Conformity is the latest enemy of the church...

[Alive]

Phil. 4:8 (NAS20S)   Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

[Arrabon]

On 5/17/2021 at 7:44 AM, Riverwalker said:

While conformity and compromise are the death of true Christianity. it is hardly new.

Its been around from the beginning

Revelation 3:14 “And to the angel of the church [j]of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither [k]cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.[l] Therefore be [m]zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”

@Riverwalker

AMEN, AMEN !!!

I posted on this because there are always new DECEITEFUL doctrines and idea's coming into our culture that we need to be aware of, and have caused to think about and be careful of, not just for ourselves, but to be educated on them to be able to discuss these things with non-believers if they ask what we think, or able to discuss these things with those who have bought into them, or discuss with brothers and sisters so that we're constantly aware and VIGILANT,

Arrabon 

Edited May 18, 2021 by Arrabon

[Mike Mclees]

And be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Rom 12:

James 4:4  Whomsoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself makes himself an enemy of God....Adulterers and adulteresses. 

Beware of social medea. Do not be a contemporary of it.

 

[debrakay]

My thoughts are that even when Jesus walked on earth the people were still looking for that superhero, that king who would conquer their enemies and persecutors.  They were looking for a right now physical salvation not an in the future eternal spiritual salvation. 

Today we live in a society that wants immediate gratification for everything including their spiritual life.  We have seen that in all of the church hopping that goes on.  If the pastor says one thing out of line compared to that person's own thinking, even it it is straight out of scripture, *poof*, they are out the door to find a pastor that doesn't say things that make them uncomfortable.  

Many church denominations over time have conformed to whatever pleases the parishioner.  Heaven forbid the pastor speaks the truth and lose the people and their donations.  So many churches today teach nothing on the effects of living in a life of sin day after day after day, year after year after year.  Why would they not teach on the words of Jesus, "Go, and sin no more!"?  Because then they would have teach that "the wages of sin are death" (Romans 6:23).  

People in the world today are so self involved that even the slightest mention or thought of "going to hell" shuts them down and sends them running into the arms of someone who will tell them they are okay and no one is going to hell.  The "Everyone Gets A Trophy" generation(s).   Conformity is a spiritual killer straight from the devil.

1 Peter 1:14 (NIV) As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 

[Arrabon]

31 minutes ago, debrakay said:

   Conformity is a spiritual killer straight from the devil.

@debrakay

ABSOLUTELY!!!

[Starise]

Hello @Arrabon

Conformity is one of those things I believe everyone does to some extent in at least a few areas of their life, even for those who claim they don't. We could go into the human behavioral reasons why people do it. Suffice it to say we generally prefer to be accepted and flow with others if for no other reason than it makes life less complicated and less corrosive. To do that often requires some form of conformity. Some are conformist to a fault and others only slightly so. I am convinced we all have that tendency though. People who won't conform to one group will go to a non conformist group and conform to them 

When it comes to churches being conformist to worldly non christian doctrines, I believe this has been the evil plan of our enemy all along. That old harlot, the false church. The spirit of Anti-christ that attempts and succeeds ( at least in the worlds eyes) to merge a worldly view into a quasi christian belief.

The road definitely forks. There is a clear division between that fake form of Christianity and the real Christians and their respective paths that all lead to our savior Jesus Christ.

Many Christian groups conform within their own groups. Have you ever noticed that? 

I see conformity as a natural human tendency that is often exploited. Manipulated is a better word. 

 

[debrakay]

35 minutes ago, Starise said:

I see conformity as a natural human tendency that is often exploited. Manipulated is a better word. 

Throughout the decades I have conformed my beliefs to what scripture says and what I have learned by discernment from the Holy Spirit.  There has been no manipulation from God.  Usually when I hear the word manipulation, I envision a deliberate act by someone to control the outcome.  

[debrakay]

46 minutes ago, Arrabon said:

@debrakay

ABSOLUTELY!!!

I should clarify that my conformity to the word of God (the Bible) is not the kind of conformity that comes from the evil one.  When we conform to the image that God has for each of His children, it is all good.  Conforming to the things (wickedness) of this world is where the devil gets his claws in.

[Starise]

8 minutes ago, debrakay said:

Throughout the decades I have conformed my beliefs to what scripture says and what I have learned by discernment from the Holy Spirit.  There has been no manipulation from God.  Usually when I hear the word manipulation, I envision a deliberate act by someone to control the outcome.  

Even though I think conformity is a natural human tendency. We can still make those choices as to what we want to conform to. Will it be the things of the Lord or will it be the things and people of the world? Will we decide to conform to the spirit or the flesh.

I agree God does not manipulate, He lovingly guides. It's those evil elements I was referring to that would use manipulation tactics.

Let me give an example. The worldwide media along with "politically correct" interests sets up a standard we as Christians know is wrong, yet somehow they manage to get millions of people on board with these ideas, even churches. How did they do that? Manipulation that uses conformity as one tool.. Giving false reasons for why  anyone who would think differently has missed the truth. Lots of people fall for it.

[Arrabon]

What I assumed and I hear here, is that we do need to conform to the word of Gods meanings in their context, and unity and harmony with the rest of the word of God.

There are things we purposely conform to, to keep a friendship or other relationship in harmony and unity that is non-controlling and not manipulative, just in everyday life.

Healthy marriages are where we really learn to conform in some ways, but still keep our personal identity, and personal beliefs.

In our churches it should be, to me, healthy in the same way as in a healthy marriage, where their is the freedom of personal thought and expression and beliefs, but unfortunately, rarely is that ever true, even in small groups or varying bible studies, sometimes even in marriages .

But my original post was about obvious problems with CONFORMITY, that insideously  and subtly attacks our faith, and can lead us down a path that would not only destroy our faith, but destroy any hope of eternal life, and that we all, myself included, need to be reminded of from time to time, to me, because of all that is out there that is always in our face and confronting what we believe, or tempting us, as we live our busy lives, and not always recognize those attempts to derail us.

Arrabon