Christians must re-learn how to think biblically. Gary points the way forward in this talk given in McAllen, Texas a few years ago.
Teachers of a false spirituality in the first-century church were “forbidding marriage” and advocating “abstaining from foods, which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth” (1 Tim. 4:3–4). Decrees such as “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” were set up by some in the church as obligatory for the practice of a “true spirituality.” The Apostle Paul clearly stated that they “have the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence” (Col. 2:21, 23). In a word, true spirituality is not enhanced by abstaining from God’s good creation and those institutions He has ordained for the proper government of the world (e.g., Rom. 13:1–4).
Spirituality is not measured by a withdrawal from the world in any form. Neither is it a sign of spirituality when a Christian has an attitude and philosophy of life that has the same effect on the world as the retreatist actions of Simeon and Antonius. The Christian who claims he is spiritual because he has distanced himself from the world by not getting involved in the reformation process is a spiritual heir of the ineffective “pillar saints.” Such practices and attitudes are contrary to the words of Jesus: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). The Bible surely tells us that we are not “of the world” (John 17:14), and that we are to “come out from their midst and be separate” (2 Cor. 6:17), but nowhere are we told to retreat from the world, for Jesus has sent us “into the world” (John 17:18). In fact, not being engaged in the world is a sign of judgment:
Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD gave them into the hands of Midian seven years. And the power of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens which were in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. . . . Then the angel of the LORD came and sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press in order to save it from the Midianites (Judges 6:1–2, 11).
Being disengaged from the world, either voluntarily by sitting on a pole, joining a monastery, retreating to the mountains, or hiding from an oppressor as Gideon and David were forced to do (1 Sam. 22:1), is a sign of defeatism and judgment.
Myths, Lies, and Half-Truths
Myths, Lies, and Half-Truths takes a closer look at God's Word and applies it to erroneous misinterpretations of the Bible that have resulted in a virtual shut-down of the church's full-orbed mission in the world (Acts 20:27). Due to these mistaken interpretations and applications of popular Bible texts to contemporary issues, the Christian faith is being thrown out and trampled under foot by men (Matt. 5:13).
Buy NowChristians can’t live in this world without also being involved in this world. We are told often that “this is not our home,” which in an ultimate sense is true, but it is our home now. We live here, we raise families here, we live and move and have our being here. Denying any responsibility and obligation to influence this world with the full effects of the Gospel is not a true biblical outlook. The Bible applies to every area of life but it requires wisdom and discernment. Christians must re-learn how to think biblically. Gary points the way forward in this talk given in McAllen, Texas a few years ago.