via Christian children’s author Matthew Paul Turner announces he’s gay and divorcing his wife
In the enormous gathering of Christians around the world, there are many of them who are far and away different than others. Not different in any manner of a denominational sense nor any racial, ethnic, or cultural one either, but in a basis of faith. You want to know what that means? It means that, though scripture defines the aspect of faith over and over again, it is not defined in the hearts and minds of many Christians today. There is this whole area of the Church where those who are proclaimed believers exist, with a mindset that has fully embraced a liberal path in Christ.
So, is that a bad thing? Well, not in their minds it is not, but in the context of what one can read in scripture, the liberal pathway formed and fashioned by today’s ideas is one in contempt, not contemporary with living for Christ. I am not going to take aim at Mathew Paul Turner in this blog, but I am going to use his situation to make a point: in today’s Christian culture, there is a sense of freedom that teeters on unrighteousness. It is there because many no longer see faith as a basis for functioning in ministry or lay opportunities; they seek out all manner of expressionistic happenings. And this, like many other ill-minded things that have plagued the Church over the centuries, is nothing new, but it is becoming more relevant within a niche area of the Church.
Those who are actively associated within this area are all of the same manner of thinking when it comes to Christ and Him crucified, which is a life in Him that is to be an evolving one that equates to one dominant aspect, EQUITY of self, not faith. I know that statement is not going to be taken lightly and I hope it is not, because the real truth here is that Christs body, the Church, today is greatly divided over many issues and when we look at them we see a diverse manner of thinking is trailing along the edges of our unity that is actually rendering us inept in spiritual abilities as a body of faithful believers.
It is not that faith is no longer part of us; it is that it is no longer seen as something stable and grounded in the truth of scripture. Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Many today see faith as an anomaly that is ever-evolving, changing as they encounter new ideas and concepts, which they either accept or reject based on an experiential event. Faith is something we receive only from God; although it begins as a small, rudimentary amount, it is designed to grow and become the most stable part of our Christian life. Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
The fact that faith, as outlined in scripture, is not a creation aspect but a God-given one that occurs after we come to Christ, tells us it is not of this earth, nor does it grow by the ways of the world. When someone allows their faith to be grounded in liberal ideals, they are embracing a mindset that will cut across every aspect of the word of truth. This brings into their lives a struggle for peace and godliness, causing them to renounce many things that, at first, held them up in the face of adversity; today’s worldly standards must be denied to maintain an alliance with the idea that faith is not a fixed position in Christ.
As I look at the issues detailed by Mr. Turner and others who believe another path of faith is necessary, I see one thing common in their testimony: they see faith as something that must be flexible enough to accept the new-age mythology that makes creation more important than the creator. In that by accepting the aged myths, traditions, and cultural tales of every tribe, language, and tongue, they cannot hold fast to faith being only by the word of God. These people have developed the belief that creation is greater than its creator, a belief that, as my faith has evolved, has accepted the issues of eco-dynamics and the equity of all things.
Faith in Christ is equivalent to the truth in God’s word, not anything else, simply because it is equal to God’s standard of faith. The reason many Christians are falling away is that their faith is not built on the word of God; therefore, it is not capable of shielding them from the enemy and his evil ways in this world. Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. It is clear to me that if one has faith seen as an anomaly evolving in Christ and based on the issues illustrated above, then it cannot stand against the works of evil, as it is itself built from it.
The faith that is formed and fashioned by the word of truth stands firm, fixed on the fact that God is the author of it and affirms His faith is in what He has done. I feel pain in my heart for those who are being led off into realms of darkness by the world’s evils and wickedness, and pray they find a way back to the glory and praise of the one who set them free in the beginning.
Ballenblog.com 