You will sense, if you read on, that I am in a more philosophical frame of mind this morning: As you study the epistles [letters] to Christians in the New Testament, from Romans to Revelation, it is easy to tell that, regardless of the years that have passed from then to now, the challenges to the faith are the same, whether it is the first century or the twenty-first century. The two common cords that bind the content of this section of God’s Word together are an emphasis on right belief and right behavior. It is present in every letter. The apostolic exhortations to the young churches consistently uphold the truths that will keep Christ-followers faithful. If it is impossible for a Christian to forsake the faith because of wrong-headed beliefs or immoral behavior, there would be no reason for any apostolic teaching after the book of Acts in the New Testament!
And, this emphasis on right belief and behavior is still needed today. In fact, as the centuries have advanced, the more weird, wild stuff there is out there to believe. And the way some people avoid revealed truth, dismiss reason and embrace whatever they have to in order to live the way they want to, is appalling! What happens is …. some people decide how they want to live first; then they underpin that choice with whatever belief system they can find that will allow that [usually] morally irresponsible behavior. This was the path of Karl Marx. He determined that he wanted to pursue same sex relationships, so he embraced Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species [theory of atheistic evolution]. You see, if we have ascended from lower life forms/primates, we have no soul, and therefore, we have no ethical responsibility. It is survival of the fittest. There is no accountability to a Creator God for the life we live in the flesh. Hitler was greatly influenced by Darwin as well. Evolutionary theory gave Hitler the permission he needed to practice mass genocide of Christians and Jews. He could wage war in the interest of world domination without the slightest conscience about it.
The relationship of belief and behavior is clear in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The life is transformed if/when the mind is renewed. Our private and public worship will expose us to the Word of God; that will help us keep our heads on straight, our hearts right and our feet on the narrow way that leads to life. One of my personal life verses is Psalm 119:59-60, “I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.”
Pray with me…. Father God, you have taken care to provide us with everything we need for life and godliness. Your Word and Your Holy Spirit are the outward and inward influences that keep us believing and behaving as we both internalize and submit to their power and presence. Thank you in Jesus’ name…. amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Ken
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