Several days ago I wrote a piece called Call to Repentance. With that call in mind please consider the following. The American Christian Church is at a crossroads. Satan has so blinded the eyes of the fence sitters amongst us that any call by those with godly discernment that shines the light of truth into the darkness of compromise and easy-believism will be met by a wall of resistance that is intended to discourage and defeat. What is most disturbing is that much of this comes from people who profess to love the Lord and to obey Him. The lie from Satan that they are believing to be the truth is that it is wrong and foolish to take stands for the truth as the absolute truth. We do have absolute truth. It is found in God’s Word. It is the only source we have. The lie says that we cannot know the truth. The Word says we can as the Holy Spirit reveals it to our hearts. The lie says that we must always acknowledge that our doctrinal positions such as the doctrines of grace may be wrong. Is this standing in the Gap?
Doctrines are not the Word of God nor should we hold them as such. Instead, our doctrines describe God’s truth. We love them, not because they are God’s truth, but because God uses them to reveal His love and grace and good work to us. The doctrines of grace are a good example of this. Those who are Reformed in their theology love these doctrines because in them we come to understand God’s Sovereignty. Therefore, when we write about and defend them we must do so with the hope that God will open the hearts of those in darkness who attack and deride and seek to discourage us.
Ken Silva’s latest post about this battle or war is a must read. I pray that God will draw you to determine in your heart to stand in the gap as God’s faithful servant for His glory alone as Paul and Barnabas did in their day.
Mike:
I finally took a stand against some people close to me who profess Christ but embrace compromise and easy believism. It’s been very painful and their accusations are hurtful–in fact we are now estranged. It is amazing to me how “professing Christians” are often the greatest stumbling block to the remnant. It breaks my heart, but to paraphrase Martin Luther: here I stand I can do no other unless convicted by conscience or the Word of God. For professors of Christ to hold His Word in such low esteem is shameful. Grateful for His Grace, Wendy
Wendy,
If we obey God we will be persecuted and suffer. It’s not fun and it hurts as you said. However, we must fellowship in our Lord’s suffering. I hurt for you because I know exactly how it feels. Satan is coming after us, who stand in the gap, with all guns blazing. I pray that the Lord will continue to sustain you in Him.
In Christ
Mike Ratliff
We to did the ‘parting’ from a church who were at best what we call 2 to 4 pointers. We just couldn’t handle it anymore with the ‘make a choice, its up to you’. Of course we are considered ‘bad’ now. We still pray that someday the Lord will open there eyes as He did ours. It is painful, but the Lord and His Word of TRUTH is more important than anyone or anything to us. These churches have become a big mess. Social gatherings to ‘play’ church.
I confronted my brother with the truth that he is not a Christian and received a scathing letter of his pointing out all the sins of my life(before Christ),calling me a hypocrit and calling evil good.I had written him in a letter all my heart of love towards him to repent.He then took my letter and showed all my family.Now I am estranged from all of them.They,too,I had told of their error in the WOF and slain in the spirit antics as being ungodly.So now they have good reason to have nothing to do with me.BTW,my brother suffers from schizophrenia and has accused me and my husband of things we did not do.All this from my letter of concern to him.And I am estranged from many of my friends because I stood for truth with them.They are all Pentecostal Charimatics as I once was.I have one friend who still keeps in touch,but does not acknowledge that I have spoken the truth to her.She “overlooks my sin”with love.It is very hurtful,not just because of lost friendships and family but because they are believing lies as truth.And I am the “liar”,not them.I know the last sentence is something you know very well,Mike,as I have been over to CRN.Info the last 2 days.Better for them that they call us liars than to have their notions of truth exposed,I guess.Less painful and helps them keep the facade of being right.
Amen Paul and Luann, been there…
Sherry C.,
Just remember what the goats confront Jesus with when He tells them to depart from Him. I know it hurts and I know how painful this is. God has allowed our enemy to infiltrate the Church for His own purposes. However, rejoice Sherry that you are no longer in darkness, but have found the light and are growing in God’s grace.
I am aware of what they are saying over at CRN.info. There is a part of me that wants to set them straight, but each time that comes up I pray for wisdom and discernment. I then understand that my role here to stand in His strength not mine. My reputation with those folks means little if anything. It is for our Lord’s sake and glory that I stand, not to defend myself. God’s will be done.
In Christ
Mike Ratliff
I do rejoice,Mike!It is a privilige to suffer what little that I am for Christ.Believe it or not,they are letting me post on their Systematic Theology post. We are most blessed that we can leave our reputations in God’s hands.Payday is some day,I say.And if God can lift me out of the dark,then He can lift anyone out of it!
Sherry C., that’s how I feel about my own salvation as well.