Departing From The Word of God In The Last Days

3/15/2013

"...Nevertheless when the
Son of man cometh, shall he find
faith on the earth?"
Luke 18:8

Most of us can read the signs of the times and know that we're living in the last days. Nations are rising against nations, major earthquakes are picking up pace, corruption is everywhere, just like the Bible has predicted. Here's another disturbing part of last days prophecy that Paul passed on to Timothy: Christians departing from the Word of God...

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
(2 Timothy 4:1-4)

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If the Word of God has lost its impact in our society, is it because many of us don't read and study the Bible for ourselves? Is it on our coffee tables but missing our hearts?

We can't share with others what we don't have ourselves, nor can we walk with power if we're not plugged into the source. How will we reap the wonderful promises if we don't have faith? For faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Instead of being a witness unto Jesus in a declining culture, we'll go down the drain with it. We'll compromise truth for something that sounds good to our flesh and like Lott living in Sodom, we'll be thermometers in society reflecting the temperature, rather than godly thermostats setting the temperature.

2 Corinthians 13:5 says to “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves...”

I remember a friend telling me that they had grown up thinking one way about sin, but after more experience in the world they no longer felt that “being gay” was a sin. This seems to be a growing trend – not just in society, but the church as well. Here's what caught my attention: my friend didn't say that they'd changed their mind after more Bible study and prayer. No, it was due to “having lived” and becoming more “open minded”.

Then this morning, I heard of another politician who has changed their position on “gay marriage” because their son confessed his is “gay.” But has God altered his definition of marriage? Has God traded righteousness for tolerance? Let's see...

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
(Matthew 10:34-37)

"You're being judgmental!" Really? Speaking truth isn't judgmental because truth isn't a respecter of persons. Truth applies to all of us! The Word of God is still truth and it will outlast heaven and earth. Our works will be judged by the Word - The Merciful, Loving Jesus Christ Himself - not by society, nor by a teary eyed relative, nor by a pope, pastor or president.

No one has ever compromised or toyed with the scriptures to their benefit, nor have the obedient escaped blessings. Friend, let us not be swayed by anything or anyone. Instead, let us be those who will live and love righteously, be blessed abundantly, and inherit life eternally. Let us not be among those departing the Word of God, and among the many who didn't take the Bible seriously...

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23)

7 Comments

Chris

3/15/2013 04:34:06 pm

It's not that you are being "judgmental" in what the Word of God has to say...but perhaps in how you present it. If a gay person wanders into a church and hears hellfire and brimstone and an anti gay message he or she is probably not going to feel real welcome or loved. Yes, the Bible does indicate that homosexual activity is a sin. But so is condemnation, judgment, lying, stealing, gossiping, lust, coveting, criticizing other denominations, fault finding, worrying, and about a million other things that humans do on a daily basis. Why do so many Christians pick on the gay issue? Will being gay keep a person out of Heaven anymore than a "Christian" person who struggles with pornography or fretting or gossiping? A relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is what gets us to Heaven, not being perfect. Perhaps people are just suggesting that you be more "open minded" to sharing with people outside your comfort zone...not necessarily condoning their behavior. What would Jesus do if He met up with a gay person? What did He do with the woman caught "in the very act of adultery?" (No one was throwing the MAN involved down half naked to be killed by stoning, interestingly enough). He said "let He who is WITHOUT SIN cast the first stone." What would Jesus say to a person who struggles other sexual sin so prevalent (yes even among Christians) like fornication, adultery, lust, pornography, etc. Perhaps the people you mentioned are just trying to be more like Jesus in being more open to ministering to people they heretofore considered "unreachable?" Just offering another viewpoint. Of course, we can always agree to disagree and still be friends!

Patrick link

3/16/2013 12:35:05 am

Hi Chris, thank you for commenting. You bring up some great points, and if it's alright I'd like to reply.

