pagan

VALENTINES

Posted on April 18, 2022 by West Oaks Fellowship

Each year on February 14^th, many people exchange special cards, candy, gifts. and/or flowers with their very distinct “valentine” (to the tune of $18.9 Billion in 2015). This time of appreciation, romance, and love we call Valentine’s Day is actually named for a Christian martyr named Valentinus who was killed on February 14^th in the third century A.D., but also has origins directly connected to the pagan Roman holiday of Lupercalia.

While little is actually known about Valentinus, there are historical accounts that describe him as a priest, or the Bishop of Terni, who was beheaded near Rome by the emperor Claudius II for helping Christian couples unite in the covenant of marriage as well as escape captivity. In 1969, the Roman Catholic Church liturgical veneration of him ceased; however his name remains on its list of “officially recognized” saints.

The medieval English poet, Geoffrey Chaucer, who often took liberties with history by placing his poetic characters into fictitious historical contexts and representing them as being genuine or real, may have actually ignited what we know as Valentine’s Day, removing it from a religious celebration to that of a carnal/pagan nature. No historical record exists of romantic celebrations on Valentine’s Day prior to a poem Chaucer wrote around 1375. In his work “Parliament of Foules,” he links a tradition of courtly love with the celebration of St. Valentine’s religious feast day … an association that never existed until after his poem received widespread attention. The poem refers to February 14 as the day birds (and humans) come together to find a mate.

Some believe that Valentine’s Day was an effort to “Christianize” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia, which was a Roman fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. For the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at a sacred cave where the infants, Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa.

The pagan priests would sacrifice a goat for fertility, and a dog for purification. They would then cut the goat’s hide into strips, dip them into the sacrificial blood and take to the streets, gently slapping both women and crop fields with the goat hide. Roman women welcomed the touch of the hides because it was believed to make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in that same day, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city’s bachelors would each choose a name and become paired for a year with his chosen woman with the proposed result being off-spring and marriage.

Needless to say, at West Oaks Fellowship we are certainly not interested in recognizing or celebrating a pagan holiday. However, we do strongly uphold the values of a man and woman coming together in the covenant relationship of marriage for the purposes of companionship, procreation, and the free, loving, selfless exchange of physical intimacy. In Matthew 19:4-6, Jesus said (quoting from Genesis 2):

Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.

As committed believers, we know and understand that true love originates with God (See I John 4:16) and we see His love for humanity fully demonstrated in Christ’s redeeming sacrifice!

Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

As a result of experiencing His love, one then gains the unprecedented opportunity and privilege of being humans who can both genuinely love God and expressively love others (See I John 4:19). Thus, in and through the God-ordained, God-blessed, covenant of marriage, love moves to a deeper level as faithful and responsible Christians pledge to love his/her spouse at all times, as well as in/through every, often unimaginable, circumstance of life. This is a perfect reflection of God’s love, who certainly hates sin, but continuously loves (as His character and nature) all, at all times (See John 3:126-17)!

At WOF, we are hosting a special celebration of God’s love and the covenant of marriage this Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14. You’ll be invited to fully participate as we reflect upon God’s beautiful design for family that He created for us to live/walk in, and consider the power that is unleashed through the covenant of marriage. More details will be forthcoming, but please make specific plans now to attend.

I’m looking forward to celebrating this unique day with each of you! — PF

SAMSON

Posted on April 14, 2022 by West Oaks Fellowship

This man embodies/personifies all that is wrong in Israel… In the narrator’s eyes Samson represents the nation. This person — uniquely set apart, called, and gifted (by God) for divine service — not only fraternizes with the enemy, but he also seeks to live among them.
Daniel Block

At the point in Israel’s history when Samson appeared, the nation was rudderless and the people were adrift. Sound familiar? In more recent history we see a similar event with the countries of Europe prior to the World War II (1939-1945) and perhaps even today with the civil, political, social, and spiritual unrest that is working to openly paganize most of our world. As spiritual complacency sets in, the sacred was discarded for the secular and the condition of Lord’s people continually digressed into self-satisfaction/gratification as depicted in the biblical text and unmistakably exemplified in life of Samson.

