On another forum there is an video presenting Alice Cooper and his wife. I've got my own opinion on all that but that isn't the discussion for this thread. But it did bring up a matter in which this thread is to be about.
Paul states in a letter to the Corinthians:
Now the question comes to me, when I hear testimony from folks who continue to live and openly display that which is ungodly, where is the Lordship? Where is the submission to the work of the Holy Spirit drawing the believer away from the worldly and the enticements of the worldly?
In the second letter of Corinthians Paul makes this appeal:
Does not the Salvation bring fruit in the heart and life of the believer in which is life changing and reformed living born out in His service?
If there is no repentance, no change, no evidence of growth, but a continual and purposeful presentation of living ungodly, what fellowship is afforded?
I am perplexed that the modern church seems to have drifted to the point that just anything claiming to be service is lifted up as worthy.
That as Paul discussed with Timothy, there are those who want to be looked upon as vessel of honor, but have done nothing to present themselves as cleaned up.
Salvation requires growth, devotion, submission, and rejection of the world and the worldly.
It matters not if it is Alice Cooper, Andre Crouch, Bill and Gloria Gaither, Billy Graham or any other past or present person who claims to be a believer yet cozies up to the world and worldly living a compromised life.
Paul said:
If the Holy Spirit does not rebuke the ungodliness, then either that Spirit is quenched or wasn't there from the beginning.
Paul states in a letter to the Corinthians:
9Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Now the question comes to me, when I hear testimony from folks who continue to live and openly display that which is ungodly, where is the Lordship? Where is the submission to the work of the Holy Spirit drawing the believer away from the worldly and the enticements of the worldly?
In the second letter of Corinthians Paul makes this appeal:
14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness?
Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
15What accord has Christ with Belial?
Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 1
6What agreement has the temple of God with idols?
For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
15What accord has Christ with Belial?
Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 1
6What agreement has the temple of God with idols?
For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
Does not the Salvation bring fruit in the heart and life of the believer in which is life changing and reformed living born out in His service?
If there is no repentance, no change, no evidence of growth, but a continual and purposeful presentation of living ungodly, what fellowship is afforded?
I am perplexed that the modern church seems to have drifted to the point that just anything claiming to be service is lifted up as worthy.
That as Paul discussed with Timothy, there are those who want to be looked upon as vessel of honor, but have done nothing to present themselves as cleaned up.
Salvation requires growth, devotion, submission, and rejection of the world and the worldly.
It matters not if it is Alice Cooper, Andre Crouch, Bill and Gloria Gaither, Billy Graham or any other past or present person who claims to be a believer yet cozies up to the world and worldly living a compromised life.
Paul said:
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
What dishonor is brought to the testimony of a living Lord, when believers live as if there is no Lord.
If the Holy Spirit does not rebuke the ungodliness, then either that Spirit is quenched or wasn't there from the beginning.