Stand Firm on the Word

Many churches today are compromising on the Word of God for fear of persecution and ridicule. They have not only extended an olive branch to the secular world, but bent over backwards to accommodate it. Pastors and denominations everywhere no longer hold to the inerrancy of the Bible and the truth that it is God-breathed and profitable for reproof and instruction (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

There are myriad ways in which they accomplish this. Some outright contradict the Word of God by claiming that it says nothing in condemnation of homosexuality. They might argue that this is an Old Testament command and that the New Testament says nothing about it being sin. Yet, as Paul clearly states:

“Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or anyone practicing homosexuality, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

Stop being so hateful, C. J.! You should not judge, says the person who tears Matthew 7:1 out of context. But I am not being hateful. I have no ill will toward the homosexual as a person. But his sin is clear and he (or she) cannot live a life of unrepentant sin and expect to be saved. No one who deceives themselves, who claims that they are without sin (whatever sin that may be), can inherit the Kingdom of God (1 John 1:8 & 1:10).

I do not wish to hate or even dislike anyone. There’s no point in it and it’s sinful. But it’s far from loving to tell a person that they can do whatever they want with zero consequences. Would you tell a family member to jump off a bridge into a solid rock surface? No, you wouldn’t.

This is one of the primary problems with liberal churches and theology. By affirming tolerance rather than love, they have more than likely condemned many people with a false gospel, telling homosexuals and others that their sins aren’t really sins and that they’re okay just the way they are. This is a lie. No one born on this earth is okay without His divine help.

The good news for all sinners is found in the verse 11 of 1 Corinthians 6: “And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

The precious blood of Christ cleanses all sins past, present, and future. But only the believer who puts his faith on Jesus can expect the due reward of heaven. All who fail to see their need for a Savior will find only hell and death, for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

But there’s a deeper problem in the church than the tolerance of perversion and immorality. There is, I think, the root cause of all theological difficulties. This is the lack of a foundation in Genesis. Without the knowledge of where we began, it’s no wonder that many fail to see the reason for a Savior and the inevitability of His return.

Genesis says that God created the earth and the heavens (Genesis 1:1). It says that over the period of six days, He created all things, ending with man (Genesis 1:26). On the seventh day, God rested and called that day holy (Genesis 2:2). Thus, what we call time had begun and people arrived.

Yet, this is what the secular world calls a myth. They would have you believe that the earth is much older. They claim that they have irrefutable evidence that people evolved over the course of millions of years from pond scum and monkeys and all manner of creatures in between. Sadly, many churches care more about being accepted as “credible” rather than standing firm on God’s Word.

But when one looks at the world around them, how can they possibly doubt the Genesis account of creation? Consider yesterday’s mass shooting in Texas; lots of people will lament the absence of God, pondering the problem of evil. They are unaware that the Bible is the only Holy Word which gives us the answer: sin.

When mankind rebelled in the garden of Eden, the world was cursed with sin. Every living thing, man, beast, and plant alike, was ordained to suffer and die. Before the Fall, there was no death and no problem of evil.

“The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground since you were taken from it. For you are dust and you will return to dust.” (Genesis 3:17-18)

The first murder came after the Fall. Cain was not honored for his offering and so he struck his brother Abel (Genesis 4:8).

What did God say to Cain prior to this event? “If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7)

Evil takes shape when we succumb to sin. Sin breeds discontent. It begets murder. It produces hateful, vile ideas and things. It boasts in spreading lies—as does Satan, the father of lies. Sin corrupts every face of life, all aspects of creation. One cannot live in his sin and expect to do the good works God has planned. God is loving and merciful, but He cannot look upon sin and be expected to let it sit and fester without executing His Holy justice (Habakkuk 1:13).

So, as we look around as at this Fallen world, we should not be surprised to see the twisted acts of people. God told us from the beginning what would happen if we disobeyed. Yet, Eve fell for Satan’s deception, bringing Adam along with her, and the world has never been as good as it once was. Sin is responsible for our mass murders, our perversion, our wicked ways, and it is because of us that sin and death entered the world.

Thank God that we have a wise Creator, a forgiving Savior and Redeemer, in our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank God for His Word, that in the face of scoffers, malcontents, and lame ducks, we can point to a solid foundation of truth and freedom, the liberating blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

We should urge Christian leaders everywhere to return to that Rock of Ages. We should remind them that all of God’s Word is Truth, else none of it is. You cannot pick and choose what you believe about God, His Son, or the Holy Spirit. He has not left us that choice.

“Paul, a slave [servant] of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to build up the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.” (Titus 1:1-2)

Because God’s Word is Truth, because He cannot lie, we must affirm His ways and His path to eternal life. Sin cannot be endorsed in the name of tolerance, acceptance, and compromise. Either we are with God or we are against Him. There’s no middle ground.

There’s something additionally remarkable in that passage, if you’re willing to listen. It says that eternal life was promised before time began. Get it? Even before Adam and Eve fell, God foreknew that He would send His Only Son into the world to save and cleanse us from our sin. I can think of no greater hope that that which can be placed in our God, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Return to the Word of God. Return to the foundation of Genesis. Return to God’s Truth, His saving Grace, without compromise and without malice. Show the world that they cannot dwell in sin, but do not hate the people. Love them as you love yourself (Matthew 22:39), as Jesus commanded, and reveal to them the same hope of eternal life that you hold dear if they’d only believe on Him (Acts 16:31).

Thank You Jesus, for Your humble sacrifice. We cannot repay the debt, but we can believe on You and be saved. You are the innocent Lamb of God whose blood covers all. Thank You.

And to those reading this post, I thank you for taking the time. God bless and peace be to you.