Listening to a Minister of the Lord the other day set me thinking when he said, we must not turn our backs to the world if we desire to win the world over to Christ. He argued that if one keeps associating with them instead of separating from them, they will see that we are not ‘different’ from them, and they will be encouraged to join us. After all, he continued, they will realise that we love them and are not judging them. Such thinking is wrong and dangerous on many levels as it contravenes the Word of God!
We have not been called to love the world, but to be separate from it, to disciple it for Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 6:7, Matthew 28:18-20). Many like-minded believe that the Church should be more tolerant, and open her doors to more diverse opinions to win the world. Hence, many such ministers preach and sing songs that do not carry the saving power of Jesus Christ, but massage the egos and world views of a worldly-hearted audience, so as to be accepted into their circles! Those who operate in this mindset have lost sight of the love of God. The love of God cannot cohabit with the love of the world in our hearts (1John 2:15-17).
Someone retorted: ‘but God loves the world’! Yes He does, but He is immune and unaffected by its darkness and evil! For this love, so that the world will not perish because of the way it is going, He sent His ONLY Son, to come live and die for it to save it! You are not God and neither are you immune to the darkness and evil that pervades the world! Hence, we are warned: “Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him” (1John 2:15, AMPC).
Beloved, to carry the love of this world in our hearts because of our love for acceptance, riches and fame, is to carry eternal death in the heart! Jesus Christ, while praying for the disciples said, “They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world” (John 17:16, AMPC). And equally prayed, knowing how dark and deceptively alluring the world can and will continue to be, “Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth” (John 17:17, AMPC). We are sanctified, kept and consecrated by the truth of God’s Word! When there is a little taint on the Word we claim to carry, it is devoid of the promise to keep us sanctified, kept and consecrated!
Sadly, in the quest for acceptance, riches and fame, many wonderful children of God have settled in playing Church and faking the lifestyle of a true child of God. As a result of this anomaly, God’s Word is daily watered down on pulpits, lives and platforms that ought to propagate the truth of God’s Word! The service to God is now seen as an outward display of flesh, carrying empty words to a God the worshipper is not sure exists! This is so because, if one believes God is real and true, one would approach and serve Him acceptably with holy fear and trembling. But a situation where one is careless and irreverent in service, that is a clear signal that the worshipper is unsure of the existence of God they claim to serve; and such is in danger of hurting their soul eternally: “But he who misses Me or sins against Me wrongs and injures himself; all who hate Me love and court death” (Proverbs 8:36, AMPC).
Beloved, just as Apostle Paul warned Timothy, we are also warned: “Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you” (1Timothy 4:16, NLT). Beloved, these are the days to learn God’s truth for yourself, so you are not deceived, living a life devoid of the power of God because of teachings and songs packaged in hell. May the Lord help and keep you alert in Him, in Jesus Christ name. God bless you.
