In the book of Romans, Chapter 12, verse 2. "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Think on this passage when you hear about 'inclusiveness'. Within the Church and outside of it, excuses are being made to find ways to make people feel better about themselves. The Church should be showing people how a life apart from the world is better that one immersed in it.
As another person put it on the subject "ekklesia means “those who are the called-out ones.” Simply put, the invisible church, the true church, is composed of those who are called by God not only outwardly but inwardly by the Holy Spirit. When Jesus calls someone to discipleship, He is calling that person to Himself, to belong to Him, to follow Him, and to learn from Him and of Him."
To take up your cross and follow Christ isn't conforming to the world. It's a singular focus on doing and thinking on what Christ is wanting of us.
Many times compromise enters the professing Church in order to gain people. That is a very slippery slope. To be conformed to the world, to me, is to take that which Christ has been working on in me and covering it with filthy rags so that I blend in with everyone else's sin!
An actor or actress takes a script, memorizes it and conforms to the part they are playing.
I have often heard in my life of people refusing to fight with or argue with someone else because they won't stoop to their level. THAT is what inclusiveness and conformity is in compromising the message of the Bible! This whole 'coexistence' movement is to water down all religions to say they are all accepted by God. They are not. That's still this inclusiveness, everyone-gets-a-trophy thinking.
We are set apart from the world. Charles Spurgeon said "Carrying His cross, Jesus went forth to suffer outside the camp. As Christians, our reason for leaving the “camp” of the world’s sin—even its religion—is not because we love to be strange, but because Jesus left the camp first, and disciples must follow their Master. Christ was “not of this world” (John 8:23); His life and testimony were a constant protest against conformity with the world. You could never find a greater affection for people than you find in Him, but He was still separate from sinners."
So really watch and consider what happens with your own motives and the things that you see in the church you attend. The Berean church searched everything they were taught to see if it was really found in the Bible. You and I should be no different.
Satan loves conformity and compromise. Be careful that it's not a description of your life.
In the book of John in Chapter one he writes "
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." Why? Because it exposes the deeds of darkness. It exposes the truth. A light is used to illuminate, to reveal truth. The purpose of a lighthouse is to show a safe passage. That is part of the mission of the Church.
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