January 10

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When A Christian Lacks Respect for God’s Word

Posted by on January 10, 2014 in General | Leave a comment

worm in apple

17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:

18 “Behold, My [a]Servant whom I [b]have chosen; My Beloved in whom My soul [c]is well-pleased; I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He shall proclaim [d]justice to the [e]Gentiles. 19 “He will not quarrel, nor cry out; Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.

Footnotes:

Matthew 12:18 Lit Child
Matthew 12:18 Lit chose
Matthew 12:18 Or took pleasure
Matthew 12:18 Or judgment
Matthew 12:18 Or nations

Yesterday, I posted an article that some street preachers found somewhat offensive. I’ve seen street preachers in action on the boardwalks of beaches. I’ve seen the videos from all over the world of men who seem to have the best of intentions. However, good intentions should not replace biblical doctrine. It just shouldn’t, but often it does.

Look, one of my husbandly duties is to throw a good apple into a certain bag my wife takes to work every morning. It’s her after-lunch thing. She eats an apple. She’s healthy. When I’m picking that apple out, on occasion, but not often, I’ll find one with a worm-hole in it. There’s no way I’m giving that one to my wife. Oh, sometimes I find one with teeth marks as well [who would do that?], but , either way, she’s not getting an apple like that if I can help it.

Point is, when we see an apple with a worm hole, we sometimes think automatically that a worm ate its way into it, don’t we? Not always, but often. Fact is, the hole got there when the worm made it on its way out because some other worm laid an egg on the blossom and the little varmint was hatched inside the apple.

The problem with that apple was on the inside. And the problem many have with accepting God’s Word at face value is similar. The problem is not always the world, not society with all of its ills and sins. It’s not always the false teachers. Sometimes it’s us. You and me. The problem with accepting God’s Word, and what it says on every page, often comes from within.

I referenced Isaiah 42:1-2 and Matthew 12:18-19 in the previously mentioned article. Some didn’t accept it. But God said it, isn’t that good enough? Nope.

We’ve all heard the old saying, “God said, I believe it, and that settles it.” Well, guess what. If God said it, that settles it, whether you believe it or not. His truth stands, regardless of our belief or willingness to affirm what He has said.

I don’t want to be harsh. I have no desire to offend you whatsoever, but some professing Christians read Scripture and reject it offhand because they are determined, for whatever reason, to justify a belief or action that does not conform to God’s Word.. You should be concerned. After all, if you’re a true believer in Christ, you are not going to reject God’s Word just because you don’t like what it says. It may trouble you. It will cause you to search your soul and lead to repentance and progress towards the holiness to which you have been called. But to those who profess Christ and reject the clear words of God – for whatever reason – you have cause for serious self-examination.

If that’s the case, that you don’t believe God’s Word and what He says in regards to our Lord not raising His voice on the streets, the problem in believing what God has said is not on the outside, it is in your heart. To disagree with some church activities may be a skin-disease, but rejecting the infallibility and inerrancy of God’s Word – pure truth from the Creator Himself – that’s a sign of an unbelieving heart.

When Isaiah prophesied by God’s leading of the Holy Spirit, and the same prophecy regarding our Lord and His actions were confirmed in the New Testament that Jesus did not raise His voice, you should believe it.

You can disrespect God, His Word and what He has declared as true in order to justify what you think is right in your own eyes, and you can carry on, as long as the Lord deems good to Him, your continued rebellion and lack of respect to His Word, a closed cannon. But also know that one day you will bow to Him and knowing your rejection of His Word while you lived, you will be filled with regret too great for words.

There is no greater destructive enemy to the Church than that which comes from within – unbelief. All too often, we view the greatest enemy to church unity and doctrinal purity as coming from the outside in, when in reality, like the worm in the apple, it may be that we ourselves are the egg of corruption on the blossom.