Am I of God or Man?

Three things plague Christians today: laziness, lukewarmness, and the opinions of man. Here is my humble assessment of the problem.

There is a spiritual laziness sweeping the church today.

The type that prevents the soul from seeking the divine revelation of God. And then there is also conformity. It is so deadly because it makes the mainstream Christian settle for everything he sees and hears. He is content with what he hears and reads others have to say and write about God. Both, laziness and conformity, when mixed together, create a vulnerability so fragile that the world with its seducing traditions has quickly overpowered the weak foundations of modern Christianity. 

And then there’s the lukewarm Christian.

This Christian would rather hear about God than hear from God. He is scared of what God will say so he’d rather hear what others have to say. Why? Because he’s scared God will tell him something he doesn’t want to hear. They are hoping to hear what they want to hear from man. He doesn’t want to labor in faith, he wants easy solutions to his problems, he doesn’t want to be uncomfortable – he just wants to be happy and content. But brethren, the Christian life is not easy, it’s not supposed to be easy. If you find your walk easy, then there is something wrong. 

Then there’s the theological, reformed Christian who relies on Theology, ancient writings, and preachers with doctorates to tell him about God.

Whatever happened to seeking the face of God alone? This is not an attack on Reformed Christianity, a lot can be learned from  Theology and church history, but I do see a problem when we make these our first references. I see a problem when we’re studying the Scriptures with our heads and not in the Spirit. I see a problem when instead of asking God, people ask the pastor. Go to the source directly! Pastors, preachers, evangelists, Theologians don’t have all the answers and what’s more, they can be wrong! ASK GOD. 

The best way to maintain an unadulterated Gospel is by going to the One who created it. All other sources are more opinion than truth. There are many negative outcomes stemming from following the opinions of man rather than going directly to God. I will discuss only a few here.

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1. We Rob Ourselves of a Personal Relationship With God

A.W. Tozer once said that “Every man is as close to God as he wants to be.” I cannot help but wholeheartedly agree with him. We grow and we know God only as much as we allow ourselves. And the best way to grow spiritually and get to know the character and heart of God is to spend time with Him through prayer and in the Word. No outside commentaries, no opinions of man. A simple, humble, and open heart before the Throne is bound to receive many revelations from the Almighty. But we can hardly say most Christians take this route. Sadly. 

There are no shortcuts and I believe many are so impatient, they want to forgo the process and just get to the destination. But the process is the most vital part of our faith journey. 

We cannot learn to be Christians from someone else no matter how devoted or Spiritual they may be. We can take their examples but it is the Holy Spirit who ultimately teaches us, convicts us and straightens our ways. It is Jesus Himself who changes hearts, transforms, and shapes us into new creatures. 

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)

 2. We Remain Spiritual Babies

Paul had a very good reason when he said,

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (Hebrews 5:12)

Instead of prayerfully seeking the LORD for answers, wisdom, and knowledge, Christians are happily spoon-fed everything, becoming fat from milk. MILK, not meat. We believe that if we go to church on Sunday and maybe Wednesday, make a 10-minute prayer and read a verse a day we’re good to go. NO! As I said earlier, we cannot learn to be Christians from another human being. 

My best teacher has been The Most High, no books, no sermons, no theologians, no scholars, or people of experience could ever teach you to walk the journey. Now, I’m not saying that these are bad, not at all. In fact, I’m an avid reader and I love listening to Biblical teachings, but it becomes wrong when you’re listening to these instead of seeking the face of God first and above all. 

We grow as much or as little as we allow ourselves. Just like Jesus taught us how to pray in Luke 11:2, He can and will teach you so much more than you can imagine if you just ASK. 

3. We Are Not Spiritually Discerned

Spiritual discernment is SO important I don’t understand why this is never preached about nor even mentioned. But the lack thereof is also an outcome from following the opinions of man instead of God’s truth. Discernment is the shield against seducing spirits, doctrines of demons, false teachings, and spiritual confusion. You’d think that as people professing to be set apart from the world we’d have plenty of discernment but the opposite is true! Many Christians have never even heard of it. 

It is because of the lack of discernment that people follow the opinions of man in the first place. Seek discernment, seek wisdom and knowledge; these can only be found through YAH. 

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5)

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened… (Ephesians 1:17-18a)

4. We Are Easily Led Astray

This one goes hand-in-hand with lacking discernment and knowledge. If we can’t discern the false teachers then we will fall for their false teachings. We are extremely vulnerable to these when transversing problems. 

As humans, we have the propensity to want to find answers to our problems. The faster we can find a solution, the better. And if we need advice, we go to our closest confidant. It’s almost human nature to seek the help of others to figure out solutions to problems, advice when we need it, and answers to doubts and questions. With the popularity of blogs, self-help books, seminars, conferences and conventions, man tends to search for answers everywhere and anywhere except through prayer.

Do you all realize how dangerous this is? This is the easiest way to fall into doctrines of demons, false teachings, pseudo-Christianity, nominalism, a perverted Gospel, and traditions of men. No wonder the church is completely and full-blown LUKEWARM. I don’t understand how we have full access to the Throne of God thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ- that the Creator of the universe would listen to our prayers- and still choose to go with the words of men! 

If prayer is all over Scripture and God repeatedly instructs us to pray then why do we keep searching for answers in other places? 

Like the children of Israel, we continue going back to Egypt for our “salvation.” We persist in looking for answers in others, we rely on their opinions, interpretations, and thoughts. Egypt is man and we are Israel. 

Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord!

Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.

Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together. (Isaiah 31:1-3)