in America!
The other day, I saw a video of a prominent "Christian" woman who is known for leading worship rather than for preaching or teaching the Word of God. She was sitting on a stage speaking to an audience. Never did I see her open a Bible. She was talking about how some in the Body of Christ consider some issues to be "black" (no compromise whatsoever to be allowed), while others consider them to be "white" (open-mindedness to be displayed here). Then she went on to say that she felt there could even be "gray" areas - several shades of "gray" - depending on what each individual believed in his or her own heart.
To give you an example of her type of reasoning, she shared how she personally adopts a "view" of God as being "funny" or fun to be around. She then made reference to the angels around the Holy Throne of God - pictured in the Book of Revelation - who, in her mind, might be caught texting one another or even having farting contests! (Yes! You actually read these words! This is no mistake!) Of course, this goes along with her idea of God being a "funny" type of "fellow"! (By the way - you will find no such depiction in the Word of God!)
Is this what Christianity has come to?
Today, in our circles, we have emerging what I will call - for the purpose of this message - "Gray Christianity"!
And, in this message, I would like to take you to the Word of God and show you how erroneous (and perhaps even abominable) this new type of Christianity really is; that is, based on God's Holy Word - which happens to be the one and only true source of reference for the Church of Jesus Christ!
John 8:12 says - "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
John 12:46 says - "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness."
By His own statement in John 8:12, Jesus was declaring that He is the "true Light, Which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9). In saying this, He was implying that there are false lights in this world - "ignes fatui" - which are leading men to destruction.
Where is His "Light" shining? It is shining in the "world" - the place that is in a state of moral and spiritual darkness...the place where naturally men know nothing rightly of themselves, God, holiness, or heaven.
Let me say that again. It is in the "world" where you will find men and women who know nothing rightly of themselves, God, holiness, or heaven.
That is why they need "light." And that is why Jesus came. He came "a light into the world" - to remove the darkness and deception by illuminating the right way to God and salvation.
Jesus went on to say that those who "followed" or "believed" on Him "shall not" and "should not" "walk in darkness " nor "abide" in it.
What did He mean when he said - "he that followeth Me"? Does it differ from "believing" on Him?
To "follow" Jesus - "the Light of the world" - means to obey Him. More specifically, it means to submit to His guidance...take directions from Him in everything... make every effort to reproduce His example... and adopt His command as law. It also means to awake from all death, slumber, and darkness.
"Following" Jesus begins with faith and is faith. Said another way - "Believing" is the condition (essential part) of "following." And "following" is the outcome (end result) and test of "believing."
The Great Texts Of The Bible said it in this way - "None but they who trust Him will follow Him. He who does not follow does not trust. To follow Christ means to long and strive after His companionship: as the Psalmist says, 'My soul followeth hard after Thee."
But do not miss what Matthew Henry, the renowned Bible Commentator, said on this matter - "It is not enough to look at this light, and to gaze upon it, but we must follow it, believe in it, and walk in it, for it is a light to our feet, not our eyes only."
Hence, "he that followeth Me shall not (by any means) (in no wise) walk in darkness." Surely, "all those who follow Jesus are delivered from the darkness of sin, the world, and Satan. Those who still walk in darkness do not follow Him." (Life In The Spirit Study Bible) And, most definitely, those who "followeth" Him will not "walk" in gross and dangerous errors.
But not only do they "not walk in darkness" or "not abide in darkness," Matthew 5:14 declares that, through their relationship with Jesus, they are "the light of the world." By their instructions and examples, they show what God requires...what is the condition of man...and what is the way of duty, peace, and happiness that leads to heaven. In other words, they illuminate the minds of men.
They "shine as lights" - while by their preaching they communicate the knowledge they have for the good of others. As opposed to the "world," they dispel the "darkness" - driving away its ignorance and sin by their truth and holiness.
Ephesians 5:8 says of them - "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light."
At one time, they were sunk in the same ignorance of the "world" or practiced their same abominations, but they have been enlightened to see the evil of sin and the beauty of a pure heart. They are now in a state of light - endued with knowledge and holiness.
They no longer have "fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." (Ephesians 5:11) They no longer are accessory to the sins of others by commendation, counsel, consent, or concealment. On the contrary, they discover to others their sins, and endeavor to convince them of the evil and danger of them.
Knowing all this - how could anyone possibly suggest a "Gray Christianity"?
Let me ask you - what happens when you blend the colors of "black" and "white" (in this case, "darkness" with "light")? You come up with - "gray."
Those who are truly "following" and "believing" on Jesus have "the light of life" and would never suggest anything less than this in the believer's walk.
Having "the light of life" implies submitting to His guidance...taking directions from Him in everything... making every effort to reproduce His example...and adopting His command as law. It implies that those who have it "shall not" and "should not " "walk" or "abide" "in darkness."
To say that Christianity has different "shades of gray" is to say that Christianity consists of "mixture." It is to say that the "light" is too strong to handle. Tone it down a bit. Let's have some obedience...some submission to Jesus' guidance...sometimes taking directions from Him...reproducing some of His example (and perhaps some of the world's as well)...and adopting some of His commands - but not all!
Here you have it, folks! Welcome to the new Christianity! Welcome to "Gray Christianity!"
After all, the "world" cannot handle the "light." So, the Church must tone it down a bit! Bring in the "mixture." The result? "Gray Christianity!"
Hosea experienced this so-called "Gray Christianity" in his day! We find his depiction of it in Hosea 7:8 which says - "Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people..."
"Ephraim" complied with those who were wicked and ungodly in their practices and conformed themselves to their customs and practices. Consequently, they experienced moral decay followed by political decay.
It is no different today with our "Gray Christianity!"
There is moral declension in our midst because the Church - generally speaking - is failing to truly "follow" and "believe" on Jesus and be "the light in the Lord " that God called her to be.
Since the "light" is so offensive to the dark "world," many are opting for a "compromise" - a "mixture" - if you will - of "light" with "darkness" - resulting in - "Gray Christianity" - which is not offensive at all!
Let me make it very clear - anyone who advocates a "Gray Christanity" is not "following" Jesus!
They are "following" "another Jesus," "another spirit," and "another gospel." (2 Corinthians 11:4)
Be aware and beware of any and all moral declension in the Church today!
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
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