Simplicity Lost! (part 1)

There are many temptations in the world to draw us away from God. For all who will listen, God tells us in great detail who will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven (1 Cor. 6). It is made so clear, even “babes in Christ” can understand. In the world, good and evil is totally being redefined, but this transformation is easy for most Christians to discern. On the opposite side of evil, on the side of good, there is an even greater danger Christians must acknowledge.

Satan’s subtle perversion of the gospel!

It is hard not to conclude that theological discernment is now a lost art among American evangelicals — and this loss can only lead to theological catastrophe.

~ Dr. Albert Mohler, Pres. of SBC Theological Seminary

This statement was made in response to the movie--The Shack. This movie is just one example of how the simplicity that is found in Christ has so grossly been lost in a gospel made so simple, it renders the sanctifying influences of the gospel useless as the gospel Christ preached is transformed into another gospel by unregenerate men!

God has given the human heart a sense of its great need for a transformation. We live in a world crying out for this change. Our president got elected because so many are demanding it and he promised to deliver real change to them.

Man’s arrogance and his pride tells him that he can transform himself and his world into whatever he thinks or feels it ought to be. This worldly means has invaded Christ’s church. False prophets/teachers have always been the greatest threat to Christianity, for the lies taught by them are so subtle. Whether by intentionality or by being self-deceived, it has resulted in the “simplicity that is in Christ” being lost. It has been lost in our worldly attempt to make the gospel simple for the world to understand and to obtain God’s transforming work!

The Church is being transformed, but not in a way that honors Christ and brings God the glory.

Man’s attempts to transform his own self is based on his limited human reasoning to go a way that seems right to him. It is not based in truth. It is a concept formed in his own mind and lives only in the abstract. It is based purely on how he feels or thinks. This false belief that one can make himself into whatever he feels he is or wants to be, has come to define our nation and sadly now dominates much of our religion in America.

You have “transgenders”—males who identify themselves as female and vice versa; “transsexuals”—people who emotionally or psychologically feel they were meant to be the opposite sex; and we even have “transracials”—whites who identify themselves as black or vice versa.

Man’s sinful nature will always lead him to transform himself by himself, and for himself. The simplicity of how God has made possible the complete transformation of what is bad, into something “fearfully and wonderfully made“, has been lost. Those of us who have seen His mighty work in us, know how wonderful and marvelous His transforming power is.

Amidst all these worldly influences, God’s Word warns us: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2).

Conforming to this world leads to certain death. A complete spiritual transformation of what our heart desires must take place. Man will either seek to transform himself according to his own will or be transformed into something good and acceptable to God by submitting to His will. It is done through the mercies of God and because He is love. When we present ourselves to Him as “living sacrifices”, all we are and all we have been given, a glorious change is done in us by His grace.

Our minds are naturally on earthly things. A “renewing of your mind” is necessary. Our minds must be changed to thinking like Christ, thinking on Him, and seeking His understanding. When our minds are renewed it affects our will, what we set our affections on, and even the words that proceed out of our mouths.

This transformation is a battle of wills—OURS VS. HIS! The battle is not a “simple” one. The simplicity found in Christ means–We simply have a single-minded devotion to Christ and nothing else!

The meaning of what a Christian is has been greatly perverted!

A Christian is not someone who is a member of a church, who follows a particular belief system, or who vows to live a certain way. A Christian is one who has renounced “self” and received Christ as Lord (Colossians 2:6). There is no such thing as living for Christ while still living to please self “whoever does not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple,” (Luke 14:27). Christ said taking up one’s cross means living a life of voluntary surrender to God.

It is the eleventh hour I believe. It is time for true and lasting change. It is time for the simplicity found in truth to love God and love others. It is time to wake up those who are sleeping!

What can each of us do to re-awaken the unity of a singular devotion to Christ in our churches?