9/15/2013
“Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution”
-2 Timothy 3:12
Title too creative for you? Or do you think it’s just crazy? Perhaps it is a bit crazy. Perhaps it’s crazy like the same ‘crazy’ people thought Noah was when he put together the ark. And just maybe, that is the same ‘crazy’ that people think Christians are today. And because people think that way, believers are often made fun of, looked at as fools or persecuted. But why are we looked at as crazy?
Why are people looking at us like we’re a bunch of Noahzites?
Perhaps because we aren’t following the world’s definition or idea of what’s right and wrong or good and evil. We’re following God’s calling for His children which is to be set apart from the world. Christ followers are called to be living a life that makes them distinctly different from those of the world (Evidenced by the act of circumcision in the Old Testament). But the sad truth is, lukewarm Christians are starting to slowly listen to and take hold of the ‘world’s teachings’. They’re fleeing the way of God though the book of Proverbs strongly advises not to for it states, “They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes…fools are destroyed by their own complacency” (Prov. 1:30-31; 32). ONE- That statement in itself should place some level of fear of the Lord in us. God is a god of grace, mercy and love but He does not take lightly to us rejecting Him and thinking we’ll be just fine all on our own. TWO- complacency is yet another way to say ‘lukewarm’. It is those who are complacent or lukewarm who are digging themselves a hole they don’t want to fall into.
So why? Why dig that hole? Here’s a few possibilities. ONE- Christians are afraid of not mixing in with crowd. They may be ashamed of being different or ‘set apart’; the exact opposite of what Christ followers are called to be- UNASHAMED (Rom. 1:16 which just so happens to be the theme verse of current Christian Hip Hop & Rap). Nobody likes standing out. But God says the choosing to follow the crowd or not take a stand for Christ against the crowd is basically denying Him which will end up with us being denied by Christ to the Father in heaven (Matt. 10:33). Two- Christians are surrounded by a lukewarm environment that’s seeking to swallow anybody it can get its hands on. The pressure builds and Christians cave. Three- We’re all being fed a monstrous and dangerous lie. A lie from the father of lies himself. A lie that seems like it would taste so sweet, feel so refreshing, and fulfill our satisfaction. It’s fed to us in such a subtle and sly way- and that’s the serpent’s specialty. He demonstrated this art in the Garden of Eden when speaking to Eve.
But we have a CHOICE like Adam and Eve: give in to Satan or embrace the TRUTH of God. The truth that can set us free and break our chains! The truth that standing firm in faith even against the crowd and majority is an act of honor to the Lord who loves us abundantly and never forsakes us even if it means us looking ‘crazy’. Galatians 5:1 says “Christ has truly set us free so make sure that you stay free and don’t get tied up again in slavery.” Flee being lukewarm and embrace true grace and love of the Heavenly Father who relentlessly pursues an intimate relationship with His creation: us, the Noahzites!
Ryan Walters. ‘98.6 Too Cold’ Founder, Blogger