Samson was a Nazirite (Hebrew – “nazir” meaning a consecrated one or devotee), therefore, as an individual he was committed to the Lord’s service/ministry (as was Samuel and John the Baptist in the time of Christ) and set apart from the society by the Nazirite oath/covenant/ lifestyle/behavior. (See Numbers 6:1-21) The Lord God intentionally, at the appointed time, raised up Samson to make the Hebrew people’s coexistence with the Philistines less comfortable and in fact, difficult. (See Judges 14:4) His purpose was to “begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines” (See Judges 13:5) which would keep the nation committed to its intrinsic values and help them resist being influenced, dominated, and ultimately absorbed spiritually and culturally by this pagan society (See Exodus 19:5, Leviticus 20:26). Unquestionably, according to the OT scriptures, this was his life’s purpose. However, Samson’s infatuation with a Philistine woman in the neighboring town was understandably very disappointing to his parents (See Judges 14:3-4). But they “did not know that it was from the Lord,”… GOD was “seeking an occasion against the Philistines.” Curiously, Samson’s non-conformance to his godly upbringing provided the spark for the chain of events that eventually undermined some of the Philistine’s dominance. Nonetheless, his rebellion festered when after killing a lion, he chose to eat honey found in it’s decaying carcass. (See Judges 14:5-9) This behavior illustrated both his heroic strength and his disregard of the Nazirite prohibition against contact with dead bodies. He then openly violated his vow once again by having a wedding “feast” where there was extremely heavy/excessive drinking (Hebrew “‎mišteh” — which literally means a drinking party). (See Judges 14:10) How many call themselves “Christians” yet abandon their values to partake of the world’s delights?

The rest of Samson’s life was pretty much a disaster until its very end, when he once again cried out to the Lord and was graciously granted supernatural ability/power to defeat the enemies of God.

He engaged in an intimate relationship with a prostitute

The first was a brief affair that gave clue to his moral and spiritual undoing (See Judges 16:1-3)
Even though a trap was set for his capture, he ultimately escaped

He engaged in an intimate relationship with a prostitute named Delilah

Samson “loved her” (See Judges 16:4)
Like his former wife, Delilah was persuaded by the Philistines (this time with a large bribe) to betray him
After putting her off three times, he finally/sinfully divulged the secret of his strength: the Nazirite vow prohibiting the cutting of his hair. While he was sleeping his hair was shorn, and “his strength left him … And he did not know that the Lord had left him” (See Judges 16:19)
The Philistines seized Samson, gouged out his eyes, and forced him into humiliating slavery

Samson returned to the Lord’s favor (Judges 16:23-30) when the defeated Israelite was brought in to “make sport” of. Samson’s motives once again aligned with God’s purpose of discomfiting the Philistines. In a grim, heroic climax, Samson pulled down the two main supporting pillars of the temple portico killing about three thousand Philistines and himself — the (one true) God of Israel showing Himself more powerful than the pagan deity, Dagon
Ironically, Samson killed more Philistines at his death than during any point in the rest of his life

I wonder how much, and how often we are too much like Samson. Believe me, I know his name is listed in Hebrews with the “heroes” of faith. Nonetheless, his character/behavior reveled the condition of his soul as well as that of his nation. I pray we don’t wait for blindness, slavery, and death before calling upon our Lord for strength and through a life of commitment and obedience, resisting all the enemies of our faith!

Think about it, ask the Lord about it!

His & yours, PF

WALK

Posted on March 31, 2022 by West Oaks Fellowship

Yes, I walk my dog (Wof-E-Too) twice a day, morning and evening (Brenda usually goes with us in the evening), rain or shine, except on Saturday, when I do the morning, and Sunday when I do the evening. Brenda catches Saturday night because we work late and Sunday morning because I head out to our early service and I’m usually on a tight schedule. This has been a consistent pattern for me for many years, first with Wof-E and now with Too. Recently, one of my doctors told me that people who walk their dogs regularly/daily live better, more productive, and even longer lives, which, while I don’t know the source of his data, certainly sounds valuable and there is plenty of data on the benefit of walking in general (dog excluded).

As we approach 2017, going for a daily “walk” may be an excellent New Year’s resolution; however, the Apostle Paul reminds us in I Timothy 4:8 that “bodily discipline is only of little profit (which doesn’t mean no benefit), but godliness is profitable for all things.” Therefore, I’d like to challenge you to also seriously consider another “walk” this year.

In the Old Testament there is a very interesting Hebrew word, yeelkuw, translated into English as “walk” in Micah 4:5. This passage provides hope for Israel’s future restoration (including Christ’s Kingdom on earth), where two types of individuals/people are referenced. Some “walk” after their own god while others “walk” in the name of the one true Lord God. The Hebrews must, in confident reliance, stand upon God’s promises and covenant, being steadfast in preserving and participating in continuous obedience as true and faithful worshipers of their one true Lord. However, the nations around them, who were superior in power, military, and economic strength, as well as in numbers/population, continued to “walk” after their (own) many gods.

