There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
SUBJECT - PROGRESSIVE, CAN BE A DIRTY WORD
As we start out this new year, I first want to give God all of the praise and glory, for allowing me to get this far.
My life, has been a steady work in progress.
From being a hustler, pimp, womanizer and one of the biggest devils walking the streets of the city of Detroit, to being one who, has made a 180 degree turn in lifestyle, now preaching the word of God. It is nothing that I have done that has brought me to this place in my life. In fact, if I had had my way, I would probably either be dead, or a 62 year old washed up, has been of a pimp.
But, when I decided to give Christ a try, I found something that made me realize that what I thought was 'the good life', was a poor excuse to try to fill the void, that was in my life, that only God can fill.
He took someone that was on their way to hell, cleaned me up, straightened my mind, and heart, and turned me in to, what you see, today.
I am still not where I want to be, but, thanks be to Him, through Jesus Christ, I am a long way from where I used to be.
Progress, in any endeavor, is a good thing, most of the time.
From the founding of this nation, however you want to put it, every thing that we see today, came from, a sort of infancy, and progressed to what we have today.
Our own lives, started out, with us not knowing how to do anything but crawl around, cry, giggle, and all the other things that babies do. Then, through the years, we grew [progressed], in to responsible adults, I hope, capable of making decisions that help us cope with life.
When we either got a job, or started our own business, we learned how things worked, and through sheer diligence, and desire to carve out a better life for ourselves, and our families, we progressed in that area, and now, hopefully, are a lot better off, than when we started.
Yes, progress can be a wonderful thing. That is, most of the time.
People like to feel that achieving their goals, is the ultimate prize of what progress, is all about.
People that fix their minds on goals that they set, and then pursue them, are called, 'progressives.'
However, when some people set goals, and follow them, they may be progressive, but, their goals may be leading them in the direction of taking away from what they have already achieved.
Today, 'progressive' is the way to go, according the just about everyone.
However, when the mantra of being progressive, is being used to identify a Church, then we have some serious problems.
You see, even though the Church is called on to be an ever growing, and learning institution, unfortunately, the goal of a lot of churches, is anything but, building a way to growth.
Oh, they are being progressive alright, but they are going in the wrong direction.
Let me explain what I mean.
Before you can start on a journey, you must first determine where you want to go, or at least, start moving. Standing still, is no good. We all know that when something doesn't move, at all, it gets stagnant, or it is dead, and therefore, good for nothing.
The Church, as Christ has it set up, is to be a living Spiritual organism, that is on a consistent search for the knowledge and wisdom of God, so that it can be more and more like Christ, drawing ever closer, to that glorious church, without spot or wrinkle. Its goal is, Holiness, Righteousness, and Sanctification.
In order for it to obtain that goal, it must move on a path, that is narrow, and straight. It is a path that, makes no allowances for complacency, or compromise, when doing such things, lessens the image of God, through Jesus Christ.
Each step that It takes, is one that has been ordered by the Lord.
That means, Christ, and He alone chooses the path for it to travel, and He does not stop, waiver, or change His mind. His goal, is to transform it, in to the Bride, that He can present to the Father.
Anything short of that, won't do.
This path is one, that is totally against what the world [the ungodly] want to accept. It is one that breeds, fear, contempt, jealousy, and outright hatred.
Christ says that as we walk in this path, we will be persecuted, even up to the point of being killed. But, it is necessary, because if it wasn't, then He would not have had to suffer the cross.
So that is the line of a progressive Church, the way Christ wants it to be.
However, a lot of churches, are following a path that they have set for themselves to follow, that is going the opposite way to the one set by Christ.
These churches are progressive, as well. They are progressing along a path that makes room for complacency, and compromise. They are willing to do whatever it takes to keep from being persecuted. Like Ford, 'they have a better idea.'
When faced with the fear, contempt, jealousy, and outright hatred, that the ungodly show towards them, they will begin to sit down and ask what can we do, in order for you to like us? Their goal, is to make themselves, and ultimately Christ, acceptable to all, supposedly to bring them in to the fold.
The problem is, this is something that Christ will not accept.
You can't mold Christ in to what you want Him to be. He has to mold you in to what He wants you to be.
Have you ever heard a battered or abused wife, talk about how she knew her husband, was no good when she and him were dating, but thought after they got married, she could change him?? And what was the end result?? She realized, many times, too late, that she had made a big mistake. He was, what he was.
Well, on the opposite side of the issue, Christ is, what He is, and you aren't going to change Him.
But these churches, give the impression that all is fine, no matter what you believe, whether you are gay or straight, atheist, or whatever religion you happen to be a part of.
The apostle Paul writes,
Rom 1:21- 23 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
This passage of scripture, describes what happens when man, tries
to present, in this case, God, in a light that, in their minds, makes
Him more acceptable to the ungodly.
Notice the underlined part.
What they are actually doing, is taking God, off of His place of being Righteous, and Incorruptible, and making Him like them, someone who can make mistakes, and therefore, is not actually the way He says He is. He can change His mind. He has made some boo boos in the past, and therefore, is not worthy of all the honor, praise and glory, that He demands.
He is not the only God. There are many other gods. They all work together.
He will accept any type of praise that you heap on Him. It doesn't have to be from the heart, and if He isn't satisfied with what we give Him, then He doesn't deserve our being obedient to Him.
While many wouldn't appear to go that far, that is exactly what they are doing.
The progressive church
[they are the only churches that promote themselves as being progressive], is not a Church at all, but rather a cheap imitation, of the real thing, that gives people the idea that they can be in Gods good graces, without having to repent for anything they are doing.
Come as you are. You are okay. God understands. This is the gospel that they present to the world, all for one thing. That one thing, is popularity. the more popular they are, the more acceptable they are. The more acceptable they are, the less persecution they will suffer. And maybe, just maybe, that will translate in to more membership in their congregations, resulting in more money, in their collection plates.
That is the goal that they have set, and they are progressing nicely. Never mind the fact that they are leading millions of unsuspecting listeners, and followers, to their eternal damnation.
They even go so far, as to attack those that are doing what Christ says. Which means, they are actually attacking Christ, the ultimate revelation of their folly.
A progressive church, actually at war with Christ.
Jesus once said,
Luke 9:50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us. Just so you can understand, this also means, he that is not for us[following My direction],
IS AGAINST US!!
While many are out in the world, playing games with the name of Christ, there are those of us, that take our work seriously. When it is called for, we hold our peace, and when it is called for, we will preach the Word, stand on the Word, and go forth and attack the very gates of hell, to tear them down, so the captives can be set free.
Beware of any church, or christian that promotes themselves as being progressive.
Because in this case, it is a dirty word.
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