The Contenders For The Faith

The church of the Lord Jesus Christ will have no problem accepting that when it comes to the after-life, the Scriptures do not support a "purgatory" for those who have not been as faithful. (Saved or unsaved alike.) Unfortunately, parents and single young people can manufacture one for themselves in this life, that can be a great problem for the church.

THE MANUFACTURED SUFFERING OF PURGATORY
The Roman Catholic Church falsely taught of a place called Purgatory. This was supposedly a place of temporary suffering for unfaithful souls, whose only escape was through the paid for, unceasing prayers of the priest. It seems that, just like the Roman Catholics, we of the Independent Baptist Church, have manufactured a place of suffering in our homes, churches, and the very lives of our unwed children. Our suffering has come through the attitudes of our young unmarried Christians. I see three disturbing trends:

1. Disrespect. These young ones now see the imperfections and inconsistencies of their parents and pastor, and see no reason honor or respect them. They view them as equals only because they failed to realize that they themselves are no different. It is simply a pride thing.

2. Discontentment. These young folks, especially, make life a "Hell on Earth" in their homes. They have no respect for their Dad or Mom nor can they be pleased with anything mom or dad might suggest. They whine about not having a spouse, money, adventure, a job, friends, or even a purpose in life. They put Mom and Dad at their "Whits End" and eventually the parents give them whatever they want just to get them out of the house.

3. Dead-weightedness. (Yes, it is now a word!) A dead weight is usually good for keeping things down, but not much good for anything else. We see this often in young unmarried people. They usually claim confusion of the "Will of God" for their lives, but almost never have enough time for the Lord's work when volunteers are needed. They hardly give when they have little responsibility otherwise. You see this particular group usually complaining about how the church isn't what it used to be, or has little to offer for their age group. They complain about how the pastor is out of touch and began to miss church for extracurricular activities, or even a job. This group is never satisfied to keep it to themselves, but rather they will drag others down with them (dead weight remember?) for friendship's sake.

How does this happen? What has gone wrong? I mean you would think that the ones who would do the most, would be the ones who have the least responsibility. Pastors have to beg for help and come up with either disgruntled young people that are in a hurry, or empty handed. When financial needs arise our young people come up empty handed because their money is going to cars, games, amusement, etc etc. Families with children, bills, and much work often give more.

So what happened?

THE MANIPULATION OF MINDS THROUGH HOLLYWOOD
Just a couple hundred years ago the King James Bible would have an influence (No matter what the "Reformist" claim about the Geneva.) on a free nation that would carry on to even the 21st century.Because of the Bible's prominence, the truth and language of the K.J. has woven its way into the lives and vocabulary of even atheist, to this day. The bible was in Dictionaries, schools and their curriculum, courthouses, and churches. Of course, the bible is supposed to be in the church, and so are we. Thus, because Americans spent more time in the church house then in the movie house or the golf links, the bible attached itself to our lives whether we like it or not.

Sad to say, another entity has found an influential foothold in our lives just in the last 70 years. Hollywood has swiftly become so much a part of our lifestyle, that even without a television, the vocabulary and thoughts of many families and churches have become intermeshed with it. Our vocabulary, though somewhat dumbed down, is not as much a problem to me as opposed to the way we think. It seems our young folks have been hypnotized into thinking that they need more action, adventure, romance, money, more self-esteem, fun, and more understanding from the elder generation. (Because the older generation is so out of touch.) This manipulation of the mind has caused them to ignore the bible for their feelings. The Bible and the perfect will of God is no longer the deciding factor for their lives, How could they know God's will for their lives when they won't put Him first in their lives? Christ's church has lost its importance to them for jobs, fun, sports, etc etc.( Ever notice how they never make the job wait for them when it comes to the Lord's work???)

THE OVER-ZEALOUS, MISGUIDED, FAILURE TO TEACH THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD
Paul said that he had not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God to the saints as an example for those in leadership. Yet I see a disturbing trend in homes full of zeal without knowledge. I find them teaching that the pinnacle of success for Christian youth would be to find a spouse. Because this has become their philosophy they begin gearing their boys and girls up with only enough equipment to handle themselves in this situation. For the boys, they teach them Gen 2:24, Eph 5, 1 Tim 5, and for the girls they teach Titus 2 in hopes that they will be able raise a Godly family for the future that they themselves can be proud of. The problem I'm beginning to see is that our youth are ill equipped for the sleight chance that they might not find a spouse. Essentially we have failed to teach them 1 Cor 7. Paul that he would that everybody would be single like him for a good reason.
1Co 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

(Not because he was afraid of being shackled by a wife and children.) Paul taught that the single men or women do have a commandment.
1Co 7:32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
1Co 7:34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

Somehow, I believe, due to a failure of teaching the whole counsel of God, our single young people do not know how to handle themselves as Christians. There is a lame attitude today that simply suggest by action, that when you have a spouse or family you have a responsibility to please the Lord to save your home, while he that is unmarried should sow his or her oats to experience life. After all they have all the money with no responsibilities. If your saved and single, you have an even greater responsibility to seek to please the Lord in everything you do. Of all people they, should be the ones to give more, stay longer, and work harder, for the Glory of the Lord.

Paul said this.....
1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
This is not give only to a married young person. This is given to youth in general, so that they can be the example to other youth and yes, even to us older folks. How bout it young person, are you serving the Lord in everything, to please him, or are you serving yourself to please yourself, all the while taking others down with you?

This is just the first part of this series. Next part I'll shew you how to survive being single as a Christian.