Sunday Christians

By Mick Alexander

March 1, 2013

Many believers have very little to do with God outside of their time in church on Sunday morning. Very few churchgoers seem to have a good understanding of scripture and, in fact, not many even take their Bible to church. The preacher can tell them almost anything and they will nod their heads in agreement. After the service, it is often hard to find people who are interested in discussing biblical matters as their interests are more in whatever else is going on in the world and in their lives.

They are not being very wise as, firstly, they are putting their eternal salvation in the hands of a preacher who could be misleading them and, secondly, they clearly show that they have put God in second place to the things of the world. James 4:4 speaks harshly against this where it says, Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Are you an adulterous enemy of God or a son of God?

Sons Of God

When we first put our trust in Jesus, we become sons of God; we are born again and adopted into the family of God. But what sort of son limits the time he spends with his Father to two hours a week on Sunday? In Mal. 1:6 the Lord says, A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? We greatly dishonour God when we allow the spirit of this world to control us and guide our thoughts to anything and everything other than the things of the Lord. Rom. 8:14 tells us that "those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." A son of God is led by the Holy Spirit and is focused on godly matters, not himself and affairs of the this life.

Everyday Life

The Holy Spirit never leads us to be friends with the world (everyday life). That is the Devil's job. He is very good at it and never gets tired. We have to be alert at all times. If we are to be the son God wants us to be then we must be led by the Spirit and resist all temptation to follow the world.

Rom 12:1-2 tell us, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

God's will for us is that we become like Jesus and live holy lives. We can only do that by turning away from our fleshy lusts for the things of the world which are temporary and bring sin and death to those who love them. The things of the world may bring short term pleasure but the result of pursuing them may well be eternal sorrow.

In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon spoke of his search for happiness through worldly activities. Even though he had enormous wealth, absolute power and great wisdom, nothing satisfied him. He tried everything he could think of to find happiness but found that what the world had to offer was meaningless. In Ecc. 12:13 he said, Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

The fact is, our lives and possessions are here today and gone tomorrow. Many in the church unwisely seek worldly pleasures, wealth, and power but Solomon showed that even his exceedingly great wealth, power and wisdom failed to bring lasting happiness. After all his efforts, he came to understand that contentment can only be found in God.

1 Pet. 1:24-25 tell us how temporary men and their glory are: For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. and 1 John 2:17 tells us, And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

In Rev. 3:16, Jesus warns casual believers, So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  2 Cor. 13:5 urges us, Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

If you are in the faith then you will be led by the Holy Spirit. If your focus is on what the world you then you are being led by the spirit of the world. In Hebrew, the word for faith and faithfulness are the same word so when Hab. 2:4 tells us that the just shall live by his faith it also means that the "the righteous will live by his faithfulness."

Does your faith have you faithful to the world and its lusts or faithful to the one who died for you?

Are you in the faith or a
Sunday Christian?

I urge you to examine yourself and see if you are in the faith as Jesus said in Matt. 7:21, "not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" 

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