Parrot Christianity!
V25 n11
"Be followers of me, as I am of Christ!" this is the statement that Paul the Apostle made to the early Church, (and should be just as relevant today, for us who say we believe). He was telling the people, that they should follow the example that he set, that was an imitation of that which Jesus Christ set; (not everything thing that Paul did).
Definition of parrot: (1) any of many tropical birds with a horned bill and brilliant feathers, able to make sounds resembling words (2) a person who repeats words without understanding the meanings; to repeat (words) mechanically; to prattle. (from Winston's dictionary, 1945 edition).
Matt 6:7-8: 7 "And when praying, do not use needless
repetitions as the Gentiles do, for they expect to be listened to because of
their multitude of words. 8 Do not, however, imitate them; for your Father
knows what things you need before ever you ask Him. (
As a Christian, why do you do all the things that you do? Do you know for a fact, that all that you do, is according to the Word of God? Or, could it perhaps be according to the traditions, or man-made doctrines? Could it be that it is something that you have heard someone else say; or that which you have seen someone else do? In all that we say or do, it should be because we have given God the time needed, to listen to His Word, studying for and seeking only His approval, and then living His Word accordingly.
For many Christians, they imitate that which they have seen other people do. A very good example of this is: at Christmas time, people set up a manger scene, and then proceed to place wise men around it, usually three in number. When questioned as to why they do this, they can not offer a sound Biblical explanation for why they do it.
Let us take a look at Matthew 2:11: "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary, his mother; and fell down and worshipped him." So, by imitating that which you have seen or been told; not only are you promoting something that is not Biblically correct, but you have now participated in a lie, which places one in contradiction to the very Word of God.
2 Tim
What or who do you suppose it was, that could cause a turnaround in this person Demas, in such a short time as this? (There is probably between two and three years between these two epistles).
Paul wanted Timothy's company and help; and the reason he gives is because several had left him (v. 10); one from an ill principle, namely, Demas, who abides under an ill name for it: Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world. He quitted Paul and his interest, either for fear of suffering (because Paul was now a prisoner, and he was afraid of coming into trouble upon his account) or being called off from his ministry by secular affairs, in which he entangled himself; his first love to Christ and his gospel was forsaken and forgotten, and he fell in love with the world. Note, Love to this present world is often the cause of apostasy from the truths and ways of Jesus Christ. He has gone off, has departed to Thessalonica, called thither perhaps by trade, or by some other worldly business. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)
Most people do not think that the
company that they keep, or the places that they visit or frequent, will have
any affect or effect on their Christian walk or values. They take lightly
verses that will tell us "evil communications corrupt good manners."
(KJV)
Prov 9:6, Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. (KJV)
[Forsake the foolish] For the companion of fools must be a fool.(from Adam Clarke Commentary)
[1.] They must break off from all bad
company: "Forsake the foolish, converse not with them, conform not to
their ways, have no fellowship with the works of darkness, or with those that
deal in such works." The first step towards virtue is to shun vice, and
therefore to shun the vicious. Depart from me, you evil-doers.
[2.] they must awake and arise from the dead; they must
live, not in pleasure (for those that do