It’s kind of funny….facebook asks, “What’s on your mind?” Well, quite a lot actually and a bit heavy hearted about the lies and deception being communicated about what the Scriptures say about certain things…There are so many warnings especially in the New Testament about listening to false teachers and that the teachings of Jesus Christ would be scoffed at, mocked and ridiculed. Jesus, Mark, Peter, Jude and many more give warnings. In Mark, Jesus is talking to the crowds, along with his disciples about what defiles them. He said it’s not what they eat, but what they think and say. He said it’s the thought-life that pollutes. For from within, out of men’s (women too) hearts, come evil thoughts of lust, theft, murder, adultery, wanting what belongs to others, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, pride, and all other folly. And these vile things come from within; they are what pollute you and make you unfit for God (Jesus’ words not mine). (Mark 7:14-23) Then we jump to 1st Peter, Come to Christ, who is the living Foundation of Rock upon which God builds. Peter pleads, “You have had enough in the past of the evil things the godless enjoy – sex sin, lust, getting drunk, wild parties, drinking bouts, and the worship of idols and other terrible sins.” In second Peter, he goes on to say, “Do you want more and more of God’s kindness and peace? Then learn to know Him better and better. For as you know Him better, he will give you, through His great power, everything you need for living a truly good life. Later on in the chapter Peter warns about false prophets and teachers. “They will cleverly tell their lies about God, turning against even their Master (Christ) who bought them; but theirs will be a swift and terrible end. Many will follow their evil teaching that there is nothing wrong with sexual sin. And because of them Christ and His way will be scoffed at. These teachers in their greed will tell you anything to get hold of your money.” Oh my goodness, this reminds me of Planned Parenthood and those who demand we all pay for their funding. John picks it up in first John 2, “Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love these things you show that you do not really love God; for all these worldly things, these evil desires – the craze for sex, the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you and the pride that comes from wealth and importance – these are not from God.” In closing, Jude (just before the book of Revelation) urges stoutly to defend the truth which God gave, once for all, to his people to keep without change through the years. Godless teachers have wormed their way in among you, saying that after we become Christians we can do just as we like without fear of God’s punishment. The fate of such people was written long ago. “Remember this fact”, he says. “Don’t forget the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, all full of lust of every king including lust of men for other men. Those cities were destroyed by fire and continue to be a warning.” Jude closes with a reminder that those scoffers whose whole purpose in life is to enjoy themselves in every evil way imaginable stir up arguments and love the evil things of this world and do not have the Holy Spirit living in them.
But dear friends, build your lives up ever more strongly upon the foundation of your holy faith, learning to pray in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit. Stay always within the boundaries where God’s love can reach and bless you. Try to help those who argue against you. Be merciful to those who doubt. Save some by snatching them as from the very flames of hell itself. And as for others, help them to find the Lord by being kind to them, but be careful that you yourselves aren’t pulled along into their sins. Have every trace of their sin while being merciful to them. Seek First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and He will keep you from slipping…