In today's Christianity we have basically the same problems that have always plagued the Body of Christ. Sin being the first and the cause of all of the rest of our problems.
In my opinion, the most powerful verse in the Bible describing the human condition is:
1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. (NASB)
I have come to believe that sin is simple to understand when you use the word “Rebellion”, to rebel against God’s Word is simply sin.
One element I am concerned about is the shotgun mentality of a lot of people who get caught up in the fear of the emergent theology. The damage it is causing in their lives and some even forget to worship Jesus. They attack anyone who has even an appearance of someone with emergent tendencies according to their judgment.
There are some that I know who have stopped going to church altogether. That is sad, we need to encourage them to become educated on the Word of God and to consider all of this other stuff for what it is. Just men and women attempting to gain notoriety, wealth, and maybe even power over people, a lot like the Gnostic's of the first century.
I am reminded of the expression of the 90’s that said WWJD or What Would Jesus Do? This expression is a perfect qualifier for the actions of us Christians today. If we would honestly compare our lives and actions to those of Jesus would we be pleasing to the Father in Heaven?
Philippians 2:12-13 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Understanding that we are created for God’s good pleasure, would suggest that the greatest satisfaction, the greatest fulfillment in this existence would be to please God. Everything else in this life would be settling for something inferior.
The emergent theology is exactly that, inferior to what God is working in each one of us Christians. The question we have to ask is, how much do I act like Jesus? Acting in a way that expresses His Life in us, which He laid down so that all of us Christians may live in Him the only Son of God.
There is only one theology of importance, and that is that Jesus came to save us all from the wrath to come and the lake of fire for for those who do not believe:
John 3:16-18 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Worship Jesus!
Bill Collier
