• In this modern world we live in, which according to the Bible is in its "last days" (as the new testament says it was already the "last days" in the first century) - in these times the Bible says that men will be lovers of self, lovers of pleasure, disobedient, and generally opposing authority, of which God is chief.

Thus, I want to discuss how this last days trend toward evil has even crept into the Church - modern Christianity.

Now don't get me wrong, I love some aspects of modern Christianity as well. Thus, my "love-hate" relationship with modern Christianity.

To talk about exactly what it is that irks me about the belief system and sentiments I find disgusting in some forms of modern Christianity, I think talking about some of its music and lyrics would be a good place to start.

In a nutshell, some of these songs - mind you, not ALL, but some, end up having a very ME ME ME theology, declaring falsely, and in affect, trying to FORCE God to just keep giving never ending grace and acceptance despite the fact that "I just sinned and rebelled against Him 10,000 times..." And the idea that the fact that I sinned so badly was actually a good thing because it revealed just how much grace God has. God has grace, and it indeed is amazing - Him taking all our sin on the cross in suffering so we can be forgiven of it all! Our sin is not a good thing, and it is immensely sad that the God-man Jesus had to suffer so much for us. Yes, it is amazing just how far His love will go, but the way some songs paint it, they do not revere Christ for His sacrifice of love, which should make us shun sin with all we are so as to not so-to-speak crucify Him again by willingly returning to sin. Instead, it ends up sounding more like LICENSE to sin and relax our standards, failing to communicate the evilness of sin. The Bible teaches that His grace and Spirit strengthens us and helps us walk RIGHTEOUSLY and AVOID sin! What I'm getting at is that the respect due God, the reverence, the effort to walk holy, is many times missing from these songs.

Another thing I see is this "anti-shame" culture. When you really get outside the church - or sometimes shamefully inside the church, you see anti-shame (or PRIDE) expressed regarding sexual abominations that these people should in reality be ashamed of. Instead they boast in their perversion, calling it "freedom" and "enlightened". But more in the church, there is this anti-shame concerning coming to God. That God just loves you as you are and you can just waltz right into His kingdom and throne room just as you are, with no need to have respect for His ways or to - in respect for Him -, repent for sin and ask for forgiveness when you come to Him. Yes, the father of the prodigal son ran to him and embraced him when he saw him coming home - before the son said anything -- but when you think about it, the very fact that the son was coming home implies that he intended to be reconciled with his father - and reconciliation means making amends for your wrongs.

But yes, God DOES have intense love for His creation of mankind, and He was WILLING to suffer excruciating pain and die for us - reaching out to us before we made an effort to reach out to Him! And as we were helpless to do anything to secure eternal life again after the fall, HE did it. It's just, the point is, this grace LEADS to sanctification, to FOLLOWING Him and making Him Lord of our lives as well. And many times this is missing in the preaching and singing of modern Christianity.

Another issue.. Again, as reflected in the music, if you turn on Christian radio today, there is basically NO mention of God's justice, discipline, or punishment - hardly any songs that in reverence refer to God's legitimate right to judge His creation. Instead, it is more humanistic -- all easy nice messages that God is only love - politically correct "positivity" at the cost of forsaking biblical truth. They might focus in on verses like "the Son did not come to judge the world but to save the world" from John 3, but they fail to see the whole picture. Jesus mentioned that on judgment day - when the dead - evil and good - are resurrected, that he will SEPARATE the sheep (good) from the goats (bad) and those that called Him Lord Lord but who remained in the state of practicing lawlessness will have to depart from Him into darkness and suffering!

Yes, He came to save, but he's also coming again as the reigning King of all to do justice in the earth - reward the good, punish the evil - each according to his works, it says.

So we as humans have a responsibility to our Creator - based on His standards and the conscience he puts in our hearts, to avoid evil defined by His commandments and love Him and our neighbor with all we have.

Grace does not equal permission to sin or laxness. Grace is a precious gift that gives us a new start so we can do it right the second time. His Holy Spirit in us is righteous, and will work out righteousness in our deeds if we allow Him to.

In conclusion, some flavors of modern Christianity and its music really are a stench in my nostrils as they promote selfishness and pride and laxness regarding sin, focusing on ME ME ME - what can I get, how can God bless ME, instead of how we as the created beings can reverence and serve our Creator, the Master of all, with thanksgiving, yes, for His immense grace, but as the hymnist so truly said, "grace my fears relieved" -- because He forgave us, but ALSO, "twas grace that taught my heart to fear!" We have holy reverence (fear) of the Lord when we see what His grace (and our sin) cost Him, and how we should never want to make Him suffer or grieve Him again with our sin.

That is why I promote flavors of faith more like Messianic Judaism or Hebrew Roots, that reverence God and His commandments, and seek to please Him - loving Him with all, and our neighbor as ourself.

I pray you receive the Lord's immense grace indeed, and are so THANKFUL to Him for it that it leads you to forsake selfishness and sin, and take up the cross to give your life in service of Him and others, the noblest way to live.

And yes, also enjoy the blessings that He does pour out on us to enjoy, our family, vacations, good food, laughter, beauty, music, etc.

He is GOOD to us. We should return the favor!

Shalom, peace to you who seek the Lord in sincerity.

-Greg

For more faith-building material from Greg, visit www.mishpatvchesed.com.