Obviously the word “walk” in these passages is referring to something other than walking the dog around the block or walking for health benefits. This “walk” is uniformly used throughout the biblical text in reference to an individual or nation’s (people group) moral and spiritual life or direction/path/lifestyle … meaning some lived in agreement with God’s statutes that guided their lives, while others lived in accordance with different/pagan views/beliefs and lifestyles.

Below are five clear examples of this concept from our Old Testament scriptures. 1) Genesis 5:22 – Enoch walked with God. 2) Isaiah 2:5 – The prophet issued a challenge to walk in the light of the Lord rather than in the ways of other pagan religions. 3) II Chronicles 17:4 – Jehoshaphat walked in the ways of David and did not seek the baals. 4) Genesis 17:1 – God Almighty (El-Shaddai) challenged Abram (Abraham) to walk before Him (in His presence, in relationship with Him) and be blameless. 5) Ezekiel 36:27 – Through His prophet, the Lord promised to put His Spirit within His people and cause them to walk according to His statutes.

The New Testament, also provides similar statements, affirmations, and encouragements:

II Corinthians 5:7 – “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

II Corinthians 10:3-4 – “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.”

Galatians 5:16-17 – “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”

Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Ephesians 4:1-3 – “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Ephesians 5:8-10 – “For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”

Seems we may all have some more walking to do! Would you like to have a different walk in 2017? Perhaps a more fruitful, productive, and beneficial walk? Based on these scriptures, and many more, I am confident that the Lord desires each of us to walk with Him. In this new year, each of us will walk … either under the influence of deceitful, lying, pagan deities/philosophies which attempt to define life, goodness, and happiness, or in a genuine relationship with Christ as one’s Saviour, friend, and Lord.

Will you choose to walk with HIM?

ADVENT

Posted on March 28, 2022March 28, 2022 by West Oaks Fellowship

Most everyone who has attended West Oaks Fellowship for a while comes to understand that when we approach the holiday season called Christmas (from Christ – mass), our spiritual emphasis shifts (similar to Resurrection Sunday vs Easter or Reformation Day vs Halloween) to a sincere focus on the many blessings of Christ’s first advent (coming), and the concepts of Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love that Jesus offers all humanity. Our concentration, as believers on Advent (Greek – parousia, Latin – adventus) … meaning arrival, a coming, or presence … allows us an opportunity to celebrate and rejoice in the incarnation of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. John 1:14 declares:

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(also see II Peter 1:16, Philippians 2:5-8)

Hopefully, we will all fully embrace the celebration of Christ’s coming into our world in the same manner as we consider His resurrection, the advent (coming) of God’s Holy Spirit (Pentecost), and His anticipated 2^nd Advent (return to earth). Nevertheless, as a serious student of history, Christianity, and God’s Word, I’m somewhat baffled by some of the silliness, traditions, and ungodly, heathen practices that have creeped into the church (the body of Christ at large) and many believing families’ Christmases.

While I’m not advocating a cessation from celebrating Jesus Christ’s First Advent (coming), like not decorating your home, etc., etc. as some legalists/religionists would demand, I am asking all true believers to give careful consideration to their celebrations and traditions. Just because everyone is doing it (as you may tell your teenage son or daughter) or because it feels good, that doesn’t make it right! Romans 14:5-6a shines some light for us:

One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord.

Then continuing in verse 7-9,

For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

In essence, it’s absolutely essential, that faithful, committed followers of Jesus Christ know exactly why they are celebrating our Lord’s Advent in the manner they do, and should a question arise about one’s holiday practices, have a proper, biblically-qualified, spiritually-based answer that can be clearly articulated.

Now, I know some of you are already saying, “give me a break PF” … because you’re one that “loves” Christmas! Indeed, I pray you love Christ, and wholeheartedly rejoice in His 1^st Advent (coming)! Nonetheless, as unpopular as it might be, please ask yourself what exactly is it that you love so much?

Today, one of our fine, young-adult men messaged me a detailed question about believers using Christmas Trees – after his study of scriptures in Jeremiah 10:1-11. The modern-day Christmas tree was not introduced into America by Germans until the 19th century. The annual tradition of erecting a National Christmas Tree was not established until 1923 in Washington, D.C. – some 147 years after the birth of our nation, and 316 years after the first permanent English settlement in America. Ever wonder why? Certainly, that’s a valid question for every believer to consider.

Does one bring an idol into their home for any reason? Well, if I was an archaeologist, and had excavated an ancient relic from a pagan temple in Israel, I would probably have it on display in my office. Unquestionably, I would use it as a tool to explain portions of the scripture and give testimony concerning the authenticity of the Bible. However, at that point, someone could accuse me of having an idol in my home or office. The accusation would be true, but not be a genuine reflection of my faith or worship.

