Looking to Matthew 3:1-17 is a record of a man who deserves in all of Christianity to have the title as a fanatic. It was John the Baptist. He blustered out of the desert eating grasshoppers and honey. In opposing the enemies of God, he seemed to have the disposition of an awakened bear.
Today someone reacting to John might say, “that kind of fanatical religion is not for me.” But just such a reaction shows that the world seeks a calm, sedated religion forming to its own preconceived notions. There has been a great migration away from anything that hints at fanaticism toward Christ. We can say that Christianity now is considered old hat. Let us look over our shoulders at what notions the world has adopted and tries to sell to the church.
The world has preconceived notions about us. Today’s modern person says he can reform himself without any consideration of God. He says he is not in serious need as if he is in complete control of everything in this life and the next. The modern man says I will have a future much like the past. How sad this is that such a hard nut may be hard to crack; hard to convince the need for Christ.
The world has preconceived notions about God. They say that God has his own restrictions, too. For all intents and purposes those of the world are calling God’s bluff. They deny that God is personal or that he is invested in our lives. They say that they will worship God only if they are in the mood like during Easter or Christmas. Such haphazard attitude toward God is dangerous to any thinking person.
The world has preconceived notions about itself. Those of the world have decided that the old ways are passé, including morals, obligations, courtesy, and responsibilities. Those of the world deny that social life needs to be restructured to be pleasing to God’s expectations. Those of the world believe that time is within their own control. Unfortunately, many churches have accepted the song and dance of the world by incorporating worldly conduct into the worship service.
This is why it’s so important for us to be fanatically connected to Christ and devoted to him. These observations about the viewpoint of the world are detrimental to any Christian who listens to them. It is alarming for a Christian to accept what the world says. It is doubtful that there would be any benefit to a Christian by following the rules of the world. Jesus warned us about the world saying that we should have a new birth with new ideas and new purposes and new plans and a new destiny. Let us shake off the influence of the world so that we act like true biblical Christians.
Christian Writer 