Philippians 1: 27-28, 27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
Here in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, we find a full display of the character that a true believer will carry. These two verses make it clear that a true Christian lives with conviction and fortitude, from the time of conversion until going to be with the Lord.
Well then, is this the characteristics that we see in American Christians? After all, roughly 70% of people in America claim to be Christians. If this was indeed true, America would be a much different place. With roughly 2,000 babes being aborted every day across the U.S., and 800+ killings a year in Chicago alone, I would have to ask, where exactly are all these professing believers? How could total depravity (such as same sex marriage & LGBTQ gay-pride) run ramped throughout America if this is the case? Well, just like in the homosexual community, what people say they are and what they really are is quite different. It’s my opinion that no better than 12% of all humanity, are truly born again (born from above) Christians. Remember, that it was the Lord Jesus Christ who said in the gospels, “You will KNOW my disciples by the fruit they bear.” Not should know, could know, or might know, but WILL KNOW. And why? Because just as in our passage, the true believer’s bold confidence and convictions in Christ will force them to stand out.
The truth is, the large majority of American Evangelical churches have become nothing more than entertainment centers and community centers. The focus of these churches is NOT on glorifying Christ through the proclamation of His word. And when the Bible is read, most times it’s a message that is taken out of context and therefore, false. No longer is church about exalting Jesus Christ, but making sinners feel good about themselves and welcome. For the most part, the Christian church (and I use that term loosely) has become man-centered, not Christ-centered. All I want to know is where exactly are all these so-called godly overseers in the church, and why are they not protecting and guiding the flock? Instead, they are openly inviting wolves to come in and devour the sheep, without blinking twice. So, where’s their godly conviction? They have none, because they are NOT of God. They are charlatans and heretics, and are from the Antichrist. These leaders never stand out as being different, they look just like the world, because they are of the world. From what I can see, only about 10% of the people in churches are truly born again and regenerated, the rest are just in church for other personal reasons (to get, not to give).
And what about outside the American Christian church? Out of 328 million people in the U.S., we have 70.5 million Catholics, 14 million Atheist & Agnostics, 6.5 million Mormons, 4.2 million in Judaism, 4 million Buddhists, 3.5 million Muslims, 2.4 million Hindu’s, 1.5 million Wiccans (witches or pagans), 1.2 million JW’s, and 1 million Gypsies. All of these religions teaching a false Christ, if teaching about Christ at all. Therefore, they are ALL cults, and they too are of the Antichrist. This short list records only the major religions in the U.S., there are millions who belong to other cults and sects. Do the math for yourself, and you will see that by the numbers, there’s no way that 70% of America are Protestant Christians.
So, what is the true believer, who has been chosen by God and called out of this wicked world unto Christ to do with all this? How are we to live and respond to open lawlessness and falsehood? The Apostle John adds to our key passage, that we would know how.
2 John 1: 9-11, 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
When we couple these two passages together, we should clearly see why I titled this blog, “We stand out.”We stand firm in the faith as we follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, we seek out other true believer’s and lock arms with them, for there is strength and sound wisdom in numbers, we never fall back in fear when the masses are against us, but hold fast to every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, and lastly, we do not align ourselves with false religions, protests, or people groups that are anti-true God in origin. Note, that John says, “not to even greet such people.” Does this mean we are not to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ? Of course not, we preach in season and out of season. That is our sole interaction with this wicked and twisted world. But in doing so, there is never any true friendship and fellowship with none believers, until they are redeemed. If so, that is being unequally yoked (2 Cor. 6:14-18), something God forbids throughout the Scriptures.
When a God-fearing (not man-fearing) believer carries out these biblical callings, and lives by God’s standards (not the world’s) they will naturally STAND-OUT from the world. May we take a stand today and every day, as we live lives worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
By: Daniel C. Rodgers