Micaiah
Member
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2019
- Messages
- 23
SEDUCED BY CELEBRITY
At certain times, and among certain groups, certain nonChristians can see an advantage in being thought by Christians to be one of them. NonChristian singers and entertainers can host a Christmas special on TV, or issue an album of Christmas carols, in the hope and certain expectation of large viewership or album sales. Politicians can attend church or appear at Christian gatherings or “prayer breakfasts,” and expect to enjoy increased numbers of votes or political support at election time, or in times of difficulty or scandal.
And this is possible because of the enthusiasm of many Christians and adherents to believe that these actions indicate a, “conversion,” to their religion, an enrollment in their “Christian club.” Many Christians will now declare that this celebrity is now a Christian, and enthusiastically sing their praises as such! Some Christians feel a need for vindication of their faith from the nonChristian world. They feel that having a celebrity ‘on their side’ will perhaps diminish the scorn of nonChristians toward Christians, or diminish their own embarrassment of being a Christian. Some feel that a celebrity’s “endorsement” of Christianity will bring others to Christ. But God doesn’t need the celebrity, nor want his endorsement!
26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Luke 6:26 The BIBLE
And, at election time, many Christians feel that declaring a certain candidate to be a, “man of God,” having him speak from their pulpit, and laying hands on him and praying, will serve their political purposes by hopefully encouraging other Christians, also, to vote for him. This, despite his despicable personal character and depraved lifestyle!
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
…
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
…
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
II Timothy 3:5, 9-10, 13-14 The BIBLE
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
I John 4:1 The BIBLE
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
I Thessalonians 5:21-22 The BIBLE
18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not.
Malachi 3:18 The BIBLE
To accomplish this illusion the nonChristian celebrity must walk a fine line, a tightrope between the two worlds of Christianity and nonChristianity. To maintain their current following among nonbelievers they cannot be overtly Christian: they must continue among the unbelievers, maintaining their unGodly lifestyle and language, and assuring their fellows that they haven’t changed. Yet among the Christian group all they must do is make a few appearances, talk about a struggle or two that they have had in their personal life, and use the Name of, “God,” a few times. They don’t even have to repent of their sins, or state that they regret their actions and character, nor in any way seek to turn from their wicked ways; all they must do is appear in a church, say, “God,” a few times, and talk about personal struggles. In exchange, their friendships will remain the same within their usual nonChristian constituency. But within the Christian community they can expect to be immediately and enthusiastically welcomed and lauded as a great, “man of God,” interviewed, invited to speak, be lauded as loudly as possible to as many as possible, and be publicly prayed for beside the pulpit, with layings on of hands.
22 Do not lay hands on any man without thought, and have no part in other men's sins: keep yourself clean.
I Timothy 5:22 The BIBLE
And they will be seated prominently.
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy Name by the which ye are called?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
James 2:1-9 The BIBLE
This will continue until the crisis has passed, the Christmas season is over, or the election has been decided. Or else the term(s) of office is completed. At which point the Christian community rarely if ever again sees the celebrity within their midst or hears him utter the word, “God,” except in profanity.
8b … for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
Luke 16:8b The BIBLE
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
II Corinthians 2:11 The BIBLE
But by this time the nonChristian community now feels confirmed in their opinion that Christians are a bunch of gullible fools, insecure about their faith, adoring of their celebrities and their degenerate lifestyles, and desirous simply of gaining nonChristian approval, and of being just like everyone else. After such an insincere performance by a nonChristian celebrity to gain the temporary approval and support of the Christian community, nonChristians will now see Christians as hypocritical opportunists, less concerned about Godliness and personal character, and more desirous of just simply gaining nonChristian approval, support, and membership. They wonder at the Christians’ hypocritical preaching against sin and unGodly character, while welcoming as a, “man of God,” a nonChristian celebrity who simply darkens their church door once, twice, or a few times, and puts on a show by occasionally saying the word, “God,” while in no way reflecting the character of Christ before this point, nor outside the church door, nor shows any remorse at all for his sin! The Christian insistence, from their pulpits, for Godliness and virtue is therefore now seen as so much nonsense and hypocrisy, of no value, and certainly nothing to aspire to!