First, please keep in mind the focus of this post is “Departing from the Word of God” not “How To Judge People In Sin.” I had to re-read my post again just to make sure it didn't offer a step-by-step tutorial on how to criticize others as you made it sound. Text is limiting and difficult to tell if a person is typing with a hammer or with tear stained fingers. I can assure you that whatever I post is meant for me as much as any other reader.

You ask why I don't mention other sins like adultery, lust, stealing, etc., but bring up “the gay issue.” Here's why: because we know those are sins. Even you call them sins. My friend that I quote had changed her mind and no longer believes that “being gay” is a sin. More and more Christians are doing the same thing. They are putting their feelings, peer pressure, culture, etc., above the Word of God. What's worse is that it won't stop with this single issue.

I can't speak for anyone else, but here's why I bring up the “gay issue”

1. Does any other sin receive more attention? Are employers forced to have diversity training for adulterers? Does our military have to undergo sensitivity classes for thieves? Every heard of “Liars' Pride”? Probably not, but I'll bet you've heard of Gay Pride parades and how we all need to celebrate diversity.

2. Shall we talk about how the definition of marriage is being undermined? And let's not forget that marriage is built on the heavenly model of Christ and his church and not just one man and one woman. Satan hates God will stop at nothing to tear down what he has created.

3. Have you noticed how even our vocabulary has changed to make people not feel uncomfortable? We don't use words like "sodomy" or "sodomites" in public do we? Yet that's what God calls those who practice such things.

4. You infer that I'm judgmental or critical. Would you consider comparing my post to Romans 1 or the book of Jude and see if you still feel that way? If a doctor tells a patient, “You have cancer and without treatment you'll die within a year.” Is he being judgmental?

May I also point out that this website is called ChrstianHomeChurch.com. It's not SocialCircle.com. Christians are supposed to encourage, admonish, exhort and even rebuke each other with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Finally Chris, you ask what would Jesus say to a “gay person”? He'd say the same thing you mention, but let's make sure we quote him correctly: And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8:11). More Christians are leaving out that "go and sin no more" part.

Linford

10/3/2016 08:53:50 am

Hi
What do you mean by an anti gay message? The word of God does not single out certain types of people or sin. Who are the so many Christians picking up on the gay issue.

If you know anything about the gay movement you will know that are actually anti family and they are ones that are judgemental.

I can't tell the last time I heard a sermon about homosexuality, in fact lots of churches and Christians don't even bother with homos.

Yet every time we want to preach of gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ we get called all sorts of names

Sodomy will keep you out of heaven just the same as heterosexual fornication and adultery will and Somali think you don't have a balanced of the bible otherwise you wouldn't the things you do.

If you know anything about Greek you would know that when Jesus said " he that is without sin cast the first stone"

He's not talking every sin, he is saying he that is without THIS particular sin cast the first stone.

Furthermore he said the woman...GO AND SIN NO MORE.

He said to the man at the pool that was crippled after he healed him

SIN NO MORE LEST A WORSE THING COME UNTO YOU.

3/16/2013 02:37:32 am

Hi Pat,

OK, First of all I didn't accuse you of being judgmental. I said "perhaps" you might be considered judgmental in the way you present things by calling gay people sodomites. Yes that may be what the Bible calls it. But times have changed, the world has changed (I know...The Word of GOD doesn't change!), but we as people and a society DO change and we no longer are allowed to own black people as slaves, and we no longer call them the "N" word, which is a word I heard daily growing up. We no longer oppress women and prevent them from voting or going to college or owning property...things like that. We have (I hate to use this word) evolved as a society and are more sensitive to different people groups, and I think that is good to a point. Obviously we have gone waaaay over in the ditch on the other side out of over compensation because we are so politically correct now it is ridiculous the things that we "can" and "can't" say, yet most of these involve every one but Christians. Seems like it is always open season on attacking Christians. I certainly hope you didn't think I was attacking you Patrick...that was not my intention at all.

