This may be bold, but it is apparent that the ‘spirit of the age’ has infected a host of Pentecostal homes. The root of the matter lies in what is called postmodernism. The thought here is subjectivism. Israel experienced this calamity: Judges 17:6 “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Many are developing the fleshly habit of thinking scripture and spiritual authority can be negotiated based on the circumstance. The end of that road is the exclusion of biblical doctrines. We were once emphatic that there was only One Lord, One Faith, and One Baptism (Ephesians 4:5), but now, some believe there to be allowances of varying degrees based on understanding. Yet, these allowances have eroded the Bible’s plan of salvation as well as a host of other necessary directives.
It was about a year ago that the U.S. Senate convened to questioned a Supreme Court Justice nominee. Within those hours of query, there arose this statement, “her truth” meaning, what she believed to be true. Truth became an individual matter; a personalized feeling rather than a settled fact. “Her truth” or “his truth” has now entered our grammar as a common reply to any subject.
Because of this postmodern thought, sin has been redefined as a personal preference or commonly accepted norm. It is one thing for the carnal mind to excuse such behavior, but the issue resides in the lives of the believer. This leads me to the question, “What does it mean to be a believer?” I thought that a believer was first obedient to the already established-forever settled Word. Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is pure.” Luke 4:4 “It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”
While I cannot convince the hardened heart by a simple writing, it is incumbent on me to say: Sin is not subjective. There is no such thing as “personal truth.” A believer is someone who follows the Bible and not the ideas of an ever-shifting society. Cultural ideologies, if outside the boundaries of holiness and regardless of how many people find them appealing, will lead to eternal judgement.
While we reach for the lost, we must not dismiss the practices that have brought us to this point. The Church must remain The Church. We are called to be a holy nation and a royal priesthood. We are not called to blend in with the precepts of people whose destinies are of destruction. Light reproves the darkness. It does not conform to it. Romans 12:2 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.
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole