“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent (1 Corinthians 1:18-19).
Whenever I’m deciding on what to base a sermon on, I am never far from a subject as e-mails come that set me back in my chair─that God must be using to make a point. So it was recently, when a fellow wrote me to find out my reaction to his fictional writing titled, “A New Definition of God for the 21st Century.” To get a flavor of this man’s position on the Bible and it’s supreme truth, follow this link to “Interesting e-mails” on my website that I posted below:
http://www.churchofgod-usa.org/interesting-emails.html
The short of it, one who calls him self, “Frosty,” came up with a new definition of what he believes God is. Not the old, outdated God of 2000 years ago as he calls it), but a new and improved God that modern churches find more palatable for their concept of: sin, the Bible, and God Almighty. As I read this deceived person’s email, my heart sank lower and lower. Note that this person goes to church every Sunday, but that is where it stops.
I have written many messages on the New Emergent Church, and the apostasy that is rampant in our nation and the world. As you get further and further into the exchange (which by the way has stopped and I will tell you why shortly), you must shake your head and wonder what is this church that he attends teaching? Or if they are teaching Bible- based lessons, and he’s not listening. Why has modern religion gone off the rails in many of our institutions of “worship?” Who do they worship, and what are the masses coming away with?
In 1 Corinthians, chapter one, Paul gives a good reason why there is so many people who are “enlightened” in the world are really confused by their heightened intellect, by none other, than Satan:
“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence”(1 Corinthians 1:26-19).
As we read the concept of a modern “god” for the 21st Century, blasphemy flows from the mouth of this much-deluded individual. He professes to be a world traveler, biking across the nation, and of exceptional brain matter or a modern Galileo in the flesh. He denies the God of the Bible and reinvents what he perceives as truth to him and gives astonishing reasons for his belief system, but I am reminded of what Paul said in Romans concerning this fellow:
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 1:18-25)
Would you say that this person who e-mailed me is speaking apostasy and blasphemy? Yes, I think if you are a Bible believing person, you can affirm that position. But, you say, “Apostasy, even in the churches?” Yes, even in many of the churches that have left the foundational principles of the faith. Why be so surprised? Jesus had the same problem in His earthly ministry. Likewise, Paul spoke the gospel to the Jewish people and he was spurned.
JESUS AND THE TRADITIONS OF MEN
When our Lord was here on earth, He challenged the teachings of the ruling class who embraced their concept of the Law of Moses. They added so many rules and regulations that you could not turn around on that day even to lift a finger to their interpretation of work. Go to the gospels and read the Scripture text of the account of Jesus’ provoking confrontation with the Pharisees and the Scribes of the synagogues (in their adherence to traditions that made the law of none effect).
“For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition” (Mark 7.8-9).
Our Lord challenged the religious authorities at every opportunity, as they had perverted His Laws and Commandments for political control. They did not keep their traditions or God’s commandments themselves, but they expected those they ruled to do so. It became a burden to the people and yoke of bondage.
If you read passages such as Luke 14, Matthew 12:9, John 5:1, or John 9:1 (just to name a few), and see how Jesus challenged them about their traditions─where you could not even do good by healing a person of a disease, blindness, or any affliction without running a foul of the Jewish authorities on their definition of the Sabbath; this was answered by Jesus many times, so much, that they had not a reply to His question, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath Day?”
The Jewish authorities had redefined what was acceptable in their eyes, but had no basis in Scripture to support their positions. They all were blind and deaf to the Messiah standing right before them. Jesus gave them a parable lesson to illustrate in the book of John:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers (John 10:1-5).
Jesus was speaking to the Jewish people of His day who would believe on Him, when He would be raised from the dead. He also spoke of another sheepfold coming. Read the passage and you will see, who the sheep are─those He calls and answer, His call. But note the “other” sheep further down in the passage:
“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd “ (John 10:16)
These sheep are the gentile nations who were called of God by His Holy Spirit. When it was finally done and His disciples gathered in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost, of all the people that Jesus had ministered to, healed, or had come in contact with, only 120 persons were there waiting for the coming of the Comforter─that Jesus spoke about and promised would come.
