A lonely walk

     We live in a day and age where peace and unity are on everyone's minds. You hear it in the political rhetoric of the day as well as in the churches all across the U.S.A.  In a perfect world peace and unity would be ideal. Of course, if it were a perfect world then we wouldn't have to talk about peace and unity. But the ugly truth is that we don't live in a perfect world. We live in a fallen world. A world that has been cursed by sin. None of us have escaped its effects. As the Bible teaches “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” All of us have tainted minds. We can't think right. This means that we need divine guidance to correct our wicked minds. You may object at this point. You may think that you're not wicked, and not a sinner. If this is the case then you're the only one. But it's not the case.

     The interesting and even disturbing thing is that this cry for peace and unity has permeated most of the churches in this nation. Why would a message of peace and unity be disturbing? The answer is simple. When ever people cry for unity it always means someone must leave their convictions at the door. And it is rarely the ones who are doing all the talking of peace who leave anything behind. That is called peace at any cost. Some find this a virtuous cause. Some believe this is the goal of the Christian walk. Many even believe that peace and unity at any cost is what the Bible teaches. But it may surprise some to know Jesus said:

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn " 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.” Matthew 10:34-36

      This is far from peace and unity at any cost. This may shock some people to hear this, but the gospel divides. The gospel that we cling to is hated by the world. Sometimes that means that our family despises the truths of God and therefore they despise us. That's what Jesus was referring to in the previous text. Will you stand for truth when the truth is unpopular? When your family members hate the truths you hold to so dearly. When the masses hate you and mock you as they did our Savior will you join in His suffering or will you deny Him. Remember the Apostle Paul said:

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

     This inclusive message of peace and unity is spread in churches all across our Country. It is true that few people in churches would outwardly deny the Lord. But there are other ways of denying Christ. One way is to deny His Word. A common way they do this by changing the meaning of the text. The Bible is not confusing, but often people who want to justify their sin will come up with interesting ways of interpreting Scriptures. I like what Dr. Bob Jones Sr. once said “The acid test of our love for God is obedience to His Word”. Let's not forget that Jesus Himself said, “He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me”. John 14:24

     I think part of the problem is that we see these mega-churches with their thousands of members and we hear the pollsters tell us that 80% (or so) of Americans claim to be Christians and we think that there are endless numbers of Christians in the world. How misguided one would be to believe such a thing. The main problem with this is, the Bible never claims that many will be saved. It actually claims the opposite.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it”. Matthew 7:13,14

     The message of the Bible is a message of peace and unity. But only peace with God and unity with believers who share the common thread of devotion to Christ and His revealed Word. It is a message of separation from sin and from worldliness. From beginning to end, the people of God were called to be separated from the ungodly. Never to be joined with unbelievers and always separate from disobedience within.

Many Christians wrongly refer to John 17 as a mandate for Christian unity.

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” John 17:20, 21

“I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:23

     There are, as I see it, two major problems with using these verses as a mandate to all Christians to have unity. The first is that Jesus is asking God to give unity to believers and to those who will become one. He is not asking you to jump in and do something that He is asking the Father to do. God is not impotent. He doesn't need our help. He is omnipotent (He can do anything). Secondly, the request for unity is not at the expense of holiness. This is not a plea for unity at any cost. No, this is a prayer from God the Son, to God the Father asking for unity centered around the holiness of God.

     I will conclude with this thought. Those who call themselves Christians are a dime a dozen. We see them on the television, in the political arena, in our families, and in our churches. They talk the talk but when push comes to shove they never really surrendered their lives to the Savior. They aren't people of the Word. But those who are truly born of the Spirit of God are people of the Word. For we know that the Word of God is all we have. We don't rely on the news media, or Hollywood, or general consensus to tell us what is truth. We rely on the Word of God.

     This means that there are few of us. That we will be alone in our views. Despised and rejected by men. One day, when our Savior returns we will have true peace and unity. Until then, the true believer in Christ will find himself standing alone.

Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. John 15:20, 21