James 1:22
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
Call it a part of our history as Southerners or even Americans, but most everyone around here has a “Christian” background or connection. It is rare that I find someone who has never heard about Jesus or going to church. In fact, most everyone I know is affiliated with one of the dozens and dozens of congregations scattered around Colleton County.
With so much “church” influence in our community, it makes me wonder why there is still so much wickedness, violence and sin in Colleton County. How can a person “go to church” or be a leader in the church, and yet their daily life is corrupt and full of sin? It’s as if there’s this underlying thought that you can do whatever you want during the week. But “as long as you go to church on Sunday,” it all kind of washes out.
It’s hard to believe that there could be that much hypocrisy among churchgoers. You would think that what the Bible says about being saved and following Christ would have made a difference in our County (especially since there are so many churches everywhere.)
I conclude that the problem is not a lack of churches, there seems to be new ones starting up all the time, but perhaps there is a lack of Bible preaching in these churches!
When the word of God is preached with the authority of scriptural conviction, people are called to a decision to either accept what God says or to reject and rebel against the very word of God. They must also see a holy example in the life of their church leaders as well. Disqualified “preachers” and “deacons” may fill the office, but they will not be acceptable by God’s biblical standards. Is it any wonder that people are choosing what parts of the Bible matter to them and which parts they can discard?
A real church is a church that is busy obeying the commands of Christ!
A real church is where the preaching is straight from the Bible!
A real church is where the congregation loves sinners and reaches out to every person with the gospel of Jesus Christ!
A real church is where a “Christian” is expected to live like a Christian every day, not just on Sundays!
It matters what you believe. It matters what is preached. It matters that we practice what is preached. It matters for all of eternity.
There are not multiple ways to Heaven, there is only one, Jesus!
There are not multiple lifestyles acceptable to God, there is only one, holy!
Jesus said that Christians are the light and salt of the earth. We are to be different in order to make a difference. If a Christian is living, saying and doing what the lost sinner is doing, then why would the sinner ever feel his/her need of salvation?
Going to a building on Sunday and going through the motions of a church service is not the point. The point is that your life is being challenged and changed by the power of the word of God being preached by a qualified man of God, and that you leave with a determination to live in obedience to the will of God.
Your life matters and what you believe matters, because that is what you will live and practice on a daily basis.
This county needs a revival and churches that are committed to the truth of God’s word! We need real Christians who will commit themselves to live in daily obedience to Christ. We need Bible preachers who will not hesitate to call sin what it is, and compassionately and powerfully preach “thus saith the Lord.” We need Christians to be Christ-like in their everyday conversations and lifestyles. If God’s people really practiced what we preach, then we would begin to be the authentic Christian that so many people need to see today.