Think of it. Thousands had heard, seen, touched, and were blessed by the King of the universe in human form, and only 120 people were there. From that beginning, the birth of the church spread like wildfire to the masses, but not without suppression and lies spread by the ruling class of the Jewish authorities to preserve their political base. They did not listen, see, or perceive even unto this day, Who Jesus really is.
THEY WOULDN’T LISTEN TO PAUL, THE APOSTLE
Jesus called the most unlikely man to spread His Gospel to the gentile world. Saul was a Pharisee and a Roman citizen, but God had plans for this man. We can read the epistles of Paul and see how this man was called by, Jesus, Himself, on the road to Damascus starting after his calling found in Acts of the Apostles. He heard, he saw enough to be blinded, and God revealed Himself to a man who would be called Paul. After having his sight restored by God, through Ananias, he went first to his brethren, the Jews and preached Jesus. But by and large they would not listen. Time after time, as recorded in Acts, the Jews (who were his brethren), tried to kill him or persecute him to the point that Paul proclaimed in Acts 18:
“And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles” (Acts 18:5-6).
MODERN DAY PHARISEES
Today in our modern day of enlightened churches, (not all, but you know who you are) I must compare these false teachers to the likes of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Scribes of Jesus’ day, and of Paul’s time. We see it on TV screens, we see it in print, and we see the morals of the country decay because the “church” of the day is in ruins when it comes to the truth of God’s Word. How else can a person sit in a church every Sunday and believe that they can reinvent Almighty God in their image? The God, “who is the same, yesterday, and forever.”
We who are “watchers on the wall” are calling out loudly and often the nearness of the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and the Gospel message of Jesus being the only way to salvation. John 14:
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).
There is no other god, no other way to God Almighty, but through His Son, Jesus, the Christ. No Allah, no Krishna, not Buddha, not Jewish tradition, not humanistic worship of self, and not any other profession of misplaced faith or intellectual mind meld can draw us to God, but by His Holy Spirit and it is for those who are listening. Jesus made it plain who will come and how, in John chapter six:
“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me” (John 6:44-45).
It is our responsibility, our calling, to witness and warn those who are lost and perishing just as I warned “Mr. Frosty” and as this message, I hope, will. But when the gospel and Jesus Christ, along with His Word is rejected, there comes a point that we must quit debating, quit arguing, and let God do the work. We must plant a seed, but God waters it and reaps a harvest.
I will never reject, nor should you, those who are truly searching for God and have an open heart, an open mind, and are sensitive to God and the Holy Spirit’s calling. But we cannot reach those who will not listen, see, or feel the tug on their heart. We are but workers─instruments in the hands of God to spread the gospel.
If you have ever had a Jehovah Witness come to your door and wish to debate, or argue Scripture, you know what I mean. I don’t and I won’t. Why? Because of people like “Frosty” and the JW, it has become apparent in my ministry that if Satan cannot get at you any other way, he will waste your time.
It is a truth to say, as Jesus proclaimed in Matthew 22:14:
“For many are called, but few are chosen.”
We must take the message of Jesus the Savior, the soon returning King to all who will listen. Point being, we don’t know who will listen, but God does. He knows the beginning from the end, so He knows who will accept His Son in repentance and change course in their lives. Let us take the message to all who listen.
Don’t quit praying for those who reject the message of salvation in the person of Jesus Christ, but let us concentrate on those who will have ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts that are that of a little child, to accept God’s Holy Word as truth not as foolishness.
May God have mercy on “Mr. Frosty” and all who are like him, before it is: too late. The hour grows to the beginning of the Tribulation where men like this who email me, will most likely loose their chance to be with God─but make their home in torment.
We pray for you, Frosty. This message is sent to you and others like you.
This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying you will find the truth of God’s Word found in His Son, Jesus Christ. If you need counseling, prayer, or just a listening ear, email me at: realteam1999@sbcglobal.net, or visit me online at www.churchofgod-usa.org.
This is praying God blesses you, till we meet at Jesus’ feet.