The "you" is referring to us beloved. But the church is losing its flavor. It is becoming more and more bland as compromise after compromise piles up. The Pope says that everyone goes to heaven and mega church pastors say they aren't "gifted" to preach doctrine. We are no longer that shining city on a hill. The beacon of hope for the lost. We are slowly becoming like the world. Inch by inch. Do you think that world doesn't look at our "hallelujah parties" and laugh? Shining city on a hill? No beloved. We are becoming hidden again. Blurred into the shadows of this world because we refuse to stand for what the Bible says we should stand for. Instead of seeking to be different from a world that is consigning everyone to hell we seek to be relevant to it. God help us.
I understand this is not an easy teaching. I understand that as parents it is even harder. God never promised that following Him would be easy. I have gone through this before and still had people say to me - "so you think we should forbid our kids from Halloween?" To that I say - you have missed the point. YOU shouldn't want your kids to have anything to do with Halloween. Not only because of the obvious spiritual dangers involved but it is clearly not what God would want.
Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don't participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. - Ephesians 5: 6-11 (ESV)
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. - 1Corinthians 10: 21 (ESV)
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22: 6 (ESV)
Let us consider what God has to say.
Reverend Anthony Wade - 10/26/2013
