A December 2008 report released by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life listed this startling finding: Fifty-two percent of Christians in the US who attend churches that believe Jesus is the only way of salvation accept this idea: “Some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life.” In an earlier 2008 survey, only 39 percent of the Christian respondents said they believed that the Bible is the literal Word of God.
Living in a pluralistic and increasingly religion-intolerant world, we feel the pressure to become socially and politically correct—to not be exclusive in our faith views. At the same time, those who view the Bible as just a book written by men—not God’s Word—see no reason to believe what it teaches.
The apostle Paul warned of a time when “people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching” and “will reject the truth” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). To counter and correct this kind of biblical compromise and rejection, we are to “carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you” (2 Timothy 1:14; 1 Timothy 6:20).
To guard the truth, these things are necessary:
• Obey the truth (Deuteronomy 4:6).
• Teach the truth to our children (Deuteronomy 6:7-9).
• Study the Scriptures (Acts 17:11).
• Test the truth (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
• Hold on to the truth (2 Timothy 1:13).
• Teach the truth to others (2 Timothy 2:2).
We have the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, to help us (1:14), and to guide us into all truth (John 16:13). The Spirit will “carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you” (2 Timothy 1:14).
More:
• Deuteronomy 5:32
• John 5:39
• 2 Timothy 3:14-16
Next:
How are you consistently growing in your knowledge and personal application of God’s truth? Why is it important both to believe the truth and to live it out?
raptureready on November 19, 2009 at 6:30 am
The truth is being watered down by the flood of information we receive each day. 24-7 news, email, twitter, texting, etc. It is a constant barrage of “junk mail” entering our heads.
At one time I can remember that I could read a verse of scripture and it would rest in my mind the rest of the day. Now, I must write it down and refer back to it througout the day becuase my mind is invaded by so much stuff.
Actually, one must give credit where credit is due. The enemy takes this technology and uses it against us and our daily walk with Father God. Pretty sneaky stuff.
But, God knew and warned us ahead of time. Only a loving Father teaches His children to watch for the stuff that will snare us.
So I will write down a verse and read it all day to myself. Being a good soldier for Christ is to put on my armor each day and being a special forces soldier for Christ is to anticipate the landmines the enemy has set out by reading where the landmines are in God’s war strategy plan called the Bible.
mtshawaii on November 19, 2009 at 2:27 pm
K.T., thanks for this. And RaptureReady, you are absolutely correct.
The way I see it, the standard by which we measure things has slid over to media: entertainment, news, websites, etc. In and of themselves, there’s nothing wrong with them (ok, I could argue some of them are worthless). The problem is a lack of a firm foundation, which RaptureReady points out, is the Bible.
Political correctness has tipped the scales in favor of a secular way of measurement and judgment. And I would be remiss if I didn’t say that US President Obama hasn’t helped this when he says the US is not a Christian nation.
Let’s get back to basics. Hold onto the truths, the absolute truths in the Bible. With that foundation in place, we can be ready for anything!
k.t. sim on November 20, 2009 at 3:39 am
Yes, this world has become a very noisy world. Everywhere we go, we are bombarded by voices of this world. Our Lord did tell us to do 2 things:
– “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more” (Mark 4:24).
– “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them” (Luke 8:18).
We must learn afresh what it means to be still and know that HE is God! (Psalm 46:10)