By Harold Vaughan
The one thing that separates God from everything else is His HOLINESS.
Compromised “Church-ianity” has worked overtime to drag God down to the human level and lift man up to the divine level. Humanize God, deify man — and sin shrinks to nothing in the minds of churchgoers.
Self-esteem, positive thinking, and psychological coping techniques are diversions from the ultimate reality: eternal accountability to a HOLY GOD.
Corrupt congregations deny the majesty of God by disobeying His moral mandates. Apparently no sin is outrageous enough to offend modern sensibilities anymore.
Discernment is at an all-time low. Sentiment has displaced Scripture. Culture is king — not Christ. Public opinion outranks personal integrity.
When churches condone what the Bible condemns, they are assaulting God’s holiness. The mental gymnastics required to justify the unjustifiable would be spotted instantly in a spiritually sane environment.
HERE IS THE PATTERN, AND IT NEVER FAILS.
Direction in a ministry is not determined by what is taught, but by what is tolerated.
Sins tolerated today will be celebrated tomorrow.
Whatever is permitted is promoted.
And the sins of the fathers land on the children and the generations behind them.
The short-term gains of accommodation are nothing next to the eternal loss at the judgment seat. Those who choose comfort over character in the here-and-now will suffer unspeakable shock standing before Him whose eyes are like flames of fire.
OUR GOD IS NOT A COSMIC SMILEY FACE.
He is “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY.”
That is why the warnings are so stern: since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear — for our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:25-29).
To the unsaved, holiness looks unattractive, restrictive, and harsh. The discomfort it brings to unconverted men is exactly why so many churches misrepresent God by never mentioning this despised attribute.
History is clear — neglecting God’s holiness is the sure road to apostasy. Congregations that legitimize the illegitimate rarely reverse course and find the narrow way again.
SO FIND A CHURCH WITH A BACKBONE.
Not one that merely claims to believe the Bible, but one that dares to PRACTICE TRUTH in a compromised age.
Spurgeon said it plainly: “Fellowship with known and vital error is participation in sin.”
Breaking with what’s familiar is painful. Staying true to Christ is paramount. In eternity we will all reckon with the choices we made in time — and our earthly decisions will impact the eternal destination of others.
God is defined by holiness. So are His followers.
Was Jesus “Un-Christlike”?
We hear it constantly: “That wasn’t very Christlike.” But have we allowed our church culture to redefine the word? Jesus welcomed children and wept with the grieving, yet He also overturned tables and called out hypocrites. The real Christ was full of grace and truth.
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The Evidence of Grace
One of Satan’s favorite weapons is discouragement, whispering that a real Christian wouldn’t struggle the way you do. But the evidence of grace is not perfection. It is life. Even when the flame burns low, smoke is proof that there is still a fire.
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7 Habits of Churches that Never Grow
Most churches want to grow, but not every church is willing to change what is keeping it from growing. Discover seven habits that stall church growth, from comfort over discipleship to neglected guests, and why a healthy, praying church is the one God delights to grow.
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