1 Timothy 4: 1-2 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.

I think this could refer to the judiezers. Who were adding things to salvation, making it a works based faith instead of grace. I think we can even apply it to today, the church says nothing but the blood and no gay marriage, or nothing but the blood and no liberals in office. We’ve let church become politicized and segregated.  It’s not I’m an American and a Christian. It’s I’m a Christian. My citizenship is first of heaven.

And these are dark days. There’s no room for political agenda, only His word. Spreading His love. This political minded, legalistic, works-based faith has been a huge drive in pushing people away from God. They think its all rules and regulations or “Heaven the 7 step plan”   or “Hell, how to get out of it free, a guidebook.” They see rules and guidelines and they see people who think they’re better than everyone else, they see self-righteousness and a horizontal eye-line.

People see these things and they think “that’s not freedom.” So they turn to self, and all of the depravity and pleasures that comes with it.  They wrap themselves in chains of carnage and bondage, claiming that its freedom.

Our lens, our point of view, is easily twisted from saving lost souls, from seeing unbelievers and reaching out to them in love. It turns into an us v.s. them mindset. We begin to segregate God’s Children. We begin to live in rose-colored stained glass windows, never allowing the world to see in. Living within the church, barricading ourselves, building a moat and saying “Sure, people can come in, but we won’t go out.”

But that isn’t the life that God has called us to. He hasn’t called us to self-righteousness and legalism, or to living a closet Christian life. But to walk in a manner worthy of Him. Going forth and make disciples of Him. Helping the Father in calling back His prodigals.