THE IRONY IN ATHEISM: PART THREE
Last time we signed off with the assignment that you research on "How
counterfeit experts are able to establish that something is
counterfeit". It is my hope that you did your assignment.
Research into identification of counterfeits reveals that during training, those tasked with identifying counterfeits spend their time first handling originals until that is the only thing they know. That way, much later when counterfeits are introduced, they are able to identify them. The more time they spend with the original, the easier it is to identify the counterfeit. The same is true with our lives. There are so many counterfeit gospels being preached around much to the detriment of Christianity. Sadly, very few believers interact with the original as they should. And even then, some get lost in translation (and eventually understanding and application), and many more believe somebody else's wrong interpretation as Gospel truth!
The reason why things are falling apart left, right and centre in the body of Christ is because we have become more zealous about winning converts than making disciples!
Sadly many evangelism efforts are soul winning rather than disciple-making outfits in that their interpretation of the Great Commission is lopsided; outfits so focused on bringing people to Christ for what He can do for them rather than who He is!
The rampant statement has been "Come to Jesus and He will..." rather than "Come to Jesus and begin a relationship with Him". You see, ultimately it is the relationship that avails the finished works. Yet so fervently have we ministered His works than Himself; and many a non-believer going through issues and trouble did come to Him knowing that His only role is to do for them their bidding.
The result? A gap is created for unbelief!
Where is the call to holiness and righteousness? Where is the call to repentance and to lives of servitude in Christ?
We are at a point in time where that boat sailed long ago and a bigger one of "God will bless you with..." has docked port!
Today's article is especially aligned to one of the key Christian responses that will enable the church to awaken from the slumber caused by serious inebriation by the patterns of this world.
Atheism is clearly the latest benefactor of a Gospel that is counterfeit. Sadly, it will also be the biggest casualty of the same; as many as are aligning to a liberal world view are also setting themselves up for the next big lie!
2nd Corinthians 4 (KJV) says:
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
It is clear in the Word of God that the current resistance to the Faith took root long ago. And it is also clear that unbelief is a common response to the Gospel. But what many people do not realize is that unbelief and atheism drink from the same fountain! They are both a consequence of blindness. And this kind of blindness is severe because it is ironic; it is an absence of light without light being absent! Confusing, Huh?
Look at it this way: You are in a room with
any doors or windows but outside that room the sun is shinning bright! Thus there is an absence of light (room with no doors and windows) without there being an absence of light (the sun is shinning bright outside).
The irony in atheism is that it is a conscious choice unto blindness; an entrance into that room with neither doors or windows. Now the interesting part becomes choosing darkness/blindness then declaring that light does not exist!
What then is the Christian response to this?
Is it arguing out the existence of light with the blind?
No! It is speaking sight and letting light speak for itself! It is being a light unto the world even as we represent the source of all light!
PARTING SHOT:
Matthew 5:16 (KJV) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
ASSIGNMENT:
Reflect on: "How much effort (prayer, fasting, preaching, etc) do we need to change a man?"
Research into identification of counterfeits reveals that during training, those tasked with identifying counterfeits spend their time first handling originals until that is the only thing they know. That way, much later when counterfeits are introduced, they are able to identify them. The more time they spend with the original, the easier it is to identify the counterfeit. The same is true with our lives. There are so many counterfeit gospels being preached around much to the detriment of Christianity. Sadly, very few believers interact with the original as they should. And even then, some get lost in translation (and eventually understanding and application), and many more believe somebody else's wrong interpretation as Gospel truth!
The reason why things are falling apart left, right and centre in the body of Christ is because we have become more zealous about winning converts than making disciples!
Sadly many evangelism efforts are soul winning rather than disciple-making outfits in that their interpretation of the Great Commission is lopsided; outfits so focused on bringing people to Christ for what He can do for them rather than who He is!
The rampant statement has been "Come to Jesus and He will..." rather than "Come to Jesus and begin a relationship with Him". You see, ultimately it is the relationship that avails the finished works. Yet so fervently have we ministered His works than Himself; and many a non-believer going through issues and trouble did come to Him knowing that His only role is to do for them their bidding.
The result? A gap is created for unbelief!
Where is the call to holiness and righteousness? Where is the call to repentance and to lives of servitude in Christ?
We are at a point in time where that boat sailed long ago and a bigger one of "God will bless you with..." has docked port!
Today's article is especially aligned to one of the key Christian responses that will enable the church to awaken from the slumber caused by serious inebriation by the patterns of this world.
Atheism is clearly the latest benefactor of a Gospel that is counterfeit. Sadly, it will also be the biggest casualty of the same; as many as are aligning to a liberal world view are also setting themselves up for the next big lie!
2nd Corinthians 4 (KJV) says:
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
It is clear in the Word of God that the current resistance to the Faith took root long ago. And it is also clear that unbelief is a common response to the Gospel. But what many people do not realize is that unbelief and atheism drink from the same fountain! They are both a consequence of blindness. And this kind of blindness is severe because it is ironic; it is an absence of light without light being absent! Confusing, Huh?
Look at it this way: You are in a room with
any doors or windows but outside that room the sun is shinning bright! Thus there is an absence of light (room with no doors and windows) without there being an absence of light (the sun is shinning bright outside).
The irony in atheism is that it is a conscious choice unto blindness; an entrance into that room with neither doors or windows. Now the interesting part becomes choosing darkness/blindness then declaring that light does not exist!
What then is the Christian response to this?
Is it arguing out the existence of light with the blind?
No! It is speaking sight and letting light speak for itself! It is being a light unto the world even as we represent the source of all light!
PARTING SHOT:
Matthew 5:16 (KJV) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
ASSIGNMENT:
Reflect on: "How much effort (prayer, fasting, preaching, etc) do we need to change a man?"
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