One of the difficulties among many, that Christianity faces today is that, Non Christians because of False Christians, criticise Christianity as a whole. What do I mean? What I mean is that, the only publicity Christianity is getting, seem to come only from those who misrepresent Christianity.
I know some will quickly say I am judging. Let me put that to rest right now using scripture.
1 Corinthians 5:12-13 (New Living Translation – NLT)
“12 It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.””
So once you claim to be a Christian, as a fellow Christian, I can judge you.
Rom 1:20-22 says that all people know God because the creation itself testifies of God’s eternal power and divine nature. So, they are without an excuse. Although they know God and do not have an excuse, they neither glorify Him as God nor give thanks to Him. Claiming to be wise, they became fools.
This is contrary to what God wanted. God wanted all Glory to go to him and only him.
Isaiah 42:8 (New Living Translation – NLT)
” 8 “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols.”
Also take a look at these verses:
Ephesians 1:13-14 (New Living Translation – NLT)
“13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.”
What these verses are saying is that when we heard the truth and believed in Jesus, we were given the Holy Spirit. The guarantee that God will give us the inheritance that He promised. Look at the last statement of the verse, God did this so that WE CAN PRAISE AND GLORIFY HIM.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (New Living Translation – NLT)
“31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
Whatever it is that you do, even simple things like eating and drinking, do it all for the glory of God.
Now the big question is this: Do all these people who claim to be representing Christians, do so for the glory of God? In all these miracles that they do, is it God who gets the glory, or is the glory going to them? When people eat grass and drink petrol, how does these acts indicate God’s glory to a Non Christian? How does people rolling on the floor and behaving like mad people glorify God? Pastors, Prophets, Apostles, Bishops, etc who support, do or make people do these things in the name of “Jesus”, Do they do all these to glorify God? Do these acts bring glory in any way to God? This is the big test. Who gets the glory?
There is only one way to be able to tell where the glory is going to, and that is to do what Romans 12:2 is saying. Romans 12:2 says that we must not follow the fashion of this world but, we must be completely transformed by renewing our minds(changing the way we think), so that by testing, we can tell what the will of God is, meaning, what is good and acceptable and perfect. The only way to renew your mind is to allow the word of God to change the way you think. It is only when you take time to study the word of God that you will be able to renew your mind. According to 2 Tim 3:16-17, the word of God is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training. This is the only way to change the way you think and see things, so that you can tell where the glory goes to.
To those who are like me, very saddened by people eating gras and drinking petrol, I want to live you with two passages from scripture. It is not our job to force people to be Christians, it is not our job to convert people to Christianity, it is God who does that. Our job is:
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV Strong’s Bible)
” 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
That is it. Nothing more, nothing less.
There are those that will reject the word of God, there are those that will reject Jesus and God. Let God deal with them. Always remember to:
2 Timothy 4:2-4 (New Living Translation – NLT)
” 2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”
2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 (New Living Translation – NLT)
” 8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.
9 This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.”
As to when the man of lawlessness will be revealed, I don’t know but, he will be revealed. For now, we are already at a time described by Paul in 2 Tim 4:3-4.
I know it’s frustrating to try and share the good news with someone while they are stubborn and refuse to hear it, instead, they choose to listen to those that make them eat grass and drink petrol, roll on the ground and behave like mad people. I know it’s frustrating but remember what Jesus said:
John 10:25-27 (New Living Translation – NLT)
“25 Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. 26 But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
Hope this message helps. Amen.