Decisions, Decisions

We have to make a decision.  You and I have to decide what we believe about the Bible.  Every day as Christians we are faced with a growing tide of pressure to conform the Bible to the world around us.  We live in very interesting time in where we are constantly being hard-pressed to conform into the mold of thinking that is contrary to Biblical truth.  You will make a decision, either you will be conformed to the world or you will decide the Bible is going to conform you. 

Not too long ago I found myself in a conversation with several youth leaders at seminary and they brought to light a thought I hadn't had before.  The youth today are pressured in ways we never were.  Their friends and peers expect them to think like they do and when they don’t there is enormous pressure exerted on them to conform.  They are told they hate the other person because they don’t agree, plus they are bombarded by a social media message 24/7.  It never ends and the challenge for them to live out their faith is almost impossible. 

Even adults are faced with this pressure to conform to new social standards.  Now when we look out our window there is a different world out there, right now riots are happening in Baltimore, there are Christians being killed in the Middle East and no one seems all too concerned.  How are going to live out our faith in this changing world?  We have to make a decision.  We are being forced out from the shadow of ambiguity and are being forced to make a stand.  Now isn't the time to sit on the fence, our children need us, the world needs Christ now. 

Scripture tells us “Not to be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind” (Romans 12:2).  Where you stand with scripture is going to determine how you are going to live out your life now.  If you believe the Bible is a book to be interrupted by person experience, in light cultural standards you are going to fit into the age just fine and should find it easy going, church will be optional.  But if you make a stand that the Bible is absolute truth, and believe it’s the Word of God and hold to the Bible as being the standard for all moral good, you are going to find the world unwelcoming.  You will make a decision. 

Our children need us to make a decision, our grandchildren need us to make a decision.  Our young adults need us to make a decision, our country needs us to make a decision.  The world needs to see us stand for Jesus Christ and His glory and that will only happen if we stand with the Bible.  For it is through the Word of God we know God, we know His Son, and know the Holy Spirit.  How you view the Bible matters, you will make a decision if you haven’t already.  My prayer is you will stand on the truth of scripture.  That you will humble yourself and not conform the Bible to your own standard, but that you would be shaped by scripture.