While there is little argument about the following points concerning a typical American Christmas celebration on December 25, the key for each and every believer, as well as for each and every family, is simple obedience to Christ and His Word, coupled with the true spirit of any and every action/activity, etc.

No biblical data exists, nor any early known written documentation referencing or establishing Christ’s birth in December or on its 25^th day; however, there is insurmountable evidence concerning the dates of His death and the coming of God’s Holy Spirit at Pentecost (an annual Hebrew feast/celebration).
The date of December 25^th was a long-standing pagan holiday, “Saturnalia,” …the worldwide celebration of the re-birth of the sun-god (an anti-christ type – thousands of years before Jesus was born under various names – all commemorating variations of a false trinity consisting of a father, mother and child), and was intentionally highjacked by the early Roman church in 350 AD by Pope Julius.
As late as 1855, Presbyterians, Baptists, and Methodists refused to recognize December 25^th as a legitimate holiday in reference to Christ’s birth.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 Ed., p. 253, tells us that as late as 1913, many States did not even recognize December 25^th as a permissible holiday.

Certainly, each and every believer is free to celebrate Advent 2017 in their lives and families with meaningful and worshipful expressions of reflection, gratitude, ceremony, exaltation, and even jubilation! Nonetheless, Colossians 2:16-17 speaks plainly:

Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath (plural in the Greek text) day things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

Yes, the significant substance of any truly spiritually-centered celebration must be Jesus Christ (not a shadow – but the real thing). Therefore, we are compelled to ask, is our Christmas a spiritual, or cultural event?

The Hebrew people managed to get the practices of their culture and genuine spirituality and those things that were, “a mere shadow of what is to come” awfully confused and extremely complicated. Perhaps that why the Lord declares in Jeremiah 6:20:

For what purpose does frankincense come to Me from Sheba and the sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable and your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me.

Have you ever wondered what the Lord thinks of an American Christmas? Perhaps we should humbly, and perhaps solemnly, consider the words Isaiah 43:24:

You have bought Me not sweet cane with money, nor have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices; rather you have burdened Me with your sins, you have wearied Me with your iniquities.

Our Lord rejects, not their ceremonial service, but the substitution of it for personal holiness and morality. In addition, may we never forget Jeremiah 7:23:

But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’ Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward.
(also please read Isaiah 1:10-17; Micah 6:6-8)

I Samuel 15:22 asks:

Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.

What are our Advent celebrations, customs, traditions, … pagan rituals/practices coated in some form of Jesus-juice to make them seem/feel OK? (ceremonial, ritualistic, theistic, existentialism) Are they done in/by faith and are they pleasing to our Lord? I know, I know, too much! Nonetheless, let’s agree on Colossians 3:17 for this ADVENT:

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Think about it, pray about it, act upon it.

— His & Yours, PF

INFANTICIDE

Posted on March 21, 2022 by West Oaks Fellowship

While this word does not appear in God’s Word as it currently is appearing throughout our nation, there are definitely some undeniable parallels within the biblical text.

Leviticus 18:21 warns the Hebrew people to, “not give any of your offspring to offer them to Molech.” In Leviticus 20:2-5 the warning is expanded to not only the Israelites, but anyone living among them with the punishment of such an event being death by stoning. The very practice of offering a child to Molech, a satanic cult, is considered a defilement of the Lord’s sanctuary and profaning the Lord’s holy name!

King Manasseh of Judah forsook the Lord’s instructions and warnings by encouraging the sacrificial offering of babies/children to Molech (which was worse than the evils practiced in the nations God commanded Israel to destroy) according to II Kings 21:1-9. When Josiah, Manasseh’s son, became king, he made a covenant “to walk after the Lord” and live righteously in II Kings 23:3.

Ultimately, according II Kings 23:10:

He defiled Topheth (an altar location outside the walls of Jerusalem), which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter pass through the fire for Molech.

Nonetheless, the memory of this detestable, satanic ritual was still alive in the 6^th century B.C. (Ezekiel 16:20-22; 20:25-31; 23:36-39).

The statue/idol of Molech was a human figure with a bull’s head and outstretched arms, ready to receive the children destined for sacrifice. The image, made of metal, was heated red hot by a fire kindled within, and children were sacrificially laid on its arms. Often, the young child, while crying in anguish, would roll off the idol’s arms and land in the fiery pit below. In order to drown out the cries of the infants and young children, the Molech cult worshippers played flutes and beat drums while the mothers stood by without tears or sobs, to give the impression of the voluntary nature/character of their infanticide offering.

