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SCRIPTURE - 2 COR 6:14                                JANUARY, 1999

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

SUBJECT - COMMON GROUND (2)

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Last month, we were looking at the problems we have in the world, as pertaining to relationships between people. And we came to one conclusion, and that is something needs to be done, so that we can live together in harmony. With the new millennium fast approaching, we want to be able to get all of this hatred, mistrust, bigotry, racism, and all of the other things, that tend to keep us at odds with each other, behind us. We want to do this, not only for ourselves, but also for our children, and their children and so on.

One solution we were looking at, is one that seems to have a wide range of support. It is known as 'common ground.' This concept, that is widely promoted by a well known preacher, in the African American community, is one that basically says, 'we need to find one thing that we all have in common, and start building from there.And as I mentioned, I have no problem with the concept of doing what is necessary to live at peace with all of mankind. That is something that all of us, need to do, especially, those that name the name of Christ. In fact, the bible says, [He 12:14] Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: and [Mt 22:36-39] Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. So, as you can see, Christians, have little excuse, when it comes to doing the right thing.

Yet, as I said last month, in doing what is necessary to achieve this end, there is a line, I will not cross, and neither should any other Christian. As the subject scripture says, we should not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. And that is where 'common ground' as perceived by most of us, and what the bible says, bump heads.

You see, the core (foundation) of man's existence, like or not, Is God, more explicitly, Jesus Christ. For the bible says, [Jo 1:1-3] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. [Jo 1:14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Now, if the Word (Jesus) was God, and all things were made by Him, then that means He is our Creator. Therefore, any body that does not agree with this, is someone whose advice, I will not listen to, if it violates anything that the bible teaches. As far as associating with them, like on the job, or as neighbors, or even, in some instances helping them, when they are in trouble, I have no problem with, that is, unless the help they want, crosses what God says is right.

You see, everything that I do, I do, after considering how God sees the problem, and following the solutions He will accept.

For instance, most of the problems people have in this world, are the direct result of their own disobedience to God (sin). [1Jo 3:4] Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (Jas 4:1- 4) From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Lust, envy, covetousness, adultery, murder, lying and such, all of these are rampant in our society today. And, God is saying, when you are guilty of these things, you will suffer. Look at it like this. You continually sow the seeds of your own destruction, then you water and fertilize them, day after day, and year after year. Then, when that destruction blooms(comes forth), you then want help, to keep from having to suffer for what you have been doing.

Now, if you ask me for my help, I will give it to you, the way Jesus says to do it.

First, if the need is immediate, I will do what I am able to, in the area of giving food, clothing, or in some instances, money. Next, I will begin to tell you about Jesus, and how He can be the answer to all of your problems. I will tell you about His love for you, and His desire to save you. Next, I will tell you about the sin nature that you have in you, that is at enmity with God. In the case of drug addicts, homosexuals, fornicators, adulterers, gamblers, con artists, and such, I will let you know, that you are on a path to destruction, and you need to make a change in your life.

It is usually at this point, that I can tell by their response, whether they are taking what I am saying, to heart, or dismissing it. That response will be a determining factor, if I will help them again, and if so, for how long. The reason for this is simple, though it seems hard. Helping a person, to continue in their sin, will ultimately destroy them, and even endanger my soul. The longer they stay in it, the more rooted they get, and the harder it is for them to get out of it, because the roots are deep.

If a Christian, is the one helping them, then they see it as God supporting it. That is why I say, there are problems with the 'common ground' concept. The world may not see it, but then again, if we look at alcoholics anonymous, we see much the same principle. They won't, or can't, help anybody, that doesn't want it. And the person must be willing to do what is necessary to overcome the problem. Most of you, want to get out of the problems you are in, but, you are not willing to be totally free of the cause of your problems, sin.

Then, when you find out that people, that could help you, won't, (talking about Christians), you try putting a guilt trip on them. "Yeah, and you are supposed to be a Christian, eh? Where is that love of God that you are supposed to be showing??' Sound familiar??? You don't realize just how much love we (Christians) are showing, by saying no. What you are trying to get us to do, is compromise with you. You stay the same, and we lighten up a bit. When that doesn't work, then you hit the politicians, to pass laws, to make us give you something, so you can have the best of sin, and not have to suffer, for it.