I agree with you about the Bible being the inerrant Word of God and believe it is completely true cover to cover. God is the same yesterday, today and forever and Jesus is the Living Word of God. Totally agree the Bible has not changed but we have. I also agree many Christians have become so "enlightened" they have justified sin and refuse to call it SIN any more and now not only tolerate it but engage in it without remorse, thinking it is now "okay." I am not saying that is OK.

I agree completely that "the church" (all Christians) is more liberal today than ever before and more tolerant of sin because our society is so secularized and people are indoctrinated from their earliest years by TV, movies, commercials, schools, and other influences. Less people get married today than ever before...they just choose to live together instead. That is a sin and I don't believe God's blessing is on those "unions." I don't believe God's blessing is on any sexual union outside of Christian marriage. BUT we are all human and we have all sinned. Not all of us have committed sodomy but a large percentage of us are guilty of the other sins I mentioned. Many Christians I know will go on and on about gays and how outrageous it is and then turn around and gossip and back bite and criticize their preacher. (and so on and so forth...I could name hundreds of examples, and of course I have been guilty of many sins too numerous to mention here, but I go to Jesus and repent and receive forgiveness.)

I was trying to say that God loves gay people too. He loves ALL of us...with all of our nasty dirty stinking filthy sins...what ever they are. We as a church have watered down sinful behavior in lots of areas and it does not get the same attention as the "gay issue." I am just expressing that I know a number of gay people (you do too by the way, you just may not know who they are)...there are lots and lots of them. And the ones I know also love God. They also want to go to Heaven. They also want to live good lives. But they struggle. They may say they are happy but they seem very tormented to me. I feel for them. I have compassion for them. I feel like too many preachers and Christians choose that one issue to focus on, while completely ignoring the impact of other sins on society and families. Divorce, adultery, lying...all the things I mentioned...they all have the same ability to destroy people as homosexuality. Sin is SIN. I think the topic of your post could be applied to any sin. People seem to be especially repulsed by the idea of homosexuality and the enemy is working over time to make sure that it becomes mainstream and that we accept it, along with a host of other sins as "normal" and "okay" for just the reasons you mentioned. The Word says "MY people (GOD's people...Christians!!) are destroyed for lack of knowledge." I really think the devil is working over time to desensitize people to all the sinful behavior in our culture. It is so secularized and sexualized that we are bombarded with this junk every day and we need to guard our hearts. I am on your side...I am not accusing you...I am simply saying, that the homosexual issue seems to be like a special project for some churches and some preachers. (Not you! Others!) They will spend hours going on and on about the perils of homosexuality then turn right around and engage in hypocrisy or poke fun at another denominational group or political group, all to the delight of the equally judgmental congregation. I have sat in those churches...I have heard it with my own ears! And I know if one of my gay friends was in church, hoping to hear a message that might point them to hope, they would not be so encouraged. Yes, it is a sin. But I am saying that Jesus loves homosexuals. He loves all of us, with all our nasty dirty sins and His blood cov

3/16/2013 03:53:03 am

Thanks again for writing, Chris. I appreciate the examples of hypocrisy and concerns of targeting certain sins, but allow me to go back to the title of this post again: Departing The Word of God in the Last Days. I cite a specific example of how some no longer view sin as sin - not because they sought God and his Word, but in spite of it! Let's not limit this discussion to sin, but how we should interact with the scriptures in every area of our lives!

Are we bringing the Bible into our marriages? Husbands, are we treating our wives like Jesus treats his church? Wives, are you submitted unto your own husbands? Or are we entertaining worldly ideas that are not biblical?

Do we live the Word at work? Employers, are we treating our employees honorably? Employees, are we laboring to please God or to please men?

What kind of neighbor are we? What kind of friend? Do we forgive others as we want to be forgiven? Do pray often? Are we living the Word before our kids the way we should? Are we doers of the Word or a hearers only? Do we treat all of the Word of God as truth or with a pick-n-choose mentality depending on the situation?

Do we preach the gospel the way the apostles did in the book of Acts or have made up our own gospel? Is baptism as important to us as it is to God? If Paul asked us today like he asked others in Acts 19, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" would we respond the same way they did?

