Reconciliation Ministries
Designer Christianity
HOLLYWOOD
Crowds screaming, lights flashing, limousines pulling up and "stars"
parading down the red carpet. Every year the scene is the same at Oscar time. And as the
"stars" walk towards the entrance on the red carpet, interviewers scramble for a
quote or comment. The "Stars" are decked out, they stop and chat with reporters
and inevitably the question will be asked, "Who are you wearing? ..." Who
designed your outfit?" And they quote the name of their designer. The one who
designed their dress {or lack of it in many cases!}. Some dresses are outrageous others
provocative some immoral while others are considered conservative.
WE LIVE IN AN AGE and time where we have "Designer
Christianity." It is where people "design" their own brand of
"Christianity" some is immoral, like practicing homosexuals who profess to be
"Christians "[yet 1 Cor 6:9 states otherwise!]. We tend to make up a "God
of our own imagination" whom we "design" to fit what we desire and require
"Him" or in some cases "her" to be.
LIKE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, we have created a "golden calf"
and designed our views of God on our own interpretations and so therefore we have
"Designer Christianity" that accepts the immoral, tolerates the Un-Goldlike
behavior and practices and shouts "its all of Grace" as though Grace was a
license to habitually live a sinful life without care for God or His Standard. Though few
preach on Titus 2: 11-12 which shows us if God's Grace has truly reached our hearts, then
it will actively train and teach us! The passage says Gods Grace "teaches us to say
'no' to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and Godly
lives in this present age..."
"DESIGNER CHRISTIANITY" can also pass as "Conservative" in
appearance...
What are some of the "Marks" or Clothing look like? Consider these ...
"DESIGNER CHRISTIANITY"
1. - IN "DESIGNER CHRISTIANITY"...People are COMMITTED TO THE POINT OF
CONVENIENCE
A.- Haggai 1- The foundation of the Temple had been built but the Temple had been
untouched for 16 years. The People had time, energy and resources to build their own homes
...and when it came to God's Work they said in verse 2..."the time has not
come..." They were committed to the point of convenience. It was convenient to look
out for their own interests and even sound spiritual in saying "its not Gods
time..." Yet God tells the Prophet to speak to the people and say "Consider your
ways"? God was not fooled, amused or mocked by such "rationalization" Like
the people Paul spoke of In Phil 2:21...
B. -Phil 2:21 - "For ALL seek after their own interests, not those of Christ
Jesus."
2. - IN "DESIGNER CHRISTIANITY"..... CONTAMINATED BY THE WORLD
The world system which is opposed to Gods rule operating as though He is not the
end but man is, and therefore valuing supremely what self- centered people without God,
value most which usually consists of "Pride, Power and Possessions." These are
the things we esteem highly. We view "materialism" as God's seal on our lives
that we must be doing right because He is "blessing" us. We value position and
power and prestige in the congregation to boost our alter ego of "Self." We
pursue materialism as the end goal rather than God Himself. Happiness and comfort rather
than Holiness and Conformity to Christ is the pursuit of "designer Christianity"
{Consider the Life of Paul...or the Lord Jesus who had no place to lay His head.... would
we say these two were not "walking with god" because they were not
"materialistically blessed?"}
Often when travelling a person will ask, "what do you do?" Men get their
significance often by what they do, and depending on the answer people esteem those who
have wealth, place, and possessions. While our Lord Jesus says "the greatest among
you is the servant" and in Matthew 5:3 He says the Blessed one, who is spiritually
approved of God is the "poor in spirit" the humble one...."Designer
Christianity" lauds the "independent self made person" [as though they have
what they have without God!] God says that those who risk their life for the sake of the
Gospel, we are to hold him "in high regard" How often missionaries are subjected
to secondary citizens within the "designer...church" I heard once of a person
giving tea- bags to missionaries ...that had only been used ONCE!!! How shameful, but how
true our missionaries are not held in "high regard" because we do not regard
highly what God regards highly because we are contaminated with the worlds view of life
rather than the Lord of Glory's view!
3. - IN "DESIGNER CHRISTIANITY" -CONVERSIONS ARE NOT AUTHENTIC.
In "Designer Christianity" obedience is Optional!!
