Looks like a Dog - Clucks like a Chicken

I have often had conversations with people who are not Christians. They are frustrated because they feel that they know what we should be standing for and we don’t. Are we not called to be ambassadors? If ambassadors of other nations acted here, as we do in this, our foreign land, we would be outraged and rightfully so.

We give up righteousness so easily. Church, I am frustrated with you. I am fearful for you. What are you doing? Have you forgotten whom you serve? Why are you acting this way? Saying that you are a believer is not enough. I am not saying that you should attempt to earn salvation, but many of you act as if that is exactly what you are trying to accomplish. You are more concerned with the morality of your neighbor than you are with the dedication of your own heart. How can you hope to save your neighbor if you are just as immoral as they? And believe me, they see it.

Jesus once told the people he was sending out to be as “shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Shrewd is defined as “having or showingsharp powers of judgment”. We are neither. The church is a mess. We have traded glory for temporary comfort. We do not stand for what is right in our own lives, but we demand it from others.

Please, hear me on this. I am not saying that we should not fight to stop abortion. I am not saying that homosexuality is okay. I am not sat saying that same sex marriage is what God wants. I am saying that perhaps, if we showed more godly behavior in our own lives, we would have a leg to stand on when we stood before others in an attempt to defend righteousness.

Oh church, why have you forgotten who saved you? Why do you not act more like him? You are a greater association with those who called for his execution. You know what is right. You read the words. But your spirit is dead. Your actions are dead. Because your heart has not been submitted to Him.

I tire of defending you when those who do not believe come and accuse you of things. My heart aches because so many of you have stopped fighting alongside those of us who strive to be diligent. The lines crumble in around us. You seek to do good, but you do not seek the Lord so all your efforts are wasted. The rest of us are left to do twice as much work because so few of you are willing to take up the charge that Christ has given you.

Where is your light? Has the salt lost its saltiness (Matthew 5:13-16)? I feel as though I am calling out to the dead. “Get up! Rise with me! Get ready, the King is preparing to return!”

Church hear me. I am crying out for you. I am crying out to God for you. Do not be left out when the groom returns (Matthew 25:1-13). Why don’t you wake up? Why don’t you listen to me?

Shepherds, weren’t you supposed to be keeping watch? The flock has scattered. You do not feed them. You do not teach them to watch out for danger. You do not protect them. You are as wayward as those you lead. Don’t you know that you are held to a higher standard (James 3:1)?

So what do I say to those who come to me and say, why are Christians saying this or doing that? Some of you I disown. I don’t know you as a brother or sister. So I tell them, “If it looks like a dog and clucks like a chicken does it make it a chicken?” Just because some of you say you are Christians does not make you so. Those of you that claim to be a believer but spew hatred from your mouths like venom, I do not know you (1 John 4:20).  Those of you that do not uphold righteousness, I do not know you (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).  Please know that I’m not talking about people who make a mistake at times, for we are all working out our salvation (Philippians 2:12). I am talking about the people who will not hear reason, who do not listen to God and are not rebuked. They are so steadfast in having their own way that they dismiss the word of God and His conviction.

To everyone else, seek Him. Put your eyes on the Lord and realize that He is the only one who offers salvation. You cannot be saved by your own religious or political actions.