Living according to the Word of God and not departing from it is my whole point, Chris.

Pam Ulery

3/16/2013 03:21:38 pm

Hi guys. Hope you don't mind. I read your responses and, the thing is, I agree with both of you. Let me see if I can express the "middle ground" thinking I have about this. I understand Patrick is saying that we, as Christians, need to NOT depart from the Word of God, yet, I understand Chris's concern about how our society has changed, and that God loves ALL people. It seems to me, and I hope this makes sense, that BECAUSE our society HAS changed in the ways as mentioned in your above discourse, we need to get wisdom from God HOW to approach people with His message. It is in the delivery of the message that's important. To use the same approach for every person is not the way to go. Jesus was, (I mean Jesus "was", as He was while in His human body on earth) the coolest guy ever, as we all know, and, of course, still is, and forever will be. He was sooo wise in the way He approached people. He never used the same approach for every person, except for, of course, if He was preaching to crowds. If He would have approached the Woman at the Well the way He spoke to and addressed the Religious Leaders of that day, it would have devastated her, or made her angry, or, she just wouldn't have listened and received what He had to say. Likewise, if He delivered His Message with the demeanor He used to speak with the Woman at the Well to the Religious Leaders, they would have blown Him off big time. See what I mean? It's all in the way we APPROACH people. It's the delivery of the message and HOW we do it, with what demeanor we use, tone of voice, gentleness, etc. Sometimes gentleness is necessary, other times, like Jesus did with those pesky Jewish Leaders, He was downright straightforward with them, TO THE POINT. He knew how to approach each person. He got on THEIR level and spoke THEIR "language". So, it IS true, we need to STICK to the Word of God, but when we talk to others about it, we need wisdom to know how to approach people, with what demeanor, tone, "language", how to reach them on their level, etc. Make sense? Anyway, that's the best I know how to explain it. P.S. I'm thinking of another instance, where Jesus was talking to a crowd, He was TO THE POINT. Jesus "was" Truth, so when He spoke, He spoke it straight forward, and, the Truth cuts. Example: When the crowds of people got in the boats to cross the Sea of Galilee to find Jesus, after He had fed the multitudes, He flat out said to them, "The truth of the matter is, you want to be with Me because I fed you, not because you believe in Me." Now, right there, He spoke the Sword of the Word, cutting through to their real motives for seeking Him. If He would have stopped there, it would have come across like an accusation, like He was being down right rude, and who knows, may have even started a riot, "BUT", Jesus continued, "you shouldn't be so concerned about perishable things, like food. No, spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Messiah, can give you, for God the Father has sent Me for this purpose". First, He "cut" their true motives with the truth, exposing the reality of WHY they were seeking Him. Hey, WHO likes being exposed that way? Thing about the Lord is, He brings in the healing ointment right after that. He shows them what their true motive was, then He brings comfort to them, and teaching, of what to do about it. He shows them how seeking Him first, and His eternal salvation, will meet their needs. Seeking perishable things, like food, on their own, without Him, expends their energy the wrong way. He then tells them exactly who He is and why God sent Him. I believe as He spoke this, His love was RADIATING from Him and they understood. Anyway, again, I hope I made sense and stayed (somewhat) on track of what you two are talking about. God Bless.

3/17/2013 12:28:30 am

I love the input, Pam, thanks for sharing. This post has received an interesting mix of responses. Some don't believe we are living in the last days. Others let me know they are reading their Bibles. And the comments above seem to focus on sounding judgmental to those living in sin. I've considered editing the post or writing a follow up, but perhaps this post is doing what it was meant to do: to get us into the Word and talking about the Word.

My hope is that we'll all, as one of the verses cited above states, will examine ourselves to make sure we're still in the faith. For if we compromise truth, as so many of us have already, it doesn't matter how sweet we are to people. But the Bible also tells us that Jesus had compassion people and that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness... So then let us speak the truth in love to those within and without the church.

Departing From The Word of God In The Last Days

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Patrick Sipperly

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