Twisted Faith

“You might as well talk about a heavenly devil as talk about a worldly Christian” – Billy Sunday

In 2017, I wrote a sermon titled “Twisted Faith”.  I have only preached the message twice.  I am beginning to think I should be preaching it more often.  Today this sermon came to mind. We have officially started the Advent season.  I am preaching a series of sermons in the next few weeks that, with the Lord’s help, will point us toward the deity and supremacy of Christ.  The more I learn of Christ, and see him glorified in scripture, the more concerned I grow. I am not going to “preach” that sermon in this post.  I just feel pressed to write this post and make a few points about what I see. Today, many have what Paul mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:5 as “a form of godliness”.  In this day, many seek a “have it your way” religion- picking and choosing the things that they want. There is more focus on being “spiritual” than on being Biblical.  

I live in the south and I see t-shirts with phrases like “Sweet tea and Jesus can get me through anything”.  Folks say “omg” and “lord” like they are just common words part of their everyday language.  Phrases like “Jesus take the wheel” are regularly thrown around.  These phrases are good for business.  They sell t-shirts, but that is all they do.  There is no real Biblical Christian witness in any of this stuff.  You have folks who parade around with a t-shirt that proposes they have some kind of faith in Christ, but their supposed faith goes no further than the dirty clothes hamper.

What about Bible verses on the décor in your home?  As I type this, I am looking at a wall with several scripture references on it.  I go into the homes of folks who hung up a verse on their wall but never took the time to write it on their hearts.  Many might have Joshua 24:15 hanging proudly by the door, but the word of God is tucked away on a bookshelf, in the trunk of the car, or laying in your spot on the church pew.  These folks see themselves blessing the building with their presence as their service to God.  They show up, smile and laugh, toss a couple folded up dollars in the plate and then play Candy Crush while the man of God pours himself out.  They load up in their car and head to lunch, patting themselves on the back for how they suffered for Christ in that hour of worship. As a pastor, this grieves me.  

Then there are those who profess to be filled with Christ but what comes out of the mouth or what is posted on social media is toxic, vile, profane garbage, and lies.  As Paul wrote to the Philippians, he penned these words “…being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”(11) One of these things is not like the other.   

The world has so infiltrated the church that true repentance has been traded for empty prayers and seeking better circumstance.  A prayer of repentance is not prayed due to your physical circumstance.  A prayer of repentance is prayed in response to the Holy Spirit as he reveals your sinful, dead heart.  Cultural Christianity has told folks that they can make a decision (absent from the Holy Spirit) to follow Christ.  This is a lie and in no way founded on the truth of the Bible.  “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up in the last day.” (John 6:44)

So why is this happening?   In my opinion, it is because for many, faith is nothing more than a cute t-shirt slogan.  The saved in Christ are considered by some to be fanatics. Repentance has been reduced to a hand shake and a little prayer.  Biblical Christianity has been traded for a cheap knock off.  In some cases, pews are full of good people who have never been truly saved, yet they try to “live it out” void of the power of the Holy Spirit. The prophet Isaiah wrote “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God for he will ABUNDANTLY PARDON.”  

The only hope we have today is replacing this emaciated gospel, this cultural Christianity, with the true, life changing, soul saving, God glorifying, TRUE GOSPEL of King Jesus!  I don’t remember where this quote came from & it is not mine but it says “The Devil will bring you to the end of yourself, but he will never bring you to hope in Christ.” The Apostle Paul wrote in 2^nd Corinthians “For Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”(7:10) 

Now let me say that I cannot know the heart of anyone and I don’t claim to know.  James, the brother of Jesus, wrote these words: “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his own tongue but deceives his own, heart, this man’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:26-17)

Our salvation came with a high price.  There is no way it can be traded for the cheap imitation that the world offers.  Preachers must preach Biblical truth.  Brothers must stand for Biblical truth.  We must seek to be Biblical Christians and reject the influence of the world.  It will only be by grace that we will be able to stand in these days.  

                Grace, Grace, God’s Grace

                Grace that will pardon and cleanse within… 

Paul wrote in 1 Timothy that Christ came to this world to save sinners; of whom I AM CHIEF. (1:15)

Twisted faith offers nothing but disappointment and death.  When I have watched the game of twister be played, the ultimate end is a fall. Twisted faith will end no differently.   

“And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” (Matthew 25:33)

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41)

We cannot continue to play church. We must hold high the banner of Christ.

– BE THE MAN!