There is a systemic issue in the church today. One that I truly believe stretches from the top to the bottom. It affects almost every Christian in some form or fashion. For some unknown reason, we often turn to the world for advice and instruction. Hoping those outside our faith will be able to improve on the church or help us in regards to our personal lives.
For instance, many church leaders will look to worldly business leaders to learn about growth strategies. In the hopes that they can apply the same methods in their churches to see growth.
Or on the personal level, take Christians who seek out therapy and counseling. Which there is nothing wrong with doing when done right. But sadly many believers seek help from non-Christians instead of those who share their same beliefs in scripture and God. Many believers are even quick to look for answers from scientists who don’t share their beliefs in God.
Seeking help from those who do not know God is something the Bible speaks strongly against. We see this very subject brought up in the book of Isaiah. At that time many people claimed to be physic or that they were able to speak with spirits. They would often be asked to speak about certain circumstances but God tells His people not to seek their advice.
Isaiah 8:19–20 (ESV)
19 And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.
As people of faith, we must understand that we are the ones that can see clearly. That we through God’s Word, have the ability to know and understand things that those who are lost cannot. As that passage said, those who do not live according to God’s Word are living in darkness while we are living in the light and can see clearly.
Even the wisdom we are able to gain from those outside the church is flawed. The Bible calls the wisdom of this world foolish. Indicating that it’s not actually wisdom at all. Scripture actually has quite a lot to say about worldly wisdom and none of it is good.
1 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV)
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
1 Corinthians 3:19 (ESV)
19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”
Proverbs 16:25 (ESV)
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
Colossians 2:8 (ESV)
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Proverbs 3:7 (ESV)
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
There are so many more verses just like those in the Bible. God is not shy in telling His people how unreliable the so-called wisdom of the world is. This should not be taken lightly but should cause all of us to question everything we are being told by those outside the church.
It really comes down to the fact that any advice or instruction we are able to gain from those outside the church is based on only what they can see. Yet we know that as Christians there is so much that lies beyond what we can see that greatly impacts or lives. Because of this, we can’t trust the council of those who don’t know God.
2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV)
18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
We as God’s people must stop looking to the world for advice and even stop trying to copy how they do things. Instead, we must turn our focus back to God and seek His instruction. By praying and studying the scripture to see how He says things should be done.
When we feel the need to talk with someone and discuss anything, we need to try and do it with other Christians. Christians who will not give us answers based on their own personal opinions, but will answer with the wisdom that only comes from the Lord.
Christians truly have no reason to ever turn to the world for advice. The church and each of us can find everything we need to know through prayer, study, and the counsel of other believers. Let’s let the world influence the word and make a point to let only the church influence the church.
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