The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry 
It is time for each and every “Christian” to make a decision. Will life be lived in accordance to the teachings of the Bible or not? There really is no in-between. One can’t straddle the fence here. Each one must also be careful how that question is answered. A “yes” or “no” entails much more than a one-syllable word.
If a Christian says “yes” it means being consistent to take what the Bible teaches, whether it is comfortable or makes a person feel uneasy. It means applying the passages that are difficult to accept. Furthermore, it may involve taking unpopular stands on social and political issues. The person who agrees to live by the Bible assumes that it says what it means, and means what it says.
The first foundation of those who respond affirmatively is that the Bible is divinely inspired. They accept not only the evidence for that, but the Holy Spirit bears witness in their heart. Second, they are convinced in their mind and heart about beliefs, practices, and actions that will not be compromised, no matter what.
Even though some passages of the Bible are difficult to understand and open to more than one interpretation, many are very clear in terms of what to believe, how to conduct one’s life, and what to be for and against. They leave no room for doubt, nor any excuse for disobedience.
For those who say “no” it automatically makes them a victim of the worldly culture, like it or not. They are going along with the flow of godless teachings, practices, and the tolerance of those who are aligning themselves against the biblical beliefs of the Christian faith. I John 2:15-16 says. “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father but is from the world.”
There are things the Bible says not to do, period. Christians need to abide by that, not out of legalism, but out of love and obedience toward God, and to maintain the moral standard set forth in His word. Otherwise, Christians become no different than anyone else. It has become a matter of a person wanting to accept what scripture teaches. II Timothy 4:3-4 sums it up this way: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth…”
The fact that many Christians don’t even read the Bible on a consistent basis compounds the problem. How many have read it from cover to cover? Perhaps they will find something in it that they don’t like, so they figure they would be better off not reading it?
One of the earmarks of a true believer is love for spiritual truth. Social issues of today, especially the LGBT agenda, are forcing “Christians” to be for or against biblical teaching, but it is not limited to this. It has come to the point, even in the United States, where one will go along with godless culture and beliefs or face persecution. The days of it being easy to be a Christian are over, folks. Many more are going to fall as the going gets tough.
There is an eternal reward, however, for those who endure to the end. Will you be one of them? Are you going to “endure sound doctrine” or compromise your beliefs?
John,
Thank you for this article! I agree, as Christians are we going to stand for truth or not? It seems compromise is everywhere. We must take a stand.
I would just caution Christians how they go about standing up for what they believe. Sometimes “persecution” comes because we operate in pride and self righteousness, forgetting that we were hostile to the Word of God until the grace of God – always the grace of God. It was never forced doctrine that wooed anyone to Christ.
I and many others voted for marriage between a man and a woman, but this outcome still happened at the highest level. Instead of fighting to overturn the vote (which God could have done) and broadcasting any way we can how sinful just one of the many sins we all commit is – to people who will only react with greater anger and rebellion because that’s how our “old man” acts, maybe we as Christians as people meant to be full of love and grace like our Father can pray and prepare for how we can minister, without a judgmental attitude, when the truth about the wrong of homosexuality begins to really manifest and people need help.
Maybe we could have compassion and come from a compassionate viewpoint – Jesus had great compassion on us, even while yet haters of Him.
I do wonder how many married Christian people really cherished the sanctity of their own marriages before homosexuals started wanting marriage.
I also wonder how many single Christians are still having sex outside of marriage yet want to say something about gay marriage.
We must be people of grace because we don’t deserve to act like judges. We can’t act like judges, and that’s the position we take if all that the unsaved is hearing is how wrong and sinful they are, as though we were different before Christ. We are still needing to be sanctified. Only God can judge and He decided to let the Supreme Court legalize gay marriage, and we know that he knows what He’s doing (or not doing).
I believe that a very strong and solid stance against homosexuality can be supported by research and evidence without speaking about in terms of sin and God, which is bringing Him into the picture in a wrong way.
