Obedience to Christ is NOT an option! Part one

By Madeline Crabb

The Lord Jesus said, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching." (Jn. 14:23 NIV)

Warning: This is a serious word about what it is woefully lacking in the American church. Even many of you who are professing Christians will not like it. Therefore, if you are among the millions who now only want to have your ears tickled – to hear pleasant things – then this message is not for you. If you are one who honestly wants to please God and live according to His Word, then read on. Together we are going to learn why obedience to Christ is NOT an option!

Let's face it: Our nation is going to hell in a hand basket! We assume that heathens who are creating new ways to sin and mock God are the only ones who don't understand the peril America is experiencing. But that is a false assumption in at least two areas. First of all, heathens know exactly what they what they are doing. It is their purpose and goal to undermine Christianity and our nation. They are led by their carnal desires, and ultimately by their father, the devil. Scripture tells us Satan's plan is to steal, kill, and destroy. (Jn. 10:10)...and he has done an outstanding job. Secondly, it is the Church that doesn't totally understand the depths of depravity we've sunken to both individually, and corporately.

To illustrate both of these points, just look at the LGBT-radical homosexual movement that has systematically beaten-down Americans in the quest to "normalize" its perversions. One result is that now, according to a 2014 Pew Research study, 54 percent of all Christians say homosexuality, and thus all related perversions, should be accepted by society. This is the Church...Christians approving of sin.

Or consider how abortion has been thrust upon Americans as being a good and necessary act. Sadly, from the beginning, abortion was based on a lie. Of course, the biggest lie is that it is not a choice, or a simple procedure. Abortion is the murder of an innocent child in what should be the safest place a child could ever be – the mother's womb. In 2017, stated by the National Right to Life, over 58 million babies have been murdered. According to Guttmacher Institute, and reported in Christianity Today, one in every five abortions occur in Christian women – about 200,000 annually. Further, the Christian Post has reported that about 70 percent of women having abortions "self-identified" as being Christians. So, the actual number of Christians having abortions could be anywhere between 20 and 70 percent, but the point is that these women claim to be Christians. Again, this is the Church...Christians approving of and participating in sin.

These are two of the most egregious sins that have caused horrendous damage to America. Those behind these sin-saturated movements know exactly what they are doing. Why isn't the Church destroying instead of both approving of and participating in them?

According to the 2012 Gallup Poll, 77 percent of Americans, or over 240 million people, claimed to be Christian. Based on 2017 population, that would mean there about 249 million Christians in America. We know these figures are wrong because that many true Christians, acting out our faith by being the salt and light God called us to be, would be causing demons to flee and sinners to repent!

Dear friends, as we've previously discussed, the number of true Bible-believing Christians is much smaller – probably less than ten percent, according to Dr. David Reagan of Lamb and Lion Ministry. So then, it's more understandable why the so-called Church has so little influence on society. The majority of so-called Christians now resemble the world more than we do Christ. And this is absolutely antithetical to God's teaching.

The following statistics about Christian worldliness and disobedience are alarming, even dumbfounding:

• The divorce rate among Christians is 60 percent. Among all people it is only 62 percent.
  
  
• Barna reports that 59 percent of practicing Christians approve of couples co-habiting. About 19 percent of Christians are now living together outside the bonds of marriage.
  
  
• Christian Post reports in a survey among young Christian singles that 61 percent are willing to have pre-marital sex with someone before even being in love. (hook ups)
  
  
• The National Association of Evangelicals reported that 44 percent of singles between the ages of 18-29 have had sex, while Relevant magazine reports that "80 percent young, unmarried Christians have had sex."
  
  
• Studies show that 63 percent of pastors struggle with some form of sexual addiction or compulsion.
  
  
• Barna, as reported in Christianity Today, shows that 57 percent of pastors, and 64 percent of youth pastors view pornography at least once per month.
  
  
• CT also reported that 27 percent of Christian men and six percent of Christian women seek out pornography at least once or twice per month.
  
  
• Of all Christian men who view pornography, 35 percent of them have had at least one extra-marital affair.
  

There are many other statistics to share, but frankly, those listed above clearly describe the level of debauchery and sin the so-called Church has fallen into. Christians are openly disobeying God. We've literally and figuratively "gotten into bed" with the world, which God commanded we NOT do! We've been both disobedient and rebellious.

Many involved with the above (and other) sins, and with whom I've personally ministered, have almost a "whatever" attitude about their sin. To them, since everybody's doing it, they think their own behavior is justified. This justification is frightening! Further, some claim that their pastors actually know of their practices, and sins, and gave their approval. While this sounds absurd, it could actually be possible.

As we can see from some of the above-listed sins within the Church, pastors have some serious problems themselves. Over the years, we have witnessed the downfall of several prominent pastors. But pastors are just men, subject to the same temptations that plague the rest of us. Consequently, we should always seek God's direction in what church we attend, what is being taught, and who is doing the teaching/preaching. There are a lot of wolves within the Christian community. The Bible warns of false prophets in the Last Days. Jesus said, "Many false prophets will arise and lead many astray." (Matt. 24:11 ESV) Jesus also told us, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." (Matt. 24:11 ESV)

But there is another point to consider: As Christians, we don't have to depend on a pastor for our truth. We have God's Word via the Holy Bible that provides unadulterated, full-strength Truth! It is our instruction guide for learning how to live lives acceptable and in obedience to Christ. We should reject advice or instruction from ANY person that is contrary to God's Word.

Sadly, instruction coming from most of today's pulpits barely resembles the Bible. Pastor Billy Crone estimates that about 95 percent of American pastors "make up stories, and tell us pleasant things." The Bible says:

"For the time is coming when (people) will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasuring and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold. And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions." (2 Tim. 4:3-4 AMP)

Doesn't it stand to reason that if our pastors are involved with pre-marital or extra-marital affairs, pornography, or other sexual sins that they might teach or counsel others that it's alright to have sex and even live together before marriage? Doesn't it also make sense that if a pastor/teacher is involved in homosexuality that he would teach others that homosexuality is okay, that God does not condemn it? The same principle can be applied to less serious sins involving alcohol, drugs, lying, cheating, stealing... If the pastor is doing it, he won't condemn anyone else for doing it. There's an old saying that misery loves company. Well, sinners love company too! And likewise, as the above scripture tells us, if we are sinners, we are probably going to seek out "teachers" who won't condemn us, but approve of our behavior.

Worth noting is that Pastor John Hagee says, "Counterfeit Christians want to see a counselor or be part of a support group, but don't want to be told they have a sin problem." Many churches have "step" programs and support groups, but don't teach that if we realize we are in sin, we should confess and quit it!

Remember that throughout this discussion, we are talking about the Church, not the unsaved. This isn't just about "lukewarm" or "apostate" churches, but about the casual attitude and outright disobedience from individual Christians towards God and His Word. We who comprise the Church are called to be not just hearers of the Word, but doers of the Word. (Jas. 1:22) Sadly, we are failing.

Do we truly understand that obedience to Christ is NOT an option? Jesus said, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46) I don't want to hear the Lord say those words to me, do you? I want to obey the Lord in ALL that I do, don't you? Our eternal destiny depends on it, so we'll discuss it further in the next column. In the meantime, I pray all who have read these words seriously commit to being obedient servants of the Lord. God Himself will equip us if our hearts are surrendered to Him. To anyone willing to hear....

© Madeline Crabb