Know what you believe.

Why do you call yourself a Christian? What is it that you base this statement on? What revelation tells you that you can take whatever parts of the Bible you want and ignore the rest? Where did you study, to obtain the great wisdom, to say some of the Bible is true and some is false? Where did that discernment come from? If there are truths and untruths in the Bible; then how can we accept any part of it? Why is it that you will accept an earthly scientific preponderance, that you have little or no understanding of, yet you discard a heavenly truth, that maybe be as equally hard to comprehend because it is uncomfortable? If your faith is based on only what you can understand and what is comfortable; is it truly faith? I ask you again, why do you call yourself a Christian and where did you get this Christian belief?

I ask these because we who proclaim our belief in Christ have received this knowledge either from the Word or from someone who has taught us the Word. The biggest reason many fall into cults is that they have taken the word of someone else and never sought to explore themselves. God does not tell us to have blind faith. That is why He has given us His Testimony and implores us to read and study it continually. That is why He has pulled no punches in It's content. There are several choices we are called to make that do not sit well with our human sensibilities. If I were going to write a book to draw people to gladly worship me I would tailor it to be easily accepted by all. I would sculpt it to please their creature comforts and desires. I have heard many people say that if they can trust someone, regardless of whether they agree or like them, that they can respect them. Why then do we not trust the Author of Truth, when He calls us to follow Him? It speaks to our sinful, prideful nature that when God says be one way or another, do not be lukewarm or I will spit you out; that we bow up our chest and try to tell Him, " You can't tell me how to worship You, take it or leave." We then call Him unfair and uncompassionate when He chooses to leave it.

So don't fool yourselves by deciding what you can accept and reject of what you think you know of God and His divine Word. MAKE the time to go and study for yourselves and see how much God loves you and desires the TRUE good things for you. In this day and age of political correctness and fence sitting when it comes to Christianity, you are called to make a choice. If that choice is truly God, then you will strive to follow His guidance in every aspect of life. It will encompass your personal walk, your marriage, the words you speak, the jokes you tell or listen to, the movies/TV you watch, and how you feel about your opponents or enemies. I always marvel at the depth and immensity of God's admonition to "Love your enemies". Because in that is where we truly show our obedience and our best chance to have the heart and light of Jesus Christ shine through us.

Do not take my word for any of this. Go and study the Bible and make your choice. If you are only making God the god you want Him to be; you are fooling yourself. If you truly believe in a heavenly afterlife, this is the most important decision you will ever make for you and for children.