One night I was having a discussion with one of my friends
and he was telling me about a conversation he had with a friend of his
the night before, he said how they were talking about the Tropic of Cancer and
seasons and so on, but the minute he started talking about God and the Bible
his friend said, "Why are you talking about God?". I told him I guess she
would have preferred it if you waited for Sunday, the usual time allotted for
discussing God by faux Christians. This reminded me of a familiar situation
that occurred between me and a friend who claims to be a Christian. He attends
church on Sundays but throughout the week he doesn't show any interest in
talking about God or anything biblical, in fact he has a complete disdain for
it outside of church or church oriented events. I live in a country where the
majority are self professed Christians yet live ungodly lives, they say we're a
"Christian Nation" when in fact we’re very very far from it, more
like Sunday morning Christians and weekday do-your-own-thing Christians.
People here go to church just about every Sunday and if you
don't go you’re not a "good Christian" or even a Christian at all,
because a prerequisite in order to be considered a true Christian is your
ritual attendance every Sunday morning in a Church service, ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, this is not to be mistaken with anyone thinking I am against attending church,
it's good to fellowship with a group of other (true) believers, whether it is in
a congregation on Sunday or a small group, for where two or three are gathered
in God's name He's in the midst, Matthew 18:20. These type of gatherings are
not bad, however if your intentions are far from God, if the only reason you're there is because "that's what Christians do on Sunday” you missed the entire point.
Throughout the week you rather not be bothered with any talk
of God, but on Sunday your weeping and falling on your knees, singing and
dancing, singing glory to God, jumping around. Persons like this
God speaks very clearly concerning there actions, “I hate, I despise your
religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring
me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring
choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But
let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” Amos 5:21-24
These persons think they can compartmentalize their praise
and worship to God, separate into distinct parts, categories, or compartments,
but God wants nothing to do with that type of attitude, He doesn't want you to be disingenuous but sincere and humble. You can keep your
hypocritical praise, your empty songs, you can drop the pretense God isn't a
fool. These are the persons who say that they're Christians, and zealously
protest against poverty, racism, rape, homosexuality, sex trafficking, other sins and social injustices, but draw the line when it comes to fornication, adultery and the love of money. As long as you're not protesting against something their struggling
against they're fine, a parameter is set when it comes to things they enjoy doing
or don't see wrong based on their own understanding.
These are the ones who sit front row in the congregation yet
lay beside other women husbands that very same night, knowing we are called to
hate and reject and expose evilness. These are the ones that protest against murder, yet
support pro-choice. These are the ones that will not entertain any talk of God throughout
the week, yet they will be the first one in church Sunday morning tambourine in hand, they are fools thinking they will be blessed, thinking they are indeed
secure to get into heaven because of their tithes and artificial praise, and
disingenuous prayers. "And when you pray, you shall not be like the
hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners
of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they
have their reward." Matthew 6:5.
We know God is loving, but who said God is tolerant of
foolery, sin, wickedness, iniquities? Is he not just? Will he not pay each
person according to their works? Pursue Truth! Pursue righteousness! Pursue wisdom and understanding! Live Holy for He is Holy! A lot
of persons say, "But we're not perfect", which is true, however, the aim
is perfection. God will sanctify those He calls. Jesus was perfect and we're to be like Him, though
their may be times where we may fall we have God's grace and mercy to catch us like a net. "Moreover the law entered, that the
offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:"
Romans 5:20. What a mighty loving God we serve. Being a Christian is a way of life, it’s not words
and works alone but a walk, praise and worship is not something you
compartmentalize, you place aside for an hour or two at the start of the week,
it’s to be woven into your daily life, set
in such a way that it becomes as natural as breathing. I have my own struggles and know I need God’s
help, grace and mercy in order to walk circumspectly
daily. Don’t be a fool or wise in your own eyes, thinking you don't need God. What can be done with a person
who claims they already know God and has a relationship with him yet their
actions contradict this?
"Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more
hope for a fool than for him." Proverbs 26:12