22 But if they had stood in My counsel, and had caused My people to hear My Words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
Jeremiah 23:22 The BIBLE
The nonChristians are hypocrites, themselves: everyone of them gives that same insincere performance of fake Godliness at various times in their personal lives: when with their parents, perhaps, or while in the company of the clergy or a group of Christian people, so the performance of said celebrity now in the Christian news is quite transparent to them; they see through it! Therefore seeing the ridiculous, idolizing actions of the Christian community toward their recent, unrepentant, “convert,” appears to the nonChristians to be either foolish gullibility or else transparent, opportunistic, hypocrisy! NonChristians, delightedly watching Christians seduced this way, are like a city dweller watching an innocent country bumpkin unwittingly falling for the attentions of a, “friendly local,” who turns out to be a prostitute. In both cases the victim is either seen as a credulous fool, or his very innocence and motives are suspect.
6 For at the window of my house
I looked through my casement,
7 And beheld among the simple ones,
I discerned among the youths,
a young man void of understanding,
8 Passing through the street near her corner;
and he went the way to her house,
9 In the twilight, in the evening,
in the black and dark night:
10 And, behold, there met him a woman
with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
11 (She is loud and stubborn;
her feet abide not in her house:
12 Now is she without, now in the streets,
and lieth in wait at every corner.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him,
and with an impudent face said unto him,
14 I have peace offerings with me;
this day have I payed my vows.
15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee,
diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry,
with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning:
let us solace ourselves with loves.
19 For the goodman is not at home,
he is gone a long journey:
20 He hath taken a bag of money with him,
and will come home at the day appointed.
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield,
with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22 He goeth after her straightway,
as an ox goeth to the slaughter,
or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 Till a dart strike through his liver;
as a bird hasteth to the snare,
and knoweth not that it is for his life.
24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children,
and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways,
go not astray in her paths.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded:
yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to hell,
going down to the chambers of death.
Proverbs 7:6-27 The BIBLE
It is fully possible, as a Christian, to promote a political candidate, to pray for his success, and to vote for him despite the candidate’s personal sinfulness! Pray for him!
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
I Timothy 2:1-3 The BIBLE
One can do this without compromising one’s own faith or witness. Support your political candidate, if that’s what you want to do. You can vote for a nonChristian politician, even one with a thoroughly unGodly lifestyle, perhaps, if he endorses an upright political platform. While it is important to separate one’s self from, and avoid a Christian who is living in sin, one cannot separate one’s self from, and avoid all nonChristians.
9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with (Christian) fornicators:
10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
I Corinthians 5:9-10 The BIBLE
So one must, “make do,” with nonChristian politicians when necessary. We seek the best governance of the place we live, so, when dealing with unGodly candidates, we seek the best of what’s available, and work with what we have.
7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.
Jeremiah 29:7 The BIBLE
One can support a candidate’s political positions, and candidacy, without supporting his lifestyle, especially if there is no better candidate. But one does not need to, indeed, must not depict a nonChristian as a Christian, a so-called, “baby Christian,” or otherwise, to endorse and canvas support for his election! One’s character very accurately depicts his faith and devotion to Christ or absence thereof:
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father Which Is in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy Name? and in Thy Name have cast out devils? and in Thy Name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 7:15-23 The BIBLE
And the extent to which we turn a blind eye to sin says a lot about us and our own Christian integrity. So to falsely claim that an unGodly person or political candidate is Godly or a Christian when he is anything but, is to sabotage his campaign, calling into question his sincerity in other (political) matters, also! Not to mention one’s own sincerity and Christian witness! Rebuke sin and unGodly actions and lifestyle in a political candidate; do not depict the sinner as a man of God, or a Christian! Vote for the same man, if he is the best political candidate! And remember what is most important, even more than politics:
[1] 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.1 Corinthians 10:31 The BIBLE
[2] 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:9-10 The BIBLE
[3] 15 And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:15-16 The BIBLE
