A.J. Castellitto
Dividing the sheep from the goats (the 75% fallacy*)
By A.J. Castellitto
"The weakness of so many modern Christians is that they feel too much at home in the world. In their effort to achieve restful "adjustment" to unregenerate society they have lost their pilgrim character and become an essential part of the very moral order against which they are sent to protest. The world recognizes them and accepts them for what they are. And this is the saddest thing that can be said about them. They are not lonely, but neither are they saints." – A.W. Tozer
The Low-Voter IQ of the American populace is a highly frustrating reality in today's 21st century, as an ignorant and corrupted society reaps what it sows. But even more tragic is the percentage of Biblically illiterate in our day.
Approximately 75 percent** of all Americans identify themselves as Christians, but how many of those who represent the majority religion in this country truly grasp the essentials of the faith? The spiritually stunted have been seduced into believing that they can embrace the carnality and vain offerings of this world and merely keep their faith in reserve as a security measure for the day their foundation is truly shaken. When we cut through the various distortions, exaggerations, perversions and secularizations of true Biblical faith, we are forced to consider a sobering reality......
We are merely fooling ourselves.
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Our sobering message to those overtaken by Low-Scripture IQ:
Get in the Word!
I don't mean to imply that the Gospel Message is merely for the well learned among us. Scripture is an endless treasure of righteous wisdom that can never be fully explored (and too often we've overcomplicated the applicable and practical crux of the spiritual matter). But in some circles, the Christian faith barely rises above the level of bad psychology and blind sentimentality. Is this truly what the cross and the empty tomb should reflect in the life of the believer?
God's Word is both basic and complex as it speaks to the hearts and minds of both the young and old (as well as the simple and the intellectual). But Jesus Christ is no mere glorified Ghandi. He's also not the key to national and global supremacy.
Too often the cross has been wrapped in a flag and offered at gun point. Christianity is both voluntary and necessary. If our heart doesn't cry out our ways won't be affected. The Christian faith is nothing short of the miraculous restoration of depraved and fallen humanity.
Despite the rhetoric promoted via the secular-religious-humanist campaign, the Gospel is not an exercise in blind tolerance or an embrace of our pre-regenerate condition. The Gospel is not faithfully reflected by some mere social justice crusade nor is it properly represented by an indignant and condescending display of piety/superiority.
If Sin, Grace and Redemption are not at the heart of our message – it is not a faithful one! Acts of faith and daily repentance are essential fruits of the Spirit of God working in and through us.
How many truly count the costs? Is ours a faith that drives and motivates our every thought, word and deed?
Do we truly reflect the love for one another and the sacrifice of self for the glory of God and the good of our fellow man?
Let us take our inability and our brokenness unto the Lord and praise Him who lifts up, strengthens, and saves.
"Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
The state will never have the power to sear an awakened and tender conscience. God ultimately ordains our earthly leaders and civil authorities (as nothing occurs outside His divine authority and providence) but it does not exempt us from our duty to resist the godless ordinance.
May we humbly and faithfully press on!
*http://www.christianpost.com/news/recent-gallup-poll-on-americans-view-of-bible-reveals-utter-chaos-regarding-nature-and-authority-of-scripture-121204/
**http://www.gallup.com/topic/religion.aspx
© A.J. Castellitto
"The weakness of so many modern Christians is that they feel too much at home in the world. In their effort to achieve restful "adjustment" to unregenerate society they have lost their pilgrim character and become an essential part of the very moral order against which they are sent to protest. The world recognizes them and accepts them for what they are. And this is the saddest thing that can be said about them. They are not lonely, but neither are they saints." – A.W. Tozer
The Low-Voter IQ of the American populace is a highly frustrating reality in today's 21st century, as an ignorant and corrupted society reaps what it sows. But even more tragic is the percentage of Biblically illiterate in our day.
Approximately 75 percent** of all Americans identify themselves as Christians, but how many of those who represent the majority religion in this country truly grasp the essentials of the faith? The spiritually stunted have been seduced into believing that they can embrace the carnality and vain offerings of this world and merely keep their faith in reserve as a security measure for the day their foundation is truly shaken. When we cut through the various distortions, exaggerations, perversions and secularizations of true Biblical faith, we are forced to consider a sobering reality......
We are merely fooling ourselves.
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Our sobering message to those overtaken by Low-Scripture IQ:
Get in the Word!
I don't mean to imply that the Gospel Message is merely for the well learned among us. Scripture is an endless treasure of righteous wisdom that can never be fully explored (and too often we've overcomplicated the applicable and practical crux of the spiritual matter). But in some circles, the Christian faith barely rises above the level of bad psychology and blind sentimentality. Is this truly what the cross and the empty tomb should reflect in the life of the believer?
God's Word is both basic and complex as it speaks to the hearts and minds of both the young and old (as well as the simple and the intellectual). But Jesus Christ is no mere glorified Ghandi. He's also not the key to national and global supremacy.
Too often the cross has been wrapped in a flag and offered at gun point. Christianity is both voluntary and necessary. If our heart doesn't cry out our ways won't be affected. The Christian faith is nothing short of the miraculous restoration of depraved and fallen humanity.
Despite the rhetoric promoted via the secular-religious-humanist campaign, the Gospel is not an exercise in blind tolerance or an embrace of our pre-regenerate condition. The Gospel is not faithfully reflected by some mere social justice crusade nor is it properly represented by an indignant and condescending display of piety/superiority.
If Sin, Grace and Redemption are not at the heart of our message – it is not a faithful one! Acts of faith and daily repentance are essential fruits of the Spirit of God working in and through us.
How many truly count the costs? Is ours a faith that drives and motivates our every thought, word and deed?
Do we truly reflect the love for one another and the sacrifice of self for the glory of God and the good of our fellow man?
Let us take our inability and our brokenness unto the Lord and praise Him who lifts up, strengthens, and saves.
"Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
The state will never have the power to sear an awakened and tender conscience. God ultimately ordains our earthly leaders and civil authorities (as nothing occurs outside His divine authority and providence) but it does not exempt us from our duty to resist the godless ordinance.
May we humbly and faithfully press on!
*http://www.christianpost.com/news/recent-gallup-poll-on-americans-view-of-bible-reveals-utter-chaos-regarding-nature-and-authority-of-scripture-121204/
**http://www.gallup.com/topic/religion.aspx
© A.J. Castellitto
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