The comments here indicate perhaps give a clue as to how we have come to see the day that they Supreme Court were empowered to dictate to us what marriage is.
On one side is the “God is merciful” argument. On the other is the “God is Holy and just” argument. It is a challenge to reconcile the two. We ARE all sinners saved by grace. We were saved WHILE we were still sinners. As we follow Christ we are to live out His love.
Jesus did not condemn us, we condemn ourselves if we don’t repent. He was not wishy washy about that fact. He was pretty clear when he said to the adulterous woman, “neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”
We are certainly in no place to condemn. But we do not show love by being politically correct and not sharing and standing up for Truth.
In humility, it is the cross that we have to bear when we follow the One who gave His life on the Cross for us.
What I meant by addressing homosexually in non biblical terms is if one wanted to try changing things in the worldly system. Bringing up God and sin is not an effective approach to people who don’t care about God’s law, nor is it benefiting the hearers with the full gospel, like God so loved the world. If a Christian can’t talk about God’s love due to the platform they’re working from, then they shouldn’t talk about people’s sins.
We really just can’t expect nonbelievers to have our convictions or care about them when it comes to making policies. God must open their eyes just like He has to open ours, but that doesn’t have to stop anyone from approaching an issue in politics/government they really care about to see change.
God’s moral laws show themselves true in many definable, quantifiable ways – these bring Him glory too. All truth does.
I absolutely agree Ashley. We cannot expect non-believers to care about our beliefs regarding public policy. That is why Christians, in love and obedience, should not be afraid to enlighten, the “enlightened.” They are “wise” in their own eyes, and too sophisticated to believe in “fairy tales.” Many have been hurt or have never experienced real love.
But it is for that very reason that what the court did last week is very dangerous.
People of faith in this nation have been deemed irrelevant by a majority on our supreme court, essentially making it a “hate crime” to speak the Truth in love. They took from the people the very right that was the basis for forming this nation.
Simply sharing our faith and God’s word is not hateful, yet if someone is “offended” by it that’s how some activist with an agenda may portray it. People are being forced to choose their faith or obey unjust, and what they perceive as unholy laws. the term “equal protection” has been so tortured that as it stands now, equal protection under man’s law, means anything goes…unless of course you are a believer. We can rest knowing God is protector.
But we MUST distinguish between when it is time to be gracious and when it is time for righteous anger. We must stand for righteousness, not in judgement- but in obedience and humility. We cannot continue to sit on the sidelines and watch the world be “democratically” led into hell. We could protect our own lives and livelihood and limit our religious speech so that no one is “offended,” but then what will OUR excuse be when we stand before God. It is Him to whom we will give account.
Every Christian should be on their knees asking God for wisdom. It is a spiritual battle. It will neither be won by self-righteous judgement, nor by silence in a lost world – that desperately needs Jesus.
Thanks for all the comments. All I am saying is for Christians to uphold biblical truth and refuse to compromise.
John, I believe in the heart behind your message. One thing God has really brought me to understand lately is that He is actually BIGGER than the black and white (and sometimes red) letters in His Word. He’s matured my heart enough to understand that it’s through His Word and WITH the guidance of the Holy Spirit that we can truly understand His heart. I don’t think our Gracious Father is as concerned with us knowing His every word cover to cover and yet still not fully understanding HIM. I’m so thankful He’s continuing to develop my understanding of who He is so that I can best represent Him in the world. Truth is truth…but love is most powerful!
You are so right, Heather. God is interested more in the intent of one’s heart, rather than following the Bible in every word. Perhaps I did not communicate that clearly. An important phrase in my article is, “love for spiritual truth.” This is in contrast to those who despise it.
However, there are many Christians who read the Bible very little and are ignorant of what it teaches. All they know is what their pastor tells them in church. Every Christian should consider the Bible to be their “Textbook for Life.”
Thanks for your comment, and welcome to the team.