I’ve noticed a sad trend, that nearly every time that a “pastor” is quoted in a positive light by the media, it is a “pastor” from some church or denomination that has succumbed to blatant heresy. These media sources (both liberal and supposedly conservative) love to interview progressive “pastors,” women “pastors,” or homosexuality affirming “pastors.” And in their “news” articles, they either present the progressive views of these so-called pastors as being representative of what most Christians think and believe, or as being what they think Christians should adopt as their beliefs. The truth is that by constantly putting these false shepherds forward as the face of Christianity, these media outlets are seeking to validate what is inherently heretical. They are trying to normalize their own aberrant viewpoints, hoping that through constant consumption people will come to accept what God’s Word has clearly rejected. On the other end of the spectrum, routinely you will find that when a sound and God-honoring pastor is quoted, or referenced, they are painted as a radical or fringe element to our society.
What are we to take away from such a disparity in media coverage? Are we to believe that if we would all just be more humble and accepting the world would love us? Should we all just compromise and allow women to hold the leadership positions in our churches? Should we affirm the practice of homosexuality? Should we just turn a blind eye to progressive agendas that undermine our Scriptures? The progressive “pastors” might say something like this:
“Stop being so judgmental.” They cry, “Let go of your antiquated definitions of things. Then people will come to us, then people will come to Christ, then the world will accept us – The world only hates us because of our judgmental attitudes and beliefs; lay them down and they will love us.”
Brothers and sisters, these are lies straight from Satan’s lips! Our Lord painted a vastly different picture for us. Matt. 10:22 records – “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” And in Matt. 10:25 Jesus adds – “It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!” People hate us because they hate the true Word of Jesus Christ. They can’t stand that the Word calls homosexuality a sin, or that it confronts their numerous progressive agendas, and nothing raises as much scorn as pointing to the fact that the Word clearly and repeatedly states that women should not serve in positions of authority over men in the church. It’s not as if Christians came up with these ideas, it is the Word of God that declares them. And since Christ is Lord of the church people hate Him when He is accurately described and His doctrine is accurately declared.
O if you think that you can curry favor with the world by forsaking the truths of the Word of God, then you are not a true disciple of Christ. If the world loves you because of your compromises then you are not a member of Christ’s household. Those compromised so-called pastors who the media adores and loves to quote, may seem to be eloquent, or learned, or compassionate, or humble, but they are not truly servants of Christ – They are servants of Satan, “masquerading as servants of righteousness.” (2Cor. 11:15) They are self-deceived, heresy peddling, Nicolaitans who should not be given an ear. It all comes down to this – If a man (or woman) covets the love of the world so much that he is willing to forsake the truth, then the Scriptures are clear: “The love of the Father is not in him.” (1Jn. 2:15)
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