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Exposing Psychology, Exalting Christ |
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Reader Letter 2/21/06, 3/6/06
Hello I just
received the latest newsletter, thank you. It just never ceases to amaze me how
Christian people can be so easily fooled into trusting in the ways of man/ the
arm of the flesh. I must do a word study on the passage which talks of "many
will come saying I am the christ". I suspect the meaning may include or allow
for people claiming that their way is compatible with or aggreable to the Bible
Way. Anyway, thanks for all you do and never, ever give up. Your work is so necessary to the body of Christ. I just wish all could come to understand that the psychological way is man's way which is a stench in the nostrils of God. Spiritual Adultery is another term for it. Any attempt to realize the fruit of the Holy Spirit without killing the flesh is spiritual adultery. Any "life" we can come up with that comes seperate and apart from/independent from/ Christ is wrong for the Christian. To go into a "Christian Bookstore" today is sadly oftentimes no different than most secular bookstores. In our area the shelves are loaded with books that are nothing more than the wisdom of men, psychological theories developed by atheists embraced by christian authors and offered as "seven keys, or five languages, or nine things to unlock the secret, ten tips, twleve steps to... There are posters showing "famous" Christians promoting their latest book. We choose books by how "popular" they are and by which Christian “celebrity” endorses it. We are intrigued by and attracted like moths to the newest "light". We mass produce bibles that look like magazines. All of this appeals to the flesh. The surface. Ashamedly all of this flows right on into the church as well. Sermons are designed to accomodate the fickle nature of the congregation. Instead of the fallen nature being dashed upon the sharp and jagged Rock of the Word the word has now been tumbled to remove it’s offensive edges such that it has become a nerf ball lobbed sheepishly and reservedly for our consideration. Apologies are offered accordingly as the sermon approaches game time or runs over thirty minutes. Where in all of this is the message of the cross? Where is the message of Christ? Where is the gospel? Where is the call to come out from among them and be separate? What about holiness and sanctification? Most of the pop/christian books are aimed at coddling the flesh. We have become so psychologized as a group that most do not even see it. For forty years or more we have been sold a bill of goods. We've been told that we need to love ourselves. I'm okay, you're okay. Our problems are because of low self-esteem. It's your parents fault. It's the other guy. The problems of living have now become the main focus. Gone is the focus on repentence, sin, cross-carrying, the blood. Now we write books and give sermons on "How to have a happy marriage" or How to deal with anger. The list is endless. Don't misunderstand me, I am not promoting anger as a virtue or miserable marriages. But I do believe that the bible holds the answer to all of life’s concerns. Unless and until our flesh has been crucified, died, and then resurrected into newness of life, that is into Christ, we cannot manifest the fruit of the spirit. Today we are trying to manifest the fruit of the Holy Spirit without having died to the flesh. We spend much time, in the power of the flesh, devising methods, techniques and programs to harness the flesh (as you would a horse) and make it exhibit these holy virtues. We fool ourselves. One cannot live to the spirit out of the flesh. Typically when I point out how a song or a book or a sermon is quite man-centered I will get a response that says I am being divisive, critical or mean-spirited. For many years I did not understand why I was so uncomfortable in our church. I now know it is because the things of the flesh are antagonistic toward the things of the spirit. The one is down on the other. My challenge now is to absorb the harsh words and misunderstandings from others without becoming offended and lashing back. Truly, I love the Lord. I love His Word. It grieves me to see it held in such low regard today. To teach psychology as a cure for our problems of living is to denigrate the gospel of Christ. To offer anything other than the power of the blood of Christ as the path to victorious living is spiritual adultery. It is law. It is strange fire. To entice people with movies, videos, music, plays, drama, dancing, weightlifting, or tearing phone books in half is preposterous. It's as though we strategize to lure them in under one pretense and then sneak up on them with the gospel(which many times is really not the true gospel). NO! The word of God is living and active. It is powerful and the preaching of it is the only God- prescribed method by which men are to be reached. He is His Word. Today's congregation cannot sit and listen to an exposition of scripture that is unaccompanied by a skit or presentation of some sort. At minimum it must be peppered with jokes and anecdotal stories. Oh for the pure preaching of the word. Would that I could change things. I can change myself and over the last year I have been. I've turned my back on the old-man. He beckons from time to time. You know, the further you go with the Lord the fewer choices you have in life. So many things are not an option any more. Things that I used to ignore or think nothing of are now abhorrent to me. As I have grown in my understanding of how I am really and vitally identified with Christ I see my own corruption more clearly. Like holding a filter up to the light to check how much dirt it holds. He is the pure Lamb of God. I am in Him. I have become swallowed up in Him as it were. I have been extended ultimate grace and it has changed me forever. How can I ever again lash out at someone? How can I hold bitterness? He has saved me and given me His Spirit that I might walk in newness of life. This life that I now live is not, is not, the old life. It is an all together new life. Something wholly other. It is lived, guided by and prescribed by the Lord in His Word and by His Spirit. Not by me or my flesh. Not by might, not by power, but by His Spirit. The cross of Christ is the way to salvation AND the power unto sanctification. The same power that saved us will sanctify us. But only if we walk in the spirit. “Oh Lord, when the old man comes to the forefront and demands an audience, fill me with your presence. Fill me to overflowing with your love and mercy. Take control of my tongue and of my mind. Work in my life daily to guide my path. As I read your word speak to me. As I pray, speak to me. Thank you for filling me with the very life of Christ.”
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