Too many Christians want to enjoy the feeling of being God’s people without taking on the inconvenience thereof.
In modern western Christianity, there is a vast gulf between Christian theology and practice, such as inspired Jesus’ outburst against the religious leaders of His time (Matthew 23). The problem was, and is, as Luke wrote, that they “took away the key of knowledge; you yourselves did not enter in and those entering you prevented” (Luke 11:52).
So many born again believers are still bound by Satan in the grave clothes from which Jesus delivered them; in such a condition they can never claim the inheritance that was set aside for them and is the purpose of their calling.
This is a tragic manifestation of an ailment that has reached epidemic proportions in the western Church – there is a lack of integration of the whole personality, an almost schizophrenic separation of the elements that are meant to constitute the true believer and follower of Christ Jesus.
The mind approves and the emotions enjoy but the will remains as it ever was; totally directed towards self. But for such as these, their faith amounts to no more than self-indulgence in religious fluff and feathers; Christ’s appeal is, and always has been, to the will – “I delight to do your will O My God” – and if it is not yielded up to Him then all the religious nonsense offered Him will avail for nothing and the promised inheritance will be lost as surely as was that of Esau.
Amen Bro.