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Is the Church Conforming to the World?
Apostle Paul encourages the church in Romans 12:1-2, not to conform to the patterns of this world. It was good instruction then and it is still good instruction for today’s Church. Greg, John, and Pat share how God has called his Church to be separate in the way it acts and lives from those in the world, those who do not know God. Yet when looking at some of the Church and the world it’s hard to differentiate between the two. They share regarding shameful things ministers are doing in front of young people in their church gatherings where carnality is being used to reach peoples flesh. All the while some of the Church has been so intertwined, that America and God look the same to them. Saying things like a certain political party is God’s party. God came before America not the other way around. The pilgrims came to this country to seek a place where they can serve God and out of that desire America was able to come forth. A nation, where a constitution was created that allows us to be nonconformists. We’ll see the Church in America come alive again, when we give up trying to, “blend in” and realize “friendship with the world is an enemy of God” and that we can’t win someone to God, by becoming what they are held captive by. God has called us to be a Holy people.
Walk with the Wise to BE Wise; Hang with Fools and Suffer Harm
In this moment of wisdom found in Proverbs 13:20, He who walks with the wise grows wise but a companion of fools suffers harm. Show me your friends and I can almost show you your future. The people we choose to have company with have a significant impact on us, either for the good or the bad. John shares how Rehoboam made a poor bad decision in regards to Israel, those who he was King over, because he chose to ignore wise counsel and chose to take the advice of his young and immature friends. We are reminded in 1 Corinthians 15:33 not to be misled, bad company corrupts good character.