Introduction
Many times I have read and heard people talk of Christians as being ignorant, judgmental, lazy, simpletons. Recently, in an article I was reading, I saw this: “Christians are ignorant, uneducated, simpletons.” (anti-Christian philosopher Celsus 177 AD). Many times I heard the same thing said using different words. The bottom line is that people are saying Christians, as a whole, are ignorant, simple people lacking an understanding of Scripture and understanding of the ways of the world. They can not be trusted with matters of the mind or world and they are closed-minded and should not be included in any modern progressive thought.
I’ve often thought that we need to avoid dealing with professing Christians. Even I (I confess) have been known to say, “If you want professional help, go to God first, then go to a Lawyer, Physician, Physiologist, etc. that is not a Christian, because Christians will not give you the best service. They are too soft and busy being holy-minded, knowing you will “turn the other cheek” rather than fight for your God-given rights.
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11:12) ESV
Many times you need a non-Christian, Black, Female, Jew, with a chip on her shoulder. OK, I digress.
I’ve thought about this many times. At first, I was incensed and became angry. But, then I concluded that what I hear is often true. Among many Christians I see on TV, preachers I hear from in the pulpit, and articles I read in magazines; the Christians are ignorant, closed-minded, self-centered people who mislead others into thinking they have the answer to all things of life. And, of course, on TV they always try to sell you something to promote their ministry. Now can you see where some say that Christians are ignorant, judgmental, simpletons. Many Christians do not even understand their own Bible and often misinterpret the very same. In Bible school I heard of pastors who never read the whole Bible and many who only read the New Testament, saying that the Old Testament is not relevant today, old, passe’ and has been replaced. What is the current state of mind of Christians, what can we do about it?
It all starts with the Church
For hundreds of years, the church was the focal point of all knowledge. Yes, we did have some philosophers like Aristotle, Socrates and his disciple Plato, Marcus Aurelius, and Machiavelli, and more modern figures like Karl Marx and Friedrich Nietzsche, and the like, who laid down much of our modern way of thinking however, the house of knowledge started in the Church. In Europe, during the Early Middle Ages, the monasteries of the Roman Catholic Church were the centers of education and literacy. Their clerics, priests, bishops, and cardinals were the only educated elite among the world’s population (also true of other religions). Almost everyone turned to the Church for knowledge. If you wanted a higher education you went to the Church. Even when I grew up Catholic schools were among the better educational institutions in my area. Per Wikipedia, mass compulsory schooling started in Prussia around 1800 to “produce more soldiers and more obedient citizens”.
Note “…and more obedient citizens”. Have you noticed that the uneducated seem among the most rebellious in our civilization? Is this what we are seeing among uneducated Christians? My wife and I have acquaintances that have little education – 5th grade maybe. They call themselves Christian but are among the most angry, self-righteous, and unforgiving people I know. It’s not a wonder that our nation is where it is today when we see the demise of our educational system (Another topic for another day).
These are statements I hear from the Church that troubles me
- It doesn’t matter what you do, God is always in charge and will do what He wants.
Anyone who knows the Bible and who has a relationship with Jesus Christ should understand that God does not do whatever He wants. He asks us to obey and do what He wants. If we do not obey we pay the consequences. One of the first things God told us to do when He placed us on earth is to “…take dominion” or in other words rule. The ruling does not only show up in Genesis 1:26 but in many places in the Bible. Ruling means to govern which many include changing things and keeping them from going helter-skelter of their own will but to follow God’s will. We are the key to making the will of God happen. What we do matters a great deal to God and the circumstances surrounding us. What we do matters. Our Salvation depends on it. Burying our heads in the sand will not get things done. Read again Chronicles 7:14. “If My people…” My people are the Church.
“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” (Proverbs 29: 2) ESV
- Whoever enters the office of President in the US must be who God wants. Why vote?
I’ve addressed this before. I’ve heard many people, even some from my own family, say they never want to talk about politics or religion. Imagine that? The two most important things that govern the way they (we) live, they don’t want to talk about. How’s ignorant now?
Millions of Christians including 41 million born-again believers (This would have overturned the last election! Have we learned our lesson?) It turns out that approximately 41 % of Protestants are non-voters and 23% are Catholics are non-voters
Why
Research pinpointed several reasons why Christians are not voting in this year’s election.
- 68% lack interest in politics and elections
- 57% dislike all major candidates
- 55% feel none of the candidates reflect their most important views
- 52% believe their vote will not make a difference
- 48% think the election results will be manipulated so why bother
Click here to see the source of information.
Christians cry out, “If My people…” but, they do not seem to believe it.
- Peace is coming and everything will be all right
This is a true statement however it is the wrong question. The question should be; when will peace come? The answer is found throughout all Scriptures. There will always be times of peace and times of war as Ecclesiastics says. But lasting peace will only come after the millennial reign of Christ on earth. Believers will be in heaven but those who become Born Again after the Rapture will have to endure the Great Tribulation. Note that even during the millennial reign there will be sin in the world. It is after the last battle that all of us receive our peace.
- We don’t have to do anything, God’s grace is sufficient, it’s in the Bible. God’s grace will always be sufficient for we believers to endure all hardships but why endure them when you can do something about them?
