And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. -Ephesians 4:11-16
I don’t know how many times a day I hear well-meaning people tell me “you should do this,” or “you should do that,” and usually “this or that” is something that is culturally significant, but antithetical to Scripture. I’ve also been told I take Scripture too seriously, too literally, and too far by people who do mental gymnastics to justify their life choices. Here’s the thing: I won’t bow. I’m sticking to Jesus, to Scripture, and to the leading of the Holy Spirit to the Glory of the Father, even if I lose everything in the process.
Loved ones, as Christians, we’ve caved in and bowed down to the culture far too often. We have noble intentions, I am sure, but none of it is helpful, and very little of what we do in caving in to the society around us is Biblical. They’ve told us where to be the Church, when we can have church, the territory in which we can proclaim, hijacked words like “love” and “equity” and “compassion” (and many more besides), we let them place value on human beings (for example, when a human becomes so), and even the definition of who God is, rather than going to His own words about Himself. The Church, at least in the West, likes to live comfortably, and so heaven forbid we upset people by, I don’t know, living out what we actually believe. The culture allows for every other lifestyle with the exclusion of what Honors God, and I’m done pretending like it’s okay.
It’s time to live boldly, face persecution, and stop trying to placate those who don’t respect us anyway. Not a single person was brought to Jesus by bowing down to culture. Not a single one. Culture has hijacked the pulpit in many churches, it has hijacked our meaning and purpose. We exist, not to please culture, but to please God. And, if we’re living like Christ calls us, we will face trial, hardship and persecution (we’ll face the first two anyway, but living in Christ makes them bearable). So, Christian: live to please God. Don’t bow down to the whims of culture. Don’t be blown about by every wind of doctrine. Stand up, stand firm, stand in Christ. Love fiercely, but only with Christ’s love, and not the world’s definition of it. It’s time to stop letting the culture hijack everything, and start living as God intended us to live.
Hebrews 13
Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. Grace be with all of you.
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