"POP" Christianity

Not many people, in today’s modern culture, care to be part of an organization, or club, or clique unless it is popular. There is, it seems, a broad stamp of approval in being in with a group that others are eager to be part of. It offers assurance that “we’re OK” — actually better than OK; it swells our pride, which feels good; it validates our existence.

It has been described as… Hip, the In-Crowd, the “Groove”, Cool, and other terms which I’m sure I am not “hip” enough to know. One would think, all that does not apply to “religion” but then one would be wrong. It is always fashionable to be part of something…anything, controversial. The conventional advice, though, being, “don’t get crazy”… that is, be cool. It’s OK to be Christian, just “don’t get crazy“.



The three major “umbrellas” which invite human participation (and controversy) are Politics, Religion, and Science. Perhaps, science to a lesser degree but, UFO’s and Evolution are very popular. One can actually take part, be involved, be a “member” as it were, in all three venues… at the same time because (and I’ll say it now and get it over with) ignorance justifies itself. Before anyone takes that too personally, let me say I am not speaking about born-again, holy, faithful, Bible reading, Godly, followers of our Lord. But there are those who say they are Christian because it is expedient, whether for politics or for economics. They are purveyors of marketing for self gain. They are so ecumenical that even Hamas and homosexuality are to be respected. 

What is my point? My point is that this garbage (liberalism, modernism) has oozed into the Church. Liberalism and worldly liberties have crept into the church - to make it “popular" because things were "archaic." Archaic is a term which the "contemporary" man (from whatever era) introduces in order to do away with that which he will not or can not deal with. They try to give meaning and memory to bread and juice, all the while denying the supernatural presence.

It is not OK for a 13, or 16, or 18 or whatever year old girl to come to church with the word “JUICY” written across the seat of her sweatpants, whose waistband is too low exposing an equally provocative tattoo. I did not make that up. I SAW it! IN CHURCH!! Yes, guys too.


C.H. Spurgeon said,
“There must come with decision for truth a corresponding protest against error”.

That doesn’t mean civil unrest. But it has application for the individual Christian’s life. However, that would necessarily “burden” us with learning the Truth, and recognizing error. The one we must run to… the other we shun, resist, reprove, remove and/or correct.
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 1:3.

Christianity does not need to evolve contemporarily so as to be more popular. I/we serve an unchanging God...
For I am the LORD, I change not…” Mal 3:6.
And also...
But because He is Eternal, His Priesthood is forever. Heb 7:24.
And of course...
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever. Heb. 13:8.

We should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Jesus, the same yesterday, today and forever; God does  not change.
ONCE DELIVERED... not re-packaged and presented again.
JESUS, THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER... not re-invented to suit current attitudes.
GOD DOES NOT CHANGE... DOES NOT CHANGE!

One might say, “all that is true but the times change”. They do indeed, for the worse. I, for one, will not be conformed to changing times, apart from the Word. In fact, WE must be conformed to the Word... Christ! Check it out…there is way too much compromise. Let me give you an example, perhaps small, perhaps minor, perhaps not. Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14... Look them up. They all say, “greet one another (brethren) with a holy kiss” (paraphrased). Who does this? No group I’ve ever been a part of. I'm told we don’t do that in this culture. We have “grown” away from that in these “times”. That’s not “cool”. Again…“don’t get crazy”.  WHAT???

When I posed this "example" to a more mature brother, the response I got was, "Who is holy?" Who indeed? Now I don't particularly want to go around kissing everyone... But see what I just said? I've just made another "excuse" for my Christian failure. Oh YES! Failure! We don't greet one another with a holy kiss because we don't love each other as we should! I don't have any problem kissing my mother, sister, brother, son, daughter, nieces, nephews, etc. Why not? BECAUSE WE ARE FAMILY! I'll leave the extrapolation to you.

And also Heb. 3:13... Exhort one another daily...
One response I got was, "Yeah, right! Who has time for that?"

Then there is Eph. 5:22-24...

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the Head of the Church, He Himself being the Savior of the Body. But as the Church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

Oh, is THAT  a "touchy" subject. Too many do not like that portion of scripture... too "archaic" for us contemporaries... too sexist. I actually heard one Baptist bible "teacher" say to us "that scripture was not written for us today." Fine... I was just visiting anyway.

We don't allow ourselves to find and understand the LOVE in the Wisdom of that scripture. Pride gets in the way. Same goes for 1 Tim. 2:12....
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

OK.... How's that working out for ya?

Many women do not believe the Apostle Paul, nor do most churches. Men and women approve of women holding any leadership role over men in the church today… to their GREAT error.

J. C. Ryle said, [Doctrine is useless—if it is not accompanied by a holy life. It is worse than useless; it does positive harm. Something of the 'image of Christ' must be seen and observed in our private life, and habits, and character, and doings.]
“If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them” John 13:17.

What would the New Testament Church founders think of our “stewardship” of the faith once delivered? Jesus said, “…when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8.