- More current, AI is evil. Note AI is not sentient and never will be. It does not have a soul therefore can not be evil. It is only a machine (a computer on steroids) and will only put out what you put in (Garbage in garbage out). Can it be used for evil as well as good? Of course. As can almost all mankind’s inventions such as Atomic energy. Interesting Note: There is an AI computer system built by Elon Musk called “Grok” (it means to understand). It is very similar to ChatGPT. Google both for further understanding (I have used ChatGPT to help me generate images for my blogs.) In very simple terms it is a computer system that has accumulated most of the world’s knowledge through books, the Internet, etc. It is a generative artificial intelligence chatbot. It can create images, write text, answer questions, and solve a multitude of problems. If something like Grok were to take into consideration all history, culture (from Adam to present), languages (Paleo Hebrew, etc.), and writings (i.e. Dead Sea Scrolls), etc., and write a version of the Bible in English. It would probably be the most accurate translation possible. It would still be written by men as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit but compiled by a machine that takes into account all languages and cultures (some long lost) of the times (past and present) making it understandable to us today. Question. Would you read it? I definitely would.
“Not many of you were wise according to worldly standards (Christians?), not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise” (1 Cor 1:26-27)
This statement in 1st Corinthians is only true if we “the people” are willing to obey.
Question
I believe Christ is returning soon to gather His Saints to Heaven. We call this the Rapture of the Church. Here is the question: Is Christ coming for a church that is bickering among themselves and remains ignorant of everything around them and, a Church that refuses to pray, repent, and turn from their ignorant self-centered ways – a disobedient Church?
“If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14) ASV
I wonder. Don’t you?
Do Not Fear
All of the Church will not follow 2 Chronicles. But God always hears from “the remnant”. If you read your Bible you will read that there is always a “remnant” that follows God’s ways and hears His voice. These will be the ones who turn the tide of current evil to righteousness. Are you a member of the remnant who continuously seeks God for this country?
If the Church Fails
You can easily see where the Church has failed. Jesus said, “Upon this rock, I will build My Church”. Not Churches with all its hundreds of denominations. All of us have differences of opinion but how can we live together in Heaven when we can’t live together on earth? We must unite! There is only one God… There is only one Church. Let us begin here and now.
This is the Way it Should be
We are told that we should be detached from the external things surrounding us. However, our Lord was amazingly in touch with the ordinary things of life. He addressed sin, politics, sickness, religion, etc. very openly. But, all this was superseded by His attachment to His Father. Remember our lesson on priorities? Never do one priority to the total neglect of the others. Do not neglect the world because you think you should be focused on God alone. God created you to live in this world and to obey.
In a Perfect World
If things are as they should be within the Church the world should be coming to our doorstep for counsel, advice, and guidance. We should have all the answers. We should be experts in every avenue of life whether it be Politics, Medicine, Counseling, Governing, or even such things as Mechanics, Computers, History, Teaching, and all the trades. The list goes on. We should be the experts the world should turn to. But, we are far from it.
How Do We Get There
The Bible tells us but we don’t understand.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) ESV
Nothing matters in the world or the Church more than drawing closer to Him. If the Church would only understand to do this than all these other things will fall into place.
Pray
Pray always, but pray with understanding. Do not pray just for the sake of saying you are praying about this or that. Remember that prayer does not prepare you for God’s work, it is God’s work! (OC) Pray then obey and let Him do His work through you. Never attempt to do His work by your abilities just because you think you should be doing something for God. We don’t need to do anything for God. Understand what it means when God says “Stand still…”
“And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation (Yeshua or YaSa – Jesus in Hebrew and Sṓzō in Greek) of the LORD, which he will shew to you…” (Exodus 14:13) KJV)
This Salvation (Sozo) is not only the Salvation of your body soul and spirit but the entire deliverance of your life from the meaningless circumstances created by the world. The key is this; it is done totally by the Grace of God. “Stand still” You don’t have to do anything but submit and obey. He will do the rest. But that does not mean you do nothing. If you are in the relationship you should be in with Christ Jesus, you will hear His voice; (All sheep hear His voice. If you do not hear you are not close enough to Him.) Then you must obey and let Him work through you. Be assured it is not something you do by your own accord.
Conclusion
There was a time when the Church turned the world upside down.
“When they couldn’t find them, they took Jason instead, along with some of the brothers in his house church, and dragged them before the city council. Along the way they screamed out, Those troublemakers who have turned the world upside down have come here to our city.” (Act 17:6)
Today the Church is not affecting the world as it should but the Church is being affected by the world. (OC) Marriage, the right to life, individual sexuality, and many other “Sins” are becoming legal. Those indulging in these practices are feeling vindicated when the laws are changed making their sin legal. Redemption no longer comes via the Cross but by the State which absolves you of all sin by making sin legal. Who’s fault is this? Not the State. Not even mankind itself. It is the fault of the Church who’s responsibility is to bring the Gospel to mankind and then Disciple mankind leading them into Salvation.
Enough Said
“When I found your words, I devoured them; your words made glad, they gave me joy; because, Adonai Tzv’ot you had me bear your name” (Jeremiah 15:16) CJB
