Your Christianity is Dark — it Divides
I began this school year by making the long trek from Columbus up to Eau Claire, WI to preach at UWEC. UWEC is a small to mid-sized university in a quaint college town. I’ve included it on my fall tour over the past several years at the invitations of the good folks in a ministry called, The Edge.
A number of students remember me from previous years. One of the, Jeffrey, said he has listened to me for years was was disturbed because I preach “a dark form of Christianity.” His basis for claiming is? “You divide people. Jesus wants to bring everyone together, but your message divides people.”
To such an accusation, I must plead “guilty.” my message does divide. But is there anything wrong with that? I think not.
A key difference between Jeffrey and me is that I believe the entire Bible and he simply believes the parts that make him feel good. So, what does the Bible say about “dividing”? You might be surprised. Liberal Christians who attend liberal, mainline churches and who have been indoctrinated with a politically corrext Jesus will definitely be surprised. Let’s take a look.
One of the very first things GOD did was to “separate (read “divide”) the light from the darkness.” (Gen 1:4) Why did he do this? Because He saw that “the light was good.”
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai and the people had worshipped the golden calf, he separated the people. “whoever is for the Lord, come to me,” he cried out (Ex 32:25-29). Those who didn’t join him were to be slain.
The entire Old Testament contains prophet after prophet calling the people to forsake the idols and customs of the surrounding people in order to to fully devoted to the Lord. God hates sycretism — the mixing of worship of God with the worship of others. Elijah typified this call to separate from the idols of the land when he called upon the people of Israel. “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21).
Joshua challenged the people: “Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve… but as for me and myu house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15).
But is this type of “dividing the people” only for the Old Testament? NO! Let’s see what Jesus taught.
He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters. Matt 12:30
“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; 36 and A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. Matt 10:34-36
On Judgment Day, Jesus will separate / divide the sheep from the goats (Matt 25:32) and the wheat from the chaff (Matt 3:12). The goats and chaff will go into eternal fire; the sheep and wheat into eternal glory with our loving heavenly Father.
The apostle Paul taught the same thing. “Do not be conformed to this world” he exhorts (Romans 12:2). We, as Christians, are called upon to stand out at lights — like stars — in an increasingly dark world ((Phil 2:14-15).
“Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. (2 Cor 6:17). “Do not be bound together with unbelievers,” he commands. “For what partnership have righteousness with and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Chrsit with Belial? Of what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? (2 Cor 6:14-18)
I fear “Christians” like Jeffrey have a lot in common with unbelievers, darkness and lawlessness. They don’t like division. They just all want to get along. They have allowed the idea of political pluralism in our country to bleed over and become religious pluralism. And, as these verses and the who tenor of both OLd and New Testaments reveal — God hates idolatry and the mixing of true religion with the false idols of the surrounding culture.
In one of His last messages to the church, Jesus says, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Rev 3:15-16). Modern day, “postmodern,” politically correct Christianity that presents a Jesus who is ambivilent about truth, apathetic towards sin and just wants to “bring everyone together” in a lukewarm unity of new age feeling good is not something God approves of. He will vomit such lukewarm people out of His mouth. As for me, I hope I join with God in helping people repent, forsake their sins and truly come to Jesus. I will shake the fence of those who have one foot in the world and one foot with the Lord. I hope they come down on the side of Jesus, but if not, I at least hope they will understand where they really stand with God.
And as for me and my house, we will be “hot” and we will serve the Lord.
Category: Campus Stories, Christian Living, Culture