Jesus said "Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord and do not do what I say?"- Lk
6:46.... "Many will say, 'Lord, Lord....". - Matt 7:22 ...Profession of Faith
without habitual Practice of Godly lifestyle is not necessary in "Designer
Christianity."
4. - IN "DESIGNER CHRISTIANITY" - CHRIST IS NOT LIFE.
Paul said in Phil 1:21 "For me to live IS CHRIST.".... In
"Designer Christianity" Life is not Christ...that which they habitually think of
pursue and derive pleasure from is not "Christ". They cannot pass the test -
"for me to live is Christ." Christ may be a part of their life but not their
life...and they are lost!!
5. - IN "DESIGNER CHRISTIANITY " -CHURCH DISCIPLINE IS NOT PRACTICED.
Our Living Lord Jesus said two things about His church while He walked on the
earth...If He only said two things then surely they are IMPORTANT.
A. - He said He would build "His "church" -Matt 16:18. How wonderfully
encouraging the work of building is His!
B. - He tells His church to keep it pure - how to deal with "sin" [hamartia-
the most common word used for sin] among ourselves in Matt 18:15-19.
The issue is the Promoting of Purity in His church for His sake...
I WAS IN A CHURCH recently and shared a little on this subject. Later on
I was told a lady had approached the pastor about a sinful situation in the church ...to
which he replied they could not exercise church discipline because "the family may
leave." It is an issue of loving the people that we confront lovingly one another -
for His Names sake. If we are more concerned about people leaving than God being Pleased
we do a great disservice to one another and indeed can not say we love Him. For John 14:21
says "He who has My Commandments and keeps them, he it is who LOVES ME..." The
evidence of our love to Him is ...obedience....
In "Designer Christianity"- each one makes up his or her own teaching. Some to
be sure would call themselves "Conservative" or "Fundamental" or
"defenders of the truth'. It is one thing to Proclaim allegiance to the Lord Jesus it
is another thing to PROVE it through the Practice of Obedience to His REVEALED
WORD...motivated by Love for Him.
A Christian - Is One who belongs and follows the Lord Jesus Christ. Consider Paul'...
1. COMMITTED IRRESPECTIVE OF CONVENIENCE.
- Acts 20:24- " But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to
myself, in order that I may finish my course and the Ministry I have received from the
Lord Jesus to testify solemnly of the Gospel of the Grace of God."
2. CRUCIFED THE WORLD -
- Gal 6:14 - "But may it never be that I should boast except in the cross of
our Lord Jesus Christ through which THE WORLD HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED TO ME, and I TO THE
WORLD."
3. - CONVERSIONS ARE AUTHENTIC-
A. - Gal 2:20 -"The Life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God who
loved me and gave Himself for me."
B. - 2 Cor 5:15 - " and He died for all, that they who Live, SHOULD NO longer live
FOR THEMSELVES, but FOR HIM who died and rose again on their behalf."
C. 2 Cor 5:9 - "Therefore we have as our AMBITION, whether at home or absent to be
PLEASING TO Him."
Life now is Christ, we live to please Him, though our performance is not perfect the bent
of our heart is to live to please Him...to live for Him no longer for ourselves as the
rule and bent of our lives. If you get a compass and turn the needle east, south or west
and let it go...it will always come back to North…so the heart of those whose
conversions are authentic...our hearts continually come back to Him...to live for Him
...to live to Please Him...on an habitual basis.
4. - LIFE IS CHRIST.
A. - John 17:3 - "This is Life Eternal to know Thee the one true God and
Jesus Christ whom Thou has sent."
B. - Phil 1:21 - "For me to LIVE IS Christ"
5. CHURCH DISCIPLINE IS EXERCISED
A. Motivated out of Obedience to His Command- Matt 18:15
B. Motivated by Love for Him- John 14:21
C. Motivated by love for the sinning individual - Gal 6:2
"Designer Christianity" is all around us and in some cases it is "IN"
us...
"Who am I wearing today?", we may well ask one another. Who has designed the
Christianity I "wear" and model?" Is it Biblical or is it hat which others
have "designed" for us, or we have "designed" for ourselves?
God Bless His people and His church to live and fulfill the Purpose of His church which is
"...To Him Be the GLORY in the Church... to all generations forever and ever.
Amen."- Eph 3:21
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