Post by Radrook Admin on Oct 10, 2020 3:02:04 GMT -5
Some Church meetings can be Veritable Masquerades
Ever feel that you are in a masquerade when attending church? I very often felt that way as a sincere person who was seeking God and truth didn't expect to leave a church meeting in a worse mood than the one in which I had arrived because of the blatant hypocrisy of church-members. What blatant hypocrisy? Well, here are some examples:
Church-members condemning racism, while being fanatically racists themselves.
Church-members fervently preaching peace, while constantly being in a quarrelsome mood, and easily flying off the handle.
Church members practicing thievery, while vociferously feigning to be pro-honesty.
Of course, they were only deceiving themselves, since God clearly tells us that a life in harmony with biblical teachings is essential for salvation. Notice how Jesus makes this clear in the scriptures below:
Luke 6:46
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
Matthew 7:21 ►NIV
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
Matthew 7:21 ►NIV
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Unfortunately, this is nothing new. Human history provides many examples of just how blatantly dishonest professed Christians can be. For example we have the Catholic vs. Protestant wars of the Reformation, as well as the Catholic Inquisitions and the cruel behavior of Europeans against Native-Americans, provide compelling evidence.
The Apostle Paul described this type of thing in his letter to the Church located in Rome and warned against it:
Romans 2:22
…21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22. You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?…
…21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22. You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?…
“Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits.” (1 Cor. 15:33)
Fortunately, such a masquerade can be easily be avoided by simply not attending the church services where it is regularly taking place. And, if we truly wish to please God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that is exactly what we will do.