Over the past couple of years, I’ve watched close friends begin to fall away from the faith. When I say faith, I mean the solid, foundations of the Word of God. What was once sure, is now questioned. What was once a sacred doctrine, is no more. How did this happen, what is happening to the Christian faith.
- Where is our Christian charity? Why are we known for everything we hate? Do people around us know what we are for, what we truly care about?
- Christians seem to care more about the 2020 election, masks and the vaccine than they do their next-door neighbor.
- Christians are living in a perpetual state of fear.
- What has happened to church attendance since COVID-19 began? So many people have left the church to attend “church” at home. Is this rooted in anything Biblical or is it possible God is revealing what was already in our hearts?
Two key verses come to mind this morning as I write this.
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. – 2Timothy 4:3-4 (ESV)
For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. – Titus 1:10-14 (ESV)
We need to hold fast to the truth. There are many who fall away, but we must remain strong, steadfast and unmovable.
He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. – Titus 1:9 (ESV)
You’ve all heard someone says, “you’ve got to stand for something.”. Indeed we do. Let’s find ourselves faithful to God standing on the firm foundation of the Word. Be careful to whom you listen. Deceitful words and practices have increased more-and-more. Watch out lest you be consumed by them.