No matter what one may choose to call it, killing babies is defined as infanticide! Legally speaking, according to Merrian Webster Dictionary, “the killing of a newly or recently born child.” Medically speaking, “the killing of an infant.”

In English we define abortion as the expulsion of a fetus from the womb, while infanticide is described as the killing of an infant after birth. Since the 1973 Supreme Court decisions of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, the Latin term “fetus” has generally replaced words such as child, baby, and infant to describe humanity in the womb. However, many do not realize that both “fetus” and “infant” simply refer legally, to a young life. Irrefutably, biology affirms biblical truth – at conception, life begins no matter what the new child is called!

Undoubtedly, the enemy’s tactic of deception and bold-faced lies continues … attacks come through various methods and procedures, but the primary ingredient is desensitizing humans to sin. Perhaps the recent bizarre proposal of certain states and political proponents to keep the new-born baby (human being) comfortable until a decision is made on whether it will be allowed to live or be slaughtered may just wake up some previously deceived individuals! Some are even claiming that this criminal act that totally violates a doctor’s Hippocratic oath is somehow for the mother’s health – really?

How does killing the breathing infant while he/she is wiggling on a table help the mother? Does the newborn infant have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in America or not? How about under the superior authority of God?

By this practice, if allowed, mothers will sacrifice newborn sons and daughters, who are the gift and blessing of our Lord, upon the egoistic, narcissistic altar of the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy! This is not dissimilar to the worshippers of Molech who scorched their infant babies to death and destroyed God- granted/given life in a satanic, evil-inspired, pagan cult ritual. God forbid that our nation would dare to proceed down this path!

If we were to discover that “unwanted” newborns were actually being systematically slaughtered (infanticide), wouldn’t we do something … everything possible to stop such an atrocity? Are we too desensitized to what God declares in Proverbs 31:8‐9?

Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.
Proverbs 31:9-9

Who is least able to speak for themselves? Who among humanity is most needy? Perhaps it’s time for genuine believers to willfully and sacrificially offer rescue for unwanted, speechless, life!

Please, simply consider Truth – His & Yours, PF

LASCIVIOUSNESS

Posted on March 10, 2022 by West Oaks Fellowship

Here is a word not so common in our modern-day English. In fact, it is so unfamiliar/unused that the NASB (New American Standard Bible) and many other modern translations of the biblical text fail to use the term at all. So why should we consider this word from antiquity?

First, it’s due to the uniqueness of its use in the scriptures, and second, because of the particular verses in which this word has been recorded.

This Greek root word, “aselgeia” denotes an excess, the absence of restraint, indecency, and wantonness! Based on this definition, some pretty contagious ailments exist within our post-modern American culture, as well as in many others throughout our world.

In Mark 7:22, one of the evils that proceed from the heart of humanity and defiles an individual is lasciviousness (ASV & KJV) (literally, filthy wantonness), which is unbridled, outrageous, shameless sensual lust. Apparently, according to II Corinthians 12:22, this corruption is lurking within the church at Corinth. The Apostle Paul states it this way:

I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality (fornication) and sensuality (lasciviousness) which they have practiced.

Some in this church were guilty of continuing in their former (before Christ) pagan practices! Is today’s church any different?

Galatians 5:19 clearly classifies “lasciviousness” (translated – sensuality in NASB) as among the evident “deeds of the flesh” which are in conflict and work against the fruit of God’s Holy Spirit that resides within every true believer! In Ephesians 4:19, Paul declares that individuals who have alienated themselves from God due to the hardness of their heart have become so callous, they have willfully and knowingly given themselves over to the sins of lasciviousness.

However, I Peter 4:1-6 confronts this issue head on – without shrinking back or yielding to any philosophies or outside/carnal pressures!

Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality (lasciviousness), lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

Undoubtedly, this problem has infected Christ’s church almost since its inception. Listen to Paul’s firm admonition to the believers at Rome in Romans 13:13-14:

Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

Now, here’s the killer from II Peter 2:2-3;a bold warning for all of Christ’s Church and every single believer (even today, at this very moment):

Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned (Greek root word – “blasphemeo” – defamed, spoken of improperly, slanderously); and in their greed (covetousness) they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

This shameless, degrading, and destructive conduct is on-going and unchecked! People who are corrupt at heart, even within the church, often seek to obtain the sanction and endorsement of religion in order to continue in their own corruptions. These individuals refuse conviction and genuine repentance – they are determined to gratify/satisfy their own sinful propensities. However, the essential aspect of a relationship with God the Father, by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, brings about an escape — genuine transformation from the evil and corruption of one’s past behavior and conduct. Come on over!

By GRACE (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense) His & Yours, Pastor Frank