by: Bruce Goddard
God has a certain idea of what we should be both in person and action, inside and outside. No matter what the modern pulpits may say in hopes of gaining a crowd, God wants us to be a “peculiar people.”
Titus 2:14 says, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
1 Peter 2:9 says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
Consider these Old Testament verses along the same lines:
Exodus 19:5, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:”
“Above all people.” Does that sound as if God wants His people to fit in, to blend in, to be conformed to the world around them? People of God, you are special to God beyond your wildest dreams. He wants you more than anyone in the history of the world, and He wants you close to Him.
Deuteronomy 14:2, “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.”
“Above all the nations of the earth”; did you catch that?
Deuteronomy 26:18, “And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;”
Psalm 135:4, “For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.”
We need not read further before acknowledging the fact that God wants us to be totally different, above, and peculiar. If all these Old Testament verses about Israel bother some compromisers, then let’s consider the New Testament. If we want to go into other Scripture, we will find many adjectives that describe what we are to be; words such as: pilgrims, sojourners, strangers, and many other similar words. So, while contemporary churches are telling everyone that there is no need to look different, sing different, or have different forms of entertainment, God seems to be saying just the opposite.
Most attentive believers know that Disney movies and music have been out of bounds for many years. They cannot produce a movie without talking about private body parts, using suggestive comments about intimacy or the body, or expressing the common attitudes of rebellion, selfishness, and anarchy. The music on Disney differs nothing from the world. The dress, dance and actions of young people in the Disney arena are nothing but worldly, and many Christians have come to accept this as a closed book. But the Baptist world has run so far from separation that involvement with movies is simply not a problem any more. The theme song, “Let it Go” from Disney’s Frozen, has somehow made its way to the lips of Christian young people everywhere. Again, I am shocked at the worldly ideas parents allow to take root in the hearts and minds of their children.
Is anyone paying attention to the movies, cartoons, and music that is filling the hearts and minds of young people? To add insult to compromising injury, I read of a well-known, formerly fundamental, old-fashioned Baptist college that allowed a song from Frozen and another from Titanic to be used during the music department recital. When I was in college, I heard Brother Hyles throw a fit about recital music when someone played a classical piece. He carried on saying things like,”Aren’t we Baptists? Isn’t there something Fanny Crosby wrote that is good enough for you?” And on and on he went. It was great! So we see that movies are not under wraps, nor a sideline some worldly college kids watched — movies have become acceptable to the inner circle of college life. Movies are simply not a problem anymore. Theme songs of movies are acceptable for public display and performance. I have heard from Bible college students in some colleges that watching movies in the dorm rooms is not unusual; and attending movie theaters is just not a big deal: compromise and contemporary ideologies are simply everywhere in our former fundamental ranks.
Some people may feel that I harp on this too much, but we are being bombarded by worldly influences in our churches, and I feel I can speak out at least as frequently for RIGHT as others who shove worldly living down our throats. What did James write?
James 4:4, “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.”
Yes, I would say we are in a “friend of the world” kind of Christianity today, even in formerly fundamental institutions. I am one of many who have simply said, “We want no part of it.”
1 John 2:15 says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world…”
So what are we to be?
Peculiar people, zealous of good works, an holy people above all the nations that are upon the earth…and much more. We need not conform to the world and its compromises; we need not be friends of the world. May we stand with grace and decency, but may we stand for good and against wrong.
Dr. Bruce Goddard
Pastor
Faith Baptist Church
Wildomar, CA