You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder. James 2:19

The Faithful are Commanded to Be Disciples Not Christians!
 

Each day that goes by, I find that that Lord is revealing his heartbeat through the teaching of his Word and from the prodding of the Holy Spirit in my life.  I know without a doubt that God is neither a liar nor the author of confusion.  Yet, I find daily examples of how the faithful are being caught up and divided on issues that are clearly spoken about within the writings of Jesus and of those prophets led by the Holy Spirit.

Today we live in a world where by sin is embraced and were the faithful are ostracized.  We have thrown God out of the public venue but have invited every other form of deviant behavior within.  We truly are nation that has abandoned our God, but somehow feel justified in our disappointment that this God should protect us from our enemies.  We have leaders that proclaim their faith at the pulpit but turn their back on the helpless.

The Bible states that “MANY are on the road that leads to Destruction” and the “FEW will find the straight, narrow path that leads to salvation”.  Oh how true those verses are!  Many are those who call themselves Christians but live their lives in stark contrast to the teaching of Jesus.  Did you know that the word Christian is only mentioned three times in the Bible, but the word “Disciple” is mentioned over 200 times?  The problem we have is that there are too many false converts that have proclaimed that they are Christians – while not following after His teachings.  

Some of you maybe saying, “Pete, lighten up for I believe in Jesus and read the Bible”.  My answer to you is “Good for you, but so does Satan and he most likely is better versed in the Bible than you”.  But, can Satan claim that he is a Disciple of Jesus?  Can he claim that Jesus is the Rock of his Salvation?  Can Satan declare that he will forsake himself, pick up the cross and follow after Jesus?  Absolutely Not, nor can many false converts who put on the “Christian Title” if they were honest with themselves.

This truth hit me very hard a few years ago when I began to internalize on God’s word.  It is written that “You will know them by their fruit”.  As I began to reflect on those words, I began to re-evaluate my life in terms of fruit.  It was an honest assessment that sadly bared no real positive results.  I believed in Jesus, but my life was in stark contrast to his teachings.  I was living an average life but was not making a positive impact for the Kingdom of God.  Did you know that the only thing the Jesus ever cursed was a tree that did not bear fruit?  Yet, he repeats himself in say that, “You will know them by their fruit”.

So it is with so many people, who wade through the cafeteria of life, cherry picking the scripture that are full of grace and love, while ignoring the others that call the believer to action and difficult choices along the way.   Is it no wonder that the Christian community has a higher divorce rate than the secular population?  Is it no wonder that there are some within the Christian community that  want to embrace alternative lifestyles in the name of love and tolerance vs. defining it for what it truly is – Sin?  Is it no wonder that over 45% of the people of faith are consumers of pornography?  Is it therefore no wonder that the Bible is true when it states that “FEW” will find the narrow path that leads to Salvation?

In closing, consider the following:

James 2:14-20:

Faith and Deeds 

    ¹⁴What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? ¹⁵Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

    ¹⁸But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
      Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

    ¹⁹You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

    ²⁰You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? ²¹Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²²You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. ²⁴You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

    ²⁵In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? ²⁶As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

It is time for the “Churches of Believers” to get out from the comforts and safety of the four walls of the church to make a difference and to bear good fruit for Kingdom of God.

Blessings,
Pete

Check out my recent article, "Sin is Sin"
 
In God We Betrayed - Paperback