HOLINESS: SOMETHING WE DON’T WANT TO DEAL WITH

Have you ever been around Christians when, suddenly, you hear someone say a word that makes you cringe?  Oh, it’s a word that you are very familiar with; but it’s also a word that you haven’t used since coming to Christ.  And for many Christians, probably a word they have never used (because their parents raised them not to let stuff like that come out of their mouths).  I’m not exactly sure how to give examples of this, because I don’t want to use one myself.

One example would be when Christians fall into Satan’s trap of making light of Hell; the literal place of torment that has become the eternal destination for those who reject Christ.  It’s no laughing matter, yet we don’t mind using it to explain to people how funny something is, or how cool something is.  Then, our justification is, “it’s just a figure of speech.” No.  It is part of Satan’s plan to dumb down Hell so that no one even believes in it any more.

Not only are we, as Christians, sometimes made to feel uncomfortable by the dispositions of other professing Christians; but we can also be mocked for taking stands against worldly behavior.  This type of mocking probably doesn’t embarrass many of us, but it sure can send anger creeping up our spines.  And it’s okay for us to get angry at this type of stuff.  Now, of course, if it is our pride that is making us angry we need to repent.  But, many times, I think this anger is stemmed from a fear of the Lord that has taught us that those who profess Christ are not to live as the world does.  In fact, the Bible says that we are called to be holy, as He is holy.

It sure is sad that the word, “holiness” is so frowned upon by many Christians today.  After all, Hebrews 12:14b says, “without holiness no one will see the Lord.” I don’t know that I’ve ever seen that verse on a t-shirt.  Nobody wants to deal with this one.  Why?  Because it forces us to make distinctions.

When you begin to seek the Lord to cleanse you and make you holy, He will begin to show you some things that you need to get rid of; some distinctions you need to make.  We could all make a rather long list of things we know we ought not to do.  But, instead of taking inventory of our worldly behavior, we just shrug it off and say, “I sure am glad we aren’t under the Law anymore.” Let me be clear on something.  God hates it when we say this to justify our wicked behavior.  You might as well just say, “Let’s just go on sinning.  God will forgive us!” Paul dealt with that in Romans 6.  He made it clear that this attitude was not something that God smiles upon.

Beloved, we need to deal with the sin in our lives.  God calls those who are worldly, an adulterous people and enemies of God (James 4:4).  That is serious.

So, how are we going to deal with this thing called holiness?  The best place to start is to go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to reveal any unclean thing within us.  Then, we repent.  Many times the answer He gives will come in Scripture form.  That’s one good reason that we should be immersed in God’s Word every single day.  He will also use other people to reveal our sin.  And, whether we like it or not, that’s usually what has to be done.  Nathan confronting King David would be a great example of this.  What happens is we will justify our sin, and when we do that, even the Word won’t penetrate our hearts anymore.  We’ll read over something and think, “Hmmm…so-and-so needs to hear this.” But we’ll never apply it to our own moral filth.

That’s why I am writing this.  As a Christian, I can’t help but notice the worldliness which prevails in the Church of Jesus Christ.  This is something that breaks the heart of God, and He has allowed me to experience a sliver of His pain.  Therefore, I can’t keep quiet.  I must call some things out.  If I don’t; well, woe be unto me.

I started this article by talking about the unwholesome communication that often-times takes place in the lives of professing Christians.  But, I’m sure you have noticed, by now, that this article is not meant to focus on profanity.  The point I want to get across is that we, as professing Christians, take part in things that we ought not to take part in.  I think it is important that we look into some of these common pitfalls.

This article will serve as an introduction to a series of articles I will be writing.  Each one is going to dive into specific sins that are so prevalent in the Church today.  I started this article by talking about profanity, but we will also visit things like deceit, theft, gossip, alcohol, tobacco, etc.  This is not my attempt to throw stones at anyone or make a list of do’s and don’ts.  This is only me being obedient to Scripture.

Ephesians 5:11 says, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” I strive to fulfill the first part of this verse, but I think I have failed, on many occasions, to fulfill the second part.  In my opinion, it’s much easier to give up sin than it is to confront those who continue in it.  That is a truth which is difficult to deny.  It upsets me when Christians try to tell me that it is easy for me to confront others in their sin.  That’s ridiculous.  If it was easy, we wouldn’t see such a lack of church discipline.  The truth is, confronting someone in their sin is one of the hardest things for me to do.

Before I dive into this series, I will also be writing an article on “disputable matters.”  This will be important in understanding many of the things we will be confronting.  Romans 14:1 says, “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.” This verse is very important, but it needs to be studied in it’s context.

There is no denying that some things fall into the category of “disputable matters.”  We should be very careful with making the judgment that someone is in sin when they do certain things.  A sin for me, might not be a sin for someone else.  I’ll explain this in detail later, but an important note would be that just because the Bible doesn’t clearly call something a sin, does not mean that it would not be sin for some people.  In Romans 14, we find the criteria for how we can determine whether certain things we do are, in fact, sin.  This will be something you will want to hold on to.  For, self-examination is one of the most fruitful things you can do as a Christian.

