November 02, 2012

Answer Shopping

In the arena of government administration it is not unusual for constituents to go answer shopping. If they don’t get the answer they like to a question, they simply go to another department to see if they can get a different answer. In the religion arena we do something similar. The Bible tells us that the wicked (adulterers, homosexual offenders, idolaters, etc.) will not inherit the kingdom of God. Yet if we have a loved one who is an adulterer, we just can’t stand the thought of him being barred from heaven, so we answer shop among fellow believers. It reminds me of Satan’s conversation with Eve in the Garden of Eden. “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’...You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman.” (Gen 3:1b, 4 NIV)

1 comment:

Steve Corey said...

Gail;

-----This answer shopping is a particularly devastating problem, because it is the Bible which has told us very straight forward and simply that such doers will not inherit eternal life. What? Do we somehow think Joe-bob will tell us something different that will hold water against what the Bible says? And the Bible says no one who sins in the least will enter the kingdom.
-----I wonder what our friends can say about that! What must be said is the Bible is right and I am wrong. That’s confession. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) That’s where our eternal life begins because it cannot begin with our doing everything without sin of any degree.

Love you all,
Steve Corey