A Topsy Turvey World

 A Topsy Turvey World - Nathele Graham - twotug@embarqmail.com We live in a topsy turvey world. Right is wrong and wrong is right. Many Christians try very hard to follow Scripture, but are fed by false teachers who don’t teach God’struth. Thus, the false teacher is followed instead of God’s word. In trying to be good, non-judgmental Christians, God’s truth is compromised. We are often deceived by things that sound Biblical, but aren’t. Many believe that under no circumstance are we tojudge. “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matthew 7:1-2. The judging named here is a condemning type of judgement. For instance, if you say “That person is a snob”, you’ve judged that person and shown no mercy. Also, by judgingthat way, you’ve just proven yourself a snob. We aren’t to judge, but we are to discern. “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” John 7:24. What is a righteous judgment? Only God is the righteous judge, so we follow His directives. Scripture is our guide. When you see a brother or sister participating in a sin,it’s good to point out the sin. Perhaps you fellow Christian didn’t realize they were sinning. Really? How can you not know you’re sinning? For the answer to that, let’s look back to King David. He committed a great sin that was punishable by death, but didn’tsee his actions as sin. He had a sexual encounter with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his most faithful soldiers. Bathsheba became pregnant and David decided to bring her husband home so it would look as if the child was his. Uriah wouldn’t cooperate, so Davidsent him back to the frontline of battle and stationed where he was certain to be killed. How could David have thought any of this was not sin? David had a prophet named Nathan, who bravely came to David with a story about two men and a sheep. One man was rich and had everything he could possibly want, but the otherwas poor and had only one little lamb. This lamb was the family pet. One day the rich man had a visitor and instead of taking a sheep from his own flock for dinner, he took the poor man’s lamb. “And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and hesaid to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” 2 Samuel 12:5-6. It was easy for David to see the fault and judge a judgment of condemnation against the rich man. “And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel,I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; and I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah: and if that had been too little, I would moreover havegiven unto thee such and such things.” 2 Samuel 12:7-8. David was blind to his sin, but when Nathan saw the sin and brought it to his attention, David was heartbroken. “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD.And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.” 2 Samuel 12:13. David wasn’t perfect, but he was repentant. None of us are perfect. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through theredemption that is in Christ Jesus:” Romans 3:23-24. Christians have something King David didn’t have. Grace. David was deeply repentant, and from this great sin, came Psalm 51, where David poured out his heart to God. Davidcried out to God for mercy. He didn’t make excuses for his sin, but asked for mercy. “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightiest be justifiedwhen thou speakest and be clear when thou judgest.” Psalm 51:3-4. David knew he wasn’t above the Law, and like any other person he was subject to the penalty of his sin. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit withinme.” Psalm 51:10. David truly repented and turned away from his sin. As Christians, we can have this same blessing from God. He will forgive, but we have to repent. “If we confess our sins,he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. Thank You, Jesus, for forgiving a sinner like me. When the Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus for condemnation, He turned the tables on them. “So when they continued askinghim, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” John 8:7. Of course, the Pharisees knew they had sin and couldn’t condemn her. Jesus forgave her. When we choose one verse and build doctrine around it, we make a big mistake. The entirety of Scripture must be studied. Most pastors don’t teach verse by verse through Scripture,so they can pick and choose easy topics and teach easy-listening sermons. This is very wrong. The pastor of the last church I attended, had many degrees in theology, but little knowledge of Scripture. He leaned to New Age teaching and admired the purpose drivenlies. I couldn’t listen to his teaching, so I chose to leave. If Scripture isn’t the authority, then there’s big problems within the congregation. “Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from themilk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” Isaiah 28:9-10. If you’re being taught by a man who won’t preach God’s word from Scripture, then you’re probably being taught a different Gospel than the one found in Scripture. The congregationin Corinth was very far from following God’s truth. Paul had a lot to say to them. Was he being judgmental? He was judging by a righteous judgment. “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit,which ye have not received, or another gospel which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11:4. It’s easy to be deceived if you’re still drinking milk instead of eating the meat of Scripture. Corinth was a congregation that would fit will into today’s topsy turvy world. They were proud of accepting sin into their midst. They took pride in being open minded andnon-judgmental, and pride is something God doesn’t accept. “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.” 1 Corinthians 5:1. God is very clear that this is a very serious sin. “And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put todeath: their blood shall be upon them.” Leviticus 20:11. Perhaps the congregation in Corinth didn’t know Levitical Law, but common decency should be clear that this behavior is unacceptable. The city of Corinth was pagan, and paganismwas very ungodly in their practices. Christians must stand against sin even though we live in a time when sin has been legalized and we are called haters if we oppose it. The Corinthians not only accepted this heinous sin, but they were proud of their wokeness. “And ye are puffed up and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:2. Pride is a terrible thing when it is the pride of sin. Paul was very judgmental, but judged with a righteous judgment, “To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destructionof the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump”” 1 Corinthians 5:5-6. Leaven symbolizes sin. If a little sin enters a congregation, it will grow until the entire congregation is affected. Paul advised them to remove the sinner from the congregationuntil he repented. Paul didn’t stop with that one sin. “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters: for then must ye needsgo out of the world.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-10. We are to be in the world, but participate in the sin of the world. We would have to live in total isolation, not sharing the Gospel, if we didn’t rub elbows with sinnerson occasion. Paul explains that we aren’t to socialize with fellow Christians who embrace sin. “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard,or an extortioner, with such an one not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” 1 Corinthians5:11-13. God will judge those who have rejected Him, but sin cannot be tolerated within a congregation. I’m sickened when I see transsexual and other perversion being embraced by Christians.They are not to be a part of a congregation. We are to judge, not condemn, sinners, and we are to share God’s love and mercy with them. Jesus warns us not to follow the well-worn, broad way that leads to destruction, but to follow the narrow way. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, andbroad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.’ Matthew 7:13-14. Jesus is that narrow gate. The New Agers would have us believe that there are many paths that lead to eternal life, but they are wrong. They push yoga, and spirituality, andmany false teachings. “Beware of false prothets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” Matthew 7:15-16. The way to not to be deceived by these false prophets is to know God’s truth only found in Scripture. If someone tries to convince you to read The Shack, or The Purpose DrivenChurch, or use The Message as your Bible, don’t fall victim to these false prophets. New Age is full of error. They would have us believe that God is in all things. The Holy Spirit indwells born again Christians, but He doesn’t live in rocks, trees, or unbelievers. Name it and claim it? False prophets push this lie. We live in a topsyturvy world where God’s truth is perverted and a “new” truth, which is Satan’s lies, is being pushed on us. Brothers and sisters, stand firm on Christ the solid Rock. Don’t be deceived. Judge with a righteous judgment and share the pure Gospel as found inScripture. There is only one way to salvation, and that is a true faith in Jesus Christ. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6. There is no other path. Jesus is the narrow gate thatleads to life eternal. Paul had good advice when he wrote letters to the men he left in charge of the various congregations he planted. Pastors today should heed this advice. “Now the Spirit speakethexpressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils: speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” 1 Timothy 4:1-2. If you are being deceived by false teachers, then find a Christian group that stands on God’s word. In this topsy turvy world, it may be hard to find solid Bible teaching.Perhaps God is calling you to start a home Bible study. Don’t allow fear to stop you from serving God. In this topsy turvy world, we need Christian men to take their place as leaders in Christian fellowships and in their homes. God bless you all, Nathele Graham