In September of last year I wrote a post entitled The Independent Fundamental Baptist’s Biggest Problem and year to date it has been my number one most popular post. It’s a topic I’ve not stopped chewing on. As I stated previously, I am an IFB or a Fundie or whatever anybody else wants to call it. I was born one; I will die one. The history of revival fire is found in this old time way. The problems we are facing today are self inflicted and if revival is to be had we are going to have to confront them head on. Resolution can come! The power of God used to be on our churches but the Holy Ghost of God is sensitive and He has been grieved today. In my first post I attempted to shed light on, what I am sure, is the number one problem; pride. Today, with God’s help I’d like to shine some light on the source of this pride problem. Our second biggest problem, the source of the corrosive, destructive pride problem, is our standards and convictions.
Listen to me close, friend. I don’t own a television, I’m against it, my wife doesn’t wear pants, we don’t listen to secular music at all, I’m for a life of separation that rejects worldliness and pursues holiness! I stand against sin and not just on a personal level. I speak out against fornication and complacency and half lived, carnal Christianity. I'm against show business Christianity that has NO standards and convictions. There are places I don’t go, there are things I don’t do and there are people I don’t fellowship with but the kicker lies in the motive. Standards and convictions are fundamental to the life of holiness; separation doesn’t come without them! Lines must be drawn, battles must be picked and contending must ensue…..for the right reasons.
So often, it seems, our convictions and standards have absolutely nothing to do with holiness and walking with God but rather they have become trophies in our halls of achievements, homemade crowns to be worn to church, idols placed in borrowed Roman Catholic Grottos to be caressed and bowed to and honored above God Himself! Like the garb of a Pharisee, meticulously chosen each morning for self glorification and personal, public recognition we champion our standards and convictions and use them like a fine tuned machine that emits nothing but pride! There is no room for the Holy Ghost of God in most of our churches because the air that should be permeated with sacrifice and sweet savors and incenses of prayer and praise is polluted with pride and arrogance.
Why do you do what you do? Every standard and conviction that you hold to in your life should be traced back to a tearful, broken decision you made as homage paid to God. Every standard and conviction you have should be a humble attempt at separation and an overall drawing nigh unto God! “I separate myself as a vessel of honor unto You, oh God!” should be the testimony our life shouts! As heartwarming as it is to see a lover dote on his spouse and separate himself and see him live his life in consideration of her, our actions should also warm the hearts of the lost people around us! Do they look at our actions and think “wow, that guy has laid aside everything as he longingly looks toward the Heavens” or do they say “wow, that guy has decorated himself with religion as he hatefully glares toward us!” There is BIG difference and the world KNOWS the difference! We have a pride problem but it takes a foundation cracking root in our idolatry problem. If we want revival the groves must be cut down, the idols must be trampled and the hearts and wills must belong to HIM!