Not meaning to rattle any one's cage, but most of you must think God is some type of fool, or something. Especially in this nation. We think we can arbitrarily go against what God says, and still be getting blessings from Him. 'BIG MISTAKE!!!' All you have to do, is look around, and see the results of this 'lunacy.' For the sake of space, I won't put it on this tract, but, if you get a chance, read the old testament book of Deuteronomy, chapter 28, the whole thing. Read what happens to those that are obedient to God. Then read all of what happens to those that are disobedient to Him. These things not only happen to them, but to their children.

And it is along these lines, that most people are suffering, or causing others to suffer. Hatred, racism, and bigotry, are the result of the sin nature that is in mankind. And there isn't one single thing you or I can do to eliminate it. Legislation and punishment to those that are guilty of it, has never, and will never alleviate it. It takes the power of God to change a man's heart, to eliminate it. And He will only do it, if we move His way.

Jesus said, 'How can two walk together, unless they be agreed?? How can light walk with darkness?? How can holiness, walk with unholiness??? How can the Church, walk with the world?? Only if they be agreed. Then they are, in effect, yoked together. If you have ever seen a yoke of horses, or oxen, plowing in a field, you will see that they walk in the same direction, at the same pace, and stop and start, at the same time. If they didn't, nothing would get done.

Today, with so many in the Church, wanting to be politically correct, and wanting to be at peace with the world, having sought 'common ground', you can't tell them apart from the ungodly (world). You will see them at the casino's. You will see them in the lottery lines. You will see them shacking up. You will see them doing all sorts of things that the ungodly do. You go to some of their churches, and the word 'sin', is never used. The homosexual, isn't committing 'sin', he was made that way, by God. They even have preachers that are gay, and they perform gay weddings. Two things here. First, if the pastor is gay, then, you are not in a church. Second, what they call a wedding, isn't. It is all debauchery. It is mocking what God has instituted. If you are a member of any group that calls themselves a church, and this type of activity is going on, with its approval, you better get out of there, quick.

Compromise, is everywhere. We have people, that come here from other countries, because they hear this is a land of prosperity, and freedom, and they want to have something better for themselves and their children. Now, America, got like this, because of God, raining His blessings down on us, because we acknowledged Him in everything we did. Well, these people that came to this nation, came here with the idea of sharing in the blessings that God has given us. But, when they got here, and started seeing Nativity scenes in public places, and seeing the 'ten commandments' in our schools, and pictures of Jesus all over the place, they got offended, and went to the government, to make us take these things down, and the politicians, and courts, ordered them taken down.

This is the only nation in the world, where outsiders, can come in, and make us change our laws, to please them. My question is this. Many of these people, come from other nations, where they believe in other gods. Now, if their god, or belief system, couldn't take care of them where they were, then why would they come here, and try to get us to turn to that system, and reject the God, that has blessed us to be the most powerful nation in the world, bar none??? And we fall for it. Then we wonder why this nation is slowly deteriorating in to little more than a 20th century Sodom and Gamorrah. That's what compromise with the ungodly will do for you. Our economy is failing. Our leaders are corrupt. Crime is out of control. Our teens are killing each other off, and having kids. Our schools are a joke. This and more, are the results of compromise with the world.

What can be done, you say???

First, we need to get back to the God of the Bible, Jesus Christ, and repent. We then, need to separate ourselves from those that want to receive parts of the blessing of God, but don't want to do what is needed to receive them on their own. This separation, may even mean, separating yourselves from friends, and even family. Look at what Jesus says. [Mt 10:34] Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. In following Christ, there is going to be separation. You can't follow Christ, and be a friend of the world, at the same time. They are going in opposite directions. Peace will come to the earth only when Jesus brings it. Man, can forget trying to make it happen. That peace, will be in a totally different dispensation, than we are in today. This scripture is what He brought with Him, this time. [Mt 10:35-39] For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Hard words, aren't they??? Well, I am glad Jesus said them, and not me. But, because He did say them, then I have to operate within the realm of what He said. There is no room for compromise, or 'common ground', unless Jesus is that ground, and foundation. Yes my friends, the concept is good, but the solution, that the world wants to pursue, isn't. To get rid of the problems, we need to get rid of the source, sin. And that can only done, through Christ.


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