166Factor
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Valor Center
  • Bookstore
  • Donate
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Valor Center
  • Bookstore
  • Donate

Reasons the Church Has Lost Her Moral Clarity

10/30/2009

Comments

 
Picture
The Scriptures clearly spell out the peril of mixture and the need to keep things clear of compromise & wishy-washiness.

The first reason the church has lost the capacity to judge itself is because there’s such a profound lack of moral authority in leadership. How can we understand true righteous judgment if we don’t comprehend the fact that God called the church to judge itself and keep itself pure first? “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)
The second reason the church has lost its capacity to judge itself is a fear of making moral judgments based on the present atmosphere of “tolerance” and political correctness in the world. There is a pervading atmosphere now in our society that we are not to make a call about anything. The question, “Who am I to say that is wrong?” rings through our minds. We feel if we hold something up to the standard of the truth of the Word of God we are judging and somehow being a hypocrite. Peter describes this moral ambiguity as “falling from your own steadfastness”. “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:17-18)

Many Christian leaders abstain from dealing with these unpleasant things by quoting Matthew 7, where Jesus commanded us to “judge not”. This can be a cop-out to excuse our non-involvement. Also, many are afraid of them being persecuted or scrutinized so they don’t even challenge things, even when they know it is wrong. This passage was about making spiritual calls, not rash judgments based on our own opinions, bias, preferences or operating in the flesh based on outward appearances.

“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (Matthew 7:24)

“…for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (2 Samuel 16:7)

While we are warned not to judge outwardly, we still have a clear responsibility to take an uncompromising stand for the very clear biblical standards concerning integrity, marriage, homosexuality and purity. Someone must stand up and call these things by the light of clear biblical standards instead of looking the other way. While denominations can separate Christians based on an interpretation of one or two scripture passages, these things are exceedingly clear. We must call light, light and darkness, darkness. The first area we must judge is ourselves and the church.

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)
​
One of the great end-time battles will require us to stand up for Truth against a great end-time wave of lawlessness.
Comments

    Author

    Pastor Marc Lawson

    Archives

    July 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    July 2011
    March 2011
    October 2009
    September 2009

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

About

There are 168 hours in every week. The 166 Factor is the answer to the question: "Who are you the OTHER 166 hours a week when you are NOT in church?" Join the community here as we will be discussing this and other topics related to Reformation in the Church, The End of Church (As We Know It) & The 166 Lifestyle.

Site Info

About
Blog
​
Valor Center
Bookstore
Donate
© COPYRIGHT 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.