We live in a deceptive world. Now more than ever, through the endless onslaught of amoral and unbiblical media in popular culture, we are totally immersed in a sea of falsehoods. With the widespread Biblical illiteracy and utter saturation of worldly concepts, the lies among are modern culture are more potent than ever. Simple but wrong ideologies easily control a large percentage of the population. All we need is Truth, the Truth of Jesus Christ to combat these lies. Here is what He has to say about the following deceptions:
- "I am good who I am, and I should never change for anyone."
This is probably one of the most popular and flat-out wrong lies in our culture today. It is completely absurd from a Scriptural perspective. For example:
"…there is none good but one, that is, God…" Matthew 19:17 – Granted, this is referring to perfection, but the fact is God is perfect, and God is immutable. We are imperfect, and until we become perfect, we must remain mutable. We are to strive for perfection, and thus recognize our imperfection along the way.
"…I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." 1 Corinthians 9:22 – We are to make ourselves whatever we must be (within what is acceptable as the body of Christ) to win the lost, changing our actions and habits for their benefit. We still must do this for believers, for we are to love them even more than the lost. - "Nobody's perfect, so it's wrong/pointless to try."
The scary part of this prevalent lie is the kernel of truth it is based on: nobody is perfect. However, the Bible clearly commands us to strive for perfect, and not to stop until the day we achieve it (which can only be when we die or are taken up to meet Jesus in the sky).
"Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:16 – Technically, holy and perfect are not exact synonyms, but they are so close that the message of this verse in undeniable. God is perfect and holy; we are to be the same. Jesus was perfect, and our job is to become like Christ, thus we must always aim for perfection.
"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up…" 1 Corinthians 13:4 – What does this verse have to do with anything? Some people seem to think it is wrong to try to be perfect, thinking that it is a prideful thing to try. However, perfection is achieved when we are like God, and God is love. Love (translated charity here) is not puffed up, or prideful. Thus, if someone is trying to be perfect, they will also be shedding pride and becoming more humble. Most often, when someone scorns a person trying to be perfect, it is because it makes them feel guilty of their own sin. - "As long as I profess Christ as my Savior, I am assuredly saved, no matter how I live."
This is painfully wrong, and also painfully common. Now, people often deny eternal security when combating this lie, but that needn't be so. The fact is, those whose hearts are God's will live their lives for God.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 – If we are a new creature, then we have new instincts. It is our old instincts that tell us to sin. If someone is constantly in sin, then it is only reasonable it is in that person's true instincts. If someone's true instincts are for sin, then they cannot be a new creature, and cannot be in Christ.
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 – You may see this list and say, "But God forgives us of these sins, and then we're not considered those people." True, but let me point something out. In the Greek, these nouns do not refer to people who have committed the mentioned act, but people who live in that manner continuously. These words refer to people who act like this as part of their lifestyles all the time. When referring to one who was once any of these, a distinction is made, although it is usually lost in translation. Thus, it is not the people who were these things but have been forgiven that will not go to Heaven, but the people who live like this their entire lives. - "Cuss words are just words, so they can't be a big deal."
It pains me to think how many times I have heard this one with my own ears. People today, especially a majority of teenagers, tend to have the mindset that words are just words, and cannot be bad. That is entirely unbiblical, and is an extremely dangerous way to think.
"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." Luke 6:45 – Think about what most cuss words actually mean. They refer to condemnation, sex, dogs, quite often bodily waste, and many things that simply are not good conversation. If the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart, then these things are what fill the heart of the person who uses these words.
"But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak." 1 Corinthians 8:8-9 – In this passage, Paul speaks of eating meat sacrificed to idols. He says that since idols are powerless, it is immaterial, but some people are unsure or do not understand, so their conscience would rebuke them for doing it. Thus Paul tells us not to do something that would cause others to be confused and sin against their conscience. Words are words, but society places certain types of value on some. Cuss words are generally considered wrong, but some feel that since words are just words they are at liberty to use what words we may. True or not, it can offend the conscience of ourselves and/or others, and thus we ought not to do it. This also applies to the Bible's elevation of a good reputation: to do things considering unacceptable by most will tarnish your reputation, and thus also your witness for Christ. Side note: this also applies to "flicking the bird" or "giving someone the Finger." - "It is wrong for you to make any form of judgment about me or what I do, or to tell me I am wrong."
I honestly have no idea why anyone would think this, unless they were taking a highly distorted view of verses such as Matthew 7:1. God gave us the ability to discern right and wrong, and to refuse to make any form of judgment on a person is to deny God's wisdom is giving that ability.
"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." John 7:24 – What does this mean? Well, it involves making your judgments differently than just from a glance of what you can see on the outside. Righteous judgment is to discern, in love, how similar a person's lifestyle is to that of Christ's based on God's Word. It involves knowing them and watching them. The Bible reflects God's heart, and a man's actions reflect his own. Thus, by comparing someone's general actions to the actions they would perform in accordance to Biblical principles, you may get an idea of how similar their heart is to God's. However, since you are looking at two reflections from a distance, it is still possible to make a mistake, and thus nobody should hold their personal judgments as definitive or absolute. Above all, you needn't bother making a judgment on one's life if you are not doing it for the sole purpose of aiding them in love, either revealing to them the faults they cannot see or assisting them in overcoming the ones they can. To do otherwise is Pharisaical and arrogant, and should be shunned.
"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." James 5:19-20
"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother." Matthew 18:15 – The Bible actually commands us to warn those within the church who are doing wrong, especially if it against us. This is to be done out of love, and in seeking for their restoration. God cares more for people's souls than for their feelings, and He's not hesitant to hurt someone's ego if it may bring them closer to Him. He wants us to feel the same way. Almost every time, if someone is angry for you mentioning their sin and calls you judgmental, it is because they know what you're saying is true, and they do not want it to be.
This is only a small portion of the lies that dominate our nation today, but these alone are a powerful poison to the spiritual realm. Souls are sometimes lost to Hell over these ideas, and it is the responsibility of us as Christians to bust these myths. Our people are desperately in need of truth: the Truth. Will we show them?