A Counterfeit Gospel

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel.

— Galatians 1:6

 

I watched a very famous preacher being interviewed awhile ago on television. When the topic of sin came up, the preacher said, "I never talk about sin. I never use the word 'sin,' because people already know they are sinners. I am not here to beat people down. I just want to lift them up." However, I don't think that most people know they are sinners. And our job is not just to lift people up; it is to point them to Christ. So we have to use the word "sin."

A Positive Influence

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

— Matthew 5:16

 

When I was in elementary school, we had a little game that we would play in which we would touch someone and say, "You have cooties." Of course, we had to have a way to defend ourselves, so when someone would touch us and claim they just gave us cooties, we would say, "Not me, I don't have cooties." Then we would hold out our hands, revealing the handwritten initials, C. P., which stood for "cootie protection."

I think Christians are sometimes that way around unbelievers. They appear as though they are avoiding all contact with them. I can understand not wanting to be influenced in a bad way. But how about influencing others in a good way?

The Best of Times, the Worst of Times

Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.

— Revelation 12:12

 

Charles Dickens' novel, A Tale of Two Cities, opens with the words, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. . . . " That is how our world will be prior to the return of Jesus Christ: both the best and the worst will be happening at the same time. In the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, Jesus paints a picture of the last days in which both God and the devil will be at work.

Genuine Imitations

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy . . . having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

— 2 Timothy 3:1–2, 5

 

An oxymoron basically is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms, like "jumbo shrimp," "virtual reality," "friendly fire," and "found missing." Then there is one of my favorites: "fresh frozen." You might go into a restaurant and ask, "Is this fish fresh?"

"It is fresh frozen," the server will say.

The Secret of Spiritual Growth

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

— John 15:4

 

Imagine if I planted a tree in my front yard, but after awhile, I decided it would look better in my backyard. Then after a few months, I realized it would be better in the front yard. So I dig it up and plant it again in the front yard. Not only will that tree fail to flourish, but it also will struggle to just survive.

Oxymoron

We have all heard of various oxymoronic terms that are commonly used. For instance:

• Freezer burn
• Jumbo shrimp
• "Found missing"
• Deafening silence
• Genuine imitation

These are all self-contradicting terms. I have a new one to add to the list.

Unforgiving Christian

If you are a true Christian, then you must forgive others. Forgiven people must be forgiving people. That's because, as fatally flawed people, we are going to sin. We are going to hurt one another, whether it be intentional or unintentional.