Light and Darkness

1Jn_1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

1Jn_1:7  But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

As I wrote last time, I want to continue on the subject of living in the gray areas.  My subject mater could not have come at a more pivotal time in the American Church. In social media and the likes I have read and seen so much misunderstanding by today’s modern Christians.  

I have come to understand a vast majority of Christians really know very little of what the Bible says or they reject many of it’s teaches as out dated. They describe a God and Jesus that is nether biblical or consistent with true born again believers.  They seem to form a Christianity that is customized to fit them and look for others that will agree with them, rejecting  others that oppose their ideology. The sad fact is, this is nothing new.  It has been happening through out church history for nearly 2000 years.

I am not trying to be all negative here, but only pointing out what is right before us.  There are true believers who are seeking truth in love.  There are many Christians who stand for truth without compromise, yet showing gentle love to those around them.  We are commanded to love all people, but let us not confuse that love with other levels of love we are given in the word of God.  Let’s not confuse love with acceptance either.  Let’s not pervert God’s love and grace with compromising sinful living.

I keep hearing people say, we are not to judge them.  Many will say love overlooks what others do.  Yet I find no scripture to back up their understanding of love and judgment.  Did not Jesus clearly tell us to examine another’s fruit, which means their growth and maturity?  

(Mat 7:13)  Go in through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there are who go in through it. (Mat 7:14)  Because narrow is the gate and constricted is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Mat 7:15)  Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Mat 7:16)  You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? (Mat 7:17)  Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. (Mat 7:18)  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruits, nor can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (Mat 7:19)  Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Mat 7:20)  Therefore by their fruits you shall know them. (Mat 7:21)  Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.

Jesus has mad it very clear that our lives should reflect truly who we are.  This seems to be lost in today modern Christian.  This is what I am calling living in the gray areas.  People are trying to make peace with both worlds.  Trying to be light but not to bright to offend others.  Trying to be a good tree yet bearing bad fruit.  As a pastor I would many times talk to a person who was doing wrong and somehow justify it by saying “God knows my heart, and that I mean well”. Yet I would often never see a change in their life.  I would still have love and compassion while speaking truth to them.

In today’s modern Christian ideology, it’s all about praying a sinner’s prayer, going to church and everybody is going to heaven. This is so messed up and so far from Biblical truth. No wander we are in the mess we are in.  The grace of God today has been misrepresented to the modern Christian to the point we no longer understand how it works.  Where has true preaching of the Kingdom message and repentance is necessary to enter gone?  Paul talked about a need to change over and over in his letters, and so did Peter and John.

We are commanded to be different.  We are to be a bright light of truth.  I know we are not perfect, but we should strive for it, by letting His Spirit shine through us.  Light has no part with darkness.  Righteousness and sin can not co-exist.  To try and live both is to exist in the shadows of disobedience and the old nature

  

Luk 11:33-36

(33)  No one, when he has lighted a lamp, puts it in a secret place, or under a grain-measure, but on a lamp stand, so that they who come in may see the light.

(34)  The light of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is sound, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is evil, your body also is full of darkness.

(35)  Therefore take heed that the light in you is not darkness.

(36)  Therefore if your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the shining of a lamp enlightens you.

You will either be in the light that enlightens you to God’s truth or live in shadows of man made Christian ideology.  There is still a right and a wrong, truth and lies, and the only way to right and truth is through obedience to God and His son Jesus.

I know this is not popular, but it is time for God’s people to shine brightly in the truth of God’s word and love.  God has not changed or made any mistakes, if there’s a misunderstanding or something that is nor fitting how we feel, we are who need to repent and change. 

To Be Continued