What Happened To Sin?

What Happened To Sin?

Have you ever heard the expression, “Give ‘em an inch, and they’ll take a mile”?

It reminds me of the compromises taking place in some modern churches.

These ungodly distractions enter into a church and pretty soon the whole Gospel message takes a tumble.

How sad it is when we read news items like:

  • More churches are letting the culture dictate what’s taught in God’s house. Messages about sin, forgiveness, the end times, and salvation are bumped for more “feel good” sermons about what nice people we all are.

You can’t make this stuff up. It’s really happening.

As discerning Christians, we need to be aware of deceptions like these, and not fall for them.

That’s some downer news for our faith, right?

But God is with us, no matter what.

What happened to Sin

No one knows His divine timeline, but we do have the triumphant return of our Savior, Jesus Christ, to look forward to.

No secular movement, false gods, or future political agendas will ever be able to change or delay His return.

Praise the Lord!

All Sin Is Against God

As Christians – we must be discerning.

Changing the gospel message to satisfy cultural movements is a deception.

Can you believe the depth of the disrespect and irreverence towards God this all is? Changing God’s inspired Word?

Thoughts about the news items mentioned above prompted me to write a poem called “What Happened To Sin?”

It’s been on my heart and I was finally able to put pen to paper.

 

What Happened to Sin?

Who is Man to twist God’s Word?
Oh, haven’t you heard?

“The Bible’s too convicting,
let’s put it away, or we won’t grow our church,”
the false teachers say.

“Let’s only preach Love, and helping the poor
Just forget that Hell is real with an open door.
Talking about Sin will just turn them off
We must grow our church at any cost.”

“So what if our sermons are not “sound” preaching?
Our coffee is good and our influence far-reaching.”
We exclude parts of Scripture, so people feel good,
Jesus came to make us happy, right?
Don’t you think we should?”

“Why give a sermon about God’s Final Judgment?
The church will empty, they’ll find the message repugnant.

Keep it lighthearted and throw out the hymns
Crank up the amps, keep the lights dim.”
Light some incense to set the mood,
Leave the End Times out of it,
It will all be good.”

To those preachers, I say,
“Do you know what you’re doing?”
Those external trappings aren’t what churches should be pursuing.
We’re to share the Gospel and reach the lost.
Our salvation as sinners came at such a high cost.
Jesus came to save us – a Ransom for you and me,
His Word is absolute truth  —  just…let…it…be.

By Gracie Jane © 2018, All rights reserved.   

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Don’t Bury The Lead

Don't bury the lead

A lot has changed for the better in my life since my former career as a TV reporter, but I still miss that adrenaline rush.

I learned so much about writing. The biggest lesson of all – don’t bury the lead!

In other words, don’t put the “leading” information in a news story way down at the bottom of the report.

Can that relate to sharing our faith as well?

I believe it can.

Don’t Bury The Lead

The “lead” is the most important fact of the story, followed by the supporting details after that.

Here’s an example of “burying the lead”:

“A terrible car crash tied up traffic on North Central today. State troopers think that today’s stormy weather played a big part in the collision. The massive car pileup backed up traffic for several miles. People living nearby heard the crash and described it as a loud bang. One man died when his car careened off the shoulder.”

See what happened there?

A poor soul lost his life, and the mention of his death is at the end of our example. Our fictitious reporter “buried the lead.”

It’s a good lesson for a lot of things in life.

Don’t bury the lead.

Don’t beat around the bush.

Get to the point!

Sharing Our Faith and The Good News

As Christians, we’re not supposed to dwell on the bad news in the world, because we can lose sight of the Good.

And there is Good News, Praise the Lord!

We see mere glimpses of it in our lifetime, but as Bible-believing Christians, we can also have what is Eternally Good forever.

So why aren’t we reaching out more?

teaching about sin and salvation

Why do so many church leaders today feel too intimidated to preach the truth about sin and salvation?

The younger generation, (or so I’ve read) says they don’t want pastors preaching to them anymore. A growing number of these folks, although not all of them, want to change the crux of what the Bible teaches, so it’s less convicting. They only want the good works of a social gospel and don’t want to hear about sin, forgiveness, salvation, or the End Times.

Say, what?

If someone you cared about was driving towards a dangerous cliff, would you warn them?

Of course, you would!

Why are so many Christians pressured to bury the “lead” of the Gospel because it makes some people (of any age) uncomfortable?

Does this mean absolute truth now has to take a back seat to popular culture?

Lord, have mercy.

Whosoever Believeth In Him

The absolute truth of the spiritual battle we’re in is revealed throughout the pages of Scripture

Please see John 3:16, for example.

I bet you have it memorized.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16, KJV, public domain

God is real.

Heaven is real.

Satan is real.

Hell is real.

“Should not perish,” and, some will perish. This is why, once we have a connection building with a lost person, we must talk to them about sin and salvation through Christ alone. There are lives at stake.

The Battle Is Real

There’s a spiritual battle going on right now.

Don’t let popular culture, (Hollywood, etc.) dictate to you what to think about God. (“The Shack,” movie, anyone?). Nor, should we allow the culture to define or interpret the Bible.

God is most definitely our loving and merciful Father.

ongoing spiritual battle

But, God is also a Righteous Judge.

He will judge unrepentant sinners.

That means people that you love, who are living life with no concern for God or salvation, are in trouble, if they continue on their present course of apathy.

Here’s where we come in:

If they don’t know Christ, they are your mission field.

Invite them to church and share the Good News.

Please know that the road will not be easy. As Christians, we were never promised that, but peace in Christ can sustain us.

*No joy can excel that of the soldier of Christ: Jesus reveals Himself so graciously and gives such sweet refreshment that the warrior feels more calm and peace in his daily strife than others in their hours of rest. – Alistair Begg, Christian Pastor.

God bless

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*Begg, Alistair, “Outside the Camp.”  Crosswalk.com. 06 April 2017, Web Access 06 April 2017. Copyright Truth For Life. Used with Permission.

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