Romans 12:2 NIV
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
We are conforming. Little by little, our Christian thinking becomes less and we look for a new way to incorporate faith with modern- age ideologies. Never mind that God gave Paul insight and inspired him to warn us to use discernment.
Falling away from care, we think less and less about prayer for Christian martyrs among us, the persecuted ones afar, helpless infants in the womb, and the those who risk all for the will of the Lord. Seeking self, we give less money to help share truth, spend less time understanding the real state of Christianity at home and abroad, and fly the banner of liberty instead of learning to live in truth. When we will learn?
Colossians 2:8 NIV
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
But this is us! This is America! This is the West as a whole and instead of gaining ground, we are failing. The persecuted and underground churches seem to grab these truths more so than those who have access to hundreds of translations, commentaries, and open church doors.
We can blame society, culture, ease of life and the sorts all day long, when instead we need to take personal accountability in our lackadaisical way about our faith.
It’s time to readjust our world view. Take a look at the words of Peter as he lays it out for the Christian.
1 Peter 4:12-19 NIV
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And,
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
As much as we need to live in our modern culture, we certainly don’t have to be dictated by it. We can live as free people without the bondage to feelings and popularity. It’s time to move past our comfort zones and safety bubbles and step into the life that God has waiting for us. He has work for us to do, and there is no better time than now to accomplish those works because of faith.
It's time to move past our comfort zones and safety bubbles and step into the life that God has waiting for you. Click To Tweet
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS! thanks for saying what needs to be said. Totally agree with your thoughts 💛
This is a very convicting, but necessary post for all of us, especially those who live in the West. I would love to meet my brothers and sisters in Christ that are in underground churches someday, because they seem to be more attune with spiritual things than many believers in the States. Thankfully, the church I am a member of now seems to be filled with more spiritually attuned people than some of the previous churches I attended.
Thank you so much for sharing God’s Truth regarding the modern church today. It seems the church is more interested in conforming to the world so as not to offend anyone rather than being conformed to the image of God and holding dear His precepts and commands.
I am always distressed by this because it comes across that instead of trusting God to bring people to His church, they are trusting in the ways of the world to “lure” people to the church.
Very well done. We often DO get stuck in our comfort zone. Blessings
Yes! May we step out of our safe boxes and follow God past our cultural comfort zones! This was a wonderfully challenging read!
These are some of my favorite verses. They are convicting and comforting at the same time. Convicting because they propel us forward to be carrying out God’s purposes. Comforting in that we know we are not alone when it is hard. We know that as Christians we walk through the trials together. Thank you for this!
Oh there is so much truth in this!! I think the easier we have it as a society, with all the information at our fingertips and the freedom to worship as we choose, the more we get slack in it and try to cater to the world instead of being a light on a hill! Great post! I am sharing it! Visiting from @FreshMarketFriday
“As much as we need to live in our modern culture, we certainly don’t have to be dictated by it.” Amen! We are in the world yet not of the world. There ought to be a clear distinction. I echo similar sentiments in my latest blog post. Hope you can check it out. The majority of blog posts I read this week seem to have a similar theme and that is pointing us to Christ/the cross. Amen! It’s the only thing that matters in these last days as the world continues to unhinge.
There’s so much going on in the world right now and God is stirring our hearts.
Excellent. Good job.
It’s so true that the church is being impacted by the culture more than it is impacting the culture for good. Thanks for the wake up call.
so true, we need to give ourselves a kick in the butt to help those around us.
We sail the smooth waves of ease
but the Kraken waits below
to rise up when he might please
and land the harsh and killing blow.
Bright sun, soft wind, how can imagine
such a demon, drag us down?
But our example met the dragon
who forced on Him a thorny crown.
In His golden days of yore,
did He know how it would feel
when on His back a Cross He bore,
and at Golgotha’s peak, to kneel?
Was it hidden from His Eyes,
the pain that lay before the Prize?
#1 at FMF this week.
Yes, we live in the world but that doesn’t mean we need to be of the world. We are called to be different set apart from the ways and traditions of the world. Yes, we take for granted the freedom of our salvation because we take freedom for granted. And yes, God usually calls up to something completely outside of our comfort zone, if He hasn’t yet don’t think He never will. Love this post! Many Thanks 8)
“The persecuted and underground churches seem to grab these truths more so than those who have access to hundreds of translations, commentaries, and open church doors.” Exactly! Having grown up in a Latin culture, I see many American churches with worldly people who don’t even like to talk about Jesus. Instead they talk about superficial things like manicures or the weather.