The Bible admonishes us to be faithful and true to God. We are to read his Word, allow ourselves to be influenced by the Holy Spirit, and let our actions speak louder than words. We are also encouraged to grow in the Lord, to exercise our faith in him, and to apply the instructions he has given us in the Bible.
Unfortunately, there are those among us who have accepted Christ as their personal Savior, but the profession they declare falls short of the admonition in which we are to be mature, fully developed. That means there are those people who are professing Christians, yet their lives are inconsistent with what God expects of us.
The Apostle Paul was thorough in his description of such people. He explained the tragedy of watered-down faith. He redirects us to a higher level of service to God.
In 2 Corinthians 10:7, 12 he encourages us not to look on the outward appearance of people who measure themselves by themselves.
In 1 Corinthians 2: 14-16; 3: 1-4 he designates the state of people as natural man, carnal man, and spiritual man. The natural man is attuned to his physical condition and senses. . The carnal man Paul calls babes who are attuned only to the basics of the Christian life. The spiritual man is attuned to the holy and communes with God.
In James 1: 6-8 we read, how the writer describes people who are unstable in their thinking. He indicates them as being on the ocean pounded by the waves back and forth. He also calls them double minded and that they are unstable in how they live. This Christian is susceptible to confusion and teachings that are contradictory to the Bible.
In the same chapter verses 26.27 we are told about people who rely on religion when the fact is religion is a vain profession. It should be demonstrated instead by compassion to those in need, to those who are unable to help themselves. Religion is useless if it doesn’t make a difference in a person’s life or the lives of other people.
In the eighth chapter of Acts is an incident about a man who once was a sorcerer but became a Christian. When he saw that the power of the Holy Spirit came upon other new believers, he offered the disciples money as if it was magic. He was reviled for his poor spiritual insight. There are those who profess Christ that cling to their old way, their old attitudes. Money may have too high of a priority in their thinking. There is nothing magic about spiritual life nor is money a factor in serving the Lord.
In the second and third chapter of Revelation Jesus instructs John to write letters to seven churches. The Lord takes note in those letters for their work, patience, tribulation and poverty, charity, service, and success in practicing the Christian faith. However, “nevertheless” he said when speaking to the churches that they fall short of living out their divine commission. He tells them to be done with the negative influence of people in the church; exposes the sin rampant in the congregation.
These are examples of people in the Bible who call themselves Christians but live a life that is inconsistent with God’s expectations. Let us examine our own lives to be certain we are faithful in our service to the Almighty. In second Peter 3: 11 is a very pointed question. He wrote, “what manner person ought to be in all holy conversation.”
Christian Writer 