The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron....

If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly...

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 

 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching...

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Listening to Christian radio on WAY-FM last week, we heard Wally talking about how he was sold a false gospel.

Wally said that God is sold like the latest and greatest product to resolve your problems, and many act like marketers, and start lying to make the sale.

People were calling into WAY-FM to talk about what they were told life would be like if they became a Christian:

• God will make life easy. 
• You'll be healthy. 
• You'll live longer.
• You'll be rich. 
• Life will always be fun, and you'll always be happy.
• And more...

With my friends and those with whom I volunteer, I've seen a lot of these ideas lived out. When we are sold these false ideas, our faith becomes idolatry: we start to believe that God exists to serve us.

God's promises are far more significant than an easy life, health, long life, or wealth.

When we believe or tell deceptive views of the gospel, we're turning things upside down. It doesn't matter if you're rich - it matters if you have treasure in heaven. It doesn't matter if you live a long life - it matters that you're looking toward your eternal life.

Jesus didn't teach his disciples to pray for extravagance for themselves.
     He taught them to pray for their daily bread.

Jesus didn't teach his followers they'd have fun lives.
     He promised they'd be persecuted.

Is Jesus your genie in a bottle that you'll leave behind if he stops granting your wishes? Or is he your Lord to the extent that none of these worldly values affect your faith?

What are you communicating about the gospel by how you live? Most people stop trusting perpetual smilers because like the bikini-clad girls in beer commercials, it just seems fake. The life of faith isn't lollipops and sugar rolls.

Further, the point of sale is not the goal.

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 28)

Discipleship. Obedience. This is what we are called to. How did Jesus give an alter call?

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
...
any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
(Jesus, as recorded in Luke 14. for the "..." content, read Luke 14,the post was just getting really long.)

Jesus did not offer a discipleship of convenience. He didn't offer lives of ease. He said that we have to give up everything to serve him.

• Were you sold a false gospel?
• Are you tempted to think of the blessings in your life as guaranteed from God?
• Do you consider this life and physical blessings greater than that of eternity?

Thanks for visiting. It seems that someone has engaged in a word-of-mouth campaign to bring more people to my blog.  Who told you about this blog? Leave me a comment below and let me know.

I'd love your feedback about this proposal for a new direction for the blog: A Refuge for Truth.

Throughout history, we can see a clear need for those willing to stand for what's right and true. Here's the first lesson I learn about truth from history:

Truth is not decided by the majority Majority rules works in various venues, but it is not a valid reasoning to discover or argue for competing truth claims. You may be able to "rally your troops" to stand up for saying that the sun is made of spare ribs, but that doesn't change the facts.

In fact, the majority often chooses what is wrong and untrue. Throughout the Bible there are accounts of the "remnant," the relatively minuscule group of individuals who are willing to stand for what's right, even in the face of the majority. Even in the face of intimidation. Even in the face of defamation of character and slander. Even in the face of false prophets, wicked leaders, and those who twist the word of God.

• Elisha was up against evil leaders that had been brought in, and cries out to God from his anguish that there were so few people in Israel willing to stand up for truth - everyone was falling in line with the King, regardless of what was right and true.
• Jesus stood up for what was right, and when the pressure changed, the crowds dispersed. Those who had followed him in what was right, now followed others in what was wrong.
• The early churches dealt with this:

1. Jude writes to a church where certain teaches who brought a different message had "secretly slipped in," and the teaching had been tolerated because the appointed leaders of the church were not standing up for what was true, but were ok with the grace of God being used as a license for immorality. Yet Jude still had some people to write to to encourage to stand for truth and save others from the false message.
   
2. The churches in Revelation were warned about tolerating individual teachers who taught different messages, but even then there was a remnant standing for what was true
   
   
3. Jesus' own life is a clear example of the remnant standing for truth. His followers were so fickle that they turned from following his teaching, and turned back to those who wanted to murder truth. Only a small remnant was still standing up for what was right and true.

The majority cannot be used as a measuring rod for what is true, or what is right. Do these questions have anything to do with majority opinion?

• What is true?
• What is the right thing to do?

I'd love your thoughts!

(This is the first in a series working  toward exploring a possible new goal for the website of making it a refuge for truth.)

Good Morning!

I am considering moving this blog in a new direction with a new clear purpose. As I work though this transition to the next chapter in this blog, stay tuned. I'll be posting updates about the purpose of this blog as I get all my ducks in a row.