These, then, are the points I wanted to make in this “introduction.”  First, that the aspect of holiness has been castrated from Christendom.  Secondly, that it is our duty to examine ourselves to see if there be any unclean thing within us.  And last of all, some matters are disputable, but God has given us a test to make clear distinctions.  These three facts will lay a firm foundation for us as we seek the Lord to make us holy.

STEWARDS OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD

“1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”   (1 John 4:4)

On many occasions, I have heard the verse, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” It is probably used most often at times when we are facing some sort of trial or temptation, and someone give us this verse for encouragement.  I have actually heard it applied to many situations, and I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with that.  I believe this verse shows us a universal principle that is applicable to many situations.  There is nothing we could ever face that is any match for the Spirit of Christ, dwelling within us.

When dealing with Scripture, it is important to note that a verse, or section of Scripture, might have many applications, yet it can never have more than one correct interpretation.  With that being said, I would say that this particular verse (1 John 4:4) does, in fact, have many applications. And, unlike many of the verses you see on bumper stickers, I think this one, for the most part, has not been misapplied.

However, what struck me, as I was reading through 1 John 4 this morning, was that I had never heard verse four applied in it’s actual context.  This troubles me.  And the reason no one uses this verse in it’s proper context is because the truth found in this verse flies in the face of what most of the American Church would teach today.

If you read 1 John 4:4 in it’s context (vs. 1-6), you will find that John is encouraging true believers to test the spirits and trust the Spirit of Truth, Who will give you discernment.

There have been many times that I have called out false prophets, (Todd Bentley for example) only to be asked the question, “Who are you to judge?” or “How do you know they are false prophets?” Then, it has not been uncommon for someone to say, “Touch not God’s anointed!” as they label me a Pharisee for speaking out.  I have now realized that a biblical response would be, “Well, He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world.” Though this verse has many applications, this is the only application that perfectly fits the context of this passage.

John wasn’t the only one to write about this.  You find Paul saying the same thing in his first letter to the church in Corinth.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 says, “1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.“ When we surrender to Christ, and become born again, we are given the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, as servants of Christ, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, we have been entrusted with the “mysteries of God.” And with this responsibility, we must be found faithful.

What does that mean?  What are the mysteries of God?  They are discernments given to us as we store, in our hearts, the Word of God.  Only then, can we make judgments because our standard no longer comes from our wicked minds, but from the Word of God.  Part of the requirement of being a good steward of this gift, is that we are faithful to call out those who are in sin; and of course, that includes false prophets and teachers.  We are called to judge, as long as we, first, remove the log from our own eye; and as long as we do not go beyond what is written in God’s Word.

Let me give you an example of how God’s Word will reveal these mysteries to us.  There are many false prophets among us today.  John warned us that this would be the case(1 John 4:1b).  They teach things that entice, rather than offend, the world.  In fact, the world actually approves of them.  Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Brian McLaren and Rob Bell fit nicely into this mold.  Therefore, according to the Scriptures, they are all false teachers.  1 John 4:5 says, “They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.” Then, verse six says, “We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”

One might say, “Well, John said that these false teachers would deny that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.  None of these guys do that.  In fact, they would all defend this position.” In a sense, I would agree.  But, anyone who said that must not understand what John is getting to.  You see, you have to understand that the Word was made flesh in Jesus Christ.  Yet, these false teachers, with their unbiblical teachings, turn Him back into words again.  Just words.  When you mishandle and distort the Word of Almighty God, you are completely rejecting the Jesus of the Bible, who is the Word made flesh.  He, and His Word, is alive, but their teachings are dead.

As Christians, this stuff should make us angry, and we should mark those who, by their words, are denying Christ.  It is our Christian duty.

If you have the Spirit of Christ living in you, it is not difficult to discern whether or not a prophet is from God.  All you have to do is compare what they say to what the Bible teaches.  That is how the One who is in you will show you—by his Word.  So, you are not a Pharisee if you call out false prophets.  You are biblical! Remember, it was the Pharisees who twisted Scriptures and nailed Jesus to the cross.  It was also the Pharisees that later fought the apostles with such ferocity.  So, today, when the Pharisee tag is thrown around, it often comes from those who best fit the mold of a Pharisee.  How ironic.

This article was written with the intention of shedding light on something that, hither to fore, has never stuck out to me.  I know there are many other passages that clearly show us our biblical mandate to discern and mark false prophets.  But I had never seen it in this passage.

So, when you are barraged with arrows from within the “church” and labeled a Pharisee, don’t get discouraged.  If you’re anything like me, you even start to question whether or not you really are a whacko, like they say.  But, remember, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” If you are born again, and have your nose buried in God’s Word, he will direct your steps and show you the truth.  Then it just comes down to a matter of obedience.  Are you going to be a faithful steward of the mysteries of God?

For His Glory – Adam Tennant