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Romans 1:18-25
We invite you to worship with us each Sunday morning at 9:30. So how did it happen that we who are supposed to know the Lord, really don’t know Him very well at all? The reason is found in Paul’s statement in verse 25. We “exchanged the truth of God for a lie…” What lie? Keep reading and learn that we view “the creature more important than the Creator.”
There are many lies we could examine but here is a thumbnail sketch of just four. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s what’s known as the post modern movement came to America. It basically does away with God teaching that Man is his own creator and doesn’t need a supernatural, superhuman Being over him. It started gaining momentum in the 60’s when a few radicals starting preaching “God is dead.” The problem is that Christians, as a majority, did just what Satan wanted and remained silent! Man became the center of the universe and his director of his own destiny. Where God was allowed to exist, He was reduced to nothing more than “Grandpa” Who was there to give you what you wanted so you could be happy. The neo movement gave rise to the current philosophy that you can have your religious cake and eat it too! All this gave rise to the second lie which I call “reactionist-isolation!” It’s fundamentally a knee-jerk reaction by ultra-conservative legalists who wanted to “protect” their people from falling victim to the post-modern existentialist philosophy. These legalists built an entire doctrine by lifting a single phrase from 2 Cor. 6:17 which is “come out from among them and be separate.” The context is teaching that Christians must be separated from all forms of an ungodly life and life-style. The Scripture would have to contradict itself (which it cannot do) to teach that Christians are not to have contact with the unsaved. That’s another sermon! Isolationism is exactly opposite what Scripture teaches in The Great Commission and many other passages. Now those who have bought into the first two lies have “invented” a third lie. By eliminating God as God, it is also possible to eliminate all things absolute and have only relativism left, or situation ethics. Simply stated it means “what is truth for you, isn’t necessarily truth for me.” Even simpler – everyone gets to make their own rules. God becomes whatever or whoever you want him to be! The problem is that far too many Christians have bought into this lie and have built their houses on the sand. The 4th lie that “evolves” from all this is “worship is all about me.” It is the ultimate slap in God’s face. If you want to read about self worship in Scripture you can. Read Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28. Don’t miss the part where Satan is condemned to eternal hell for self worship! Worship is about God and God alone. It is always from me to Him in His honor!
True fear of God is realizing it’s how HE knows we are doing in our Christian life, not how we think we are doing. We need to repent and turn back to God in true fear of Who He is!
If we can help you in this, or any other spiritual matter, call us at (574) 643-9419.
