Truth and Consequences

By: Steve Huston

Having grown up in a Christian family and in a solid church and in the United States of America, I always wondered how Jesus could ask the following question, “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” My questioning ends when I see The Christian Post cite George Barna’s research stating that “The data found, among other things, that while 51% of American adults said they have a biblical worldview, only 6% of American adults actually hold this worldview.”

Dear Reader, do you find it disturbing that of those 51% of self-identifying Christians 49% believes that reincarnation is a real possibility after they die while only 33% of them believe that “human beings are born with a sinful nature and can only be saved from the consequences of sin by Jesus Christ.”

Does it arouse righteous indignation within you or bring you to weeping to learn from another Christian Post article and different survey that “More than 60% of born again Christians in America between the ages of 18 and 39 believe that Buddha, Muhammad and Jesus are all valid paths to salvation and over 30% say they either believe that Jesus sinned just like other people when He lived on Earth or aren’t sure, according to a new study.” (Kerby Anderson’s Probe Ministries Religious Views & Practices Survey) What about John 14:6? “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Jesus is not merely “A way;” He is THE way and NO man comes to God the Father except through Him. The word “way” indicates a path to travel, not only a set of beliefs to hold in one’s head, not only a prayer to have been prayed, but a life to be lived with utter abandon to the magnifying of Christ and the glory of God. The Bible teaches the way to holy and joy-filled living. It is distinctly contrary to the way in which this world would love to mold our mind and life. If we truly believe on Jesus and are walking in His way, our mind, life, and destination has been transformed—His way affects every area of our life. (I strongly encourage you to read Psalm 19:7-14)

A Biblical worldview is imperative for the Christian; the consequences of walking outside of truth are devastating. If you don’t believe me look around you. Look around our country, around the world, and around the church of America—a church which has stopped being the church militant, and therefore, the church triumphant I might add. While there are many good churches in America and many faithful Christians who are left wondering what happened to their church, there are many more churches (organized) and self-proclaimed Christians who are either ignorant of the Word of God or have chosen to ignore the Bible’s truths and warnings, forfeiting a Biblical worldview for an adulterated and idolatrous one that makes them feel better but paves the way to hell with “good intentions.”

Quoting Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins, “Every Christian can and should obtain a biblical worldview — which is only achieved when a person believes that the Bible is true, authoritative, and then taught how it is applicable to every area of life, which enables them to live out those beliefs.”

We have a real problem. What can we do?

For our own sake: Let us do some honest, pain-staking self-examination, using J.C. Ryle’s penned warning on Luke 16:13-18 as the standard. “It is useless to attempt to serve God with a divided heart.… Thousands on every side are continually trying to do the thing which Christ pronounces impossible. They are endeavoring to be friends of the world and friends of God at the same time. Their consciences are so far enlightened that they feel they must have some religion. But their affections are so chained down to earthly things that they never come up to the mark of being true Christians…. They have too much religion to be happy in the world and too much of the world in their hearts to be happy in religion. In short they waste their time in laboring to do that which cannot be done. They are striving to serve God and mammon.

“…The more thoroughly we give ourselves to Christ, the more sensibly we shall feel within the peace of God that passes all understanding (Phil. 4:7). The more entirely we live, not to ourselves, but to Him who died for us, the more powerfully shall we realize what it is to have joy and peace in believing. If it is worthwhile to serve Christ at all, let us serve Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Life, eternal life, after all, is the matter at stake, no less than happiness. If we cannot make up our minds to give up everything for Christ’s sake, we must not expect Christ to own us at the last day. He will have all our hearts or none. Friendship with the world is enmity with God (James 4:4) The end of undecided and half-hearted Christians is to be cast out for ever.”

For the sake of others: Put Paul’s words in II Timothy 4:2-5 in to practice. What to do: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” Why? : “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” That day is here; so: “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

Pray that our eyes will be open to better watch, that the Spirit will strengthen us in these days in preparation to endure affliction, and that we will be faithful in speaking the truth and presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ to a deceived church and a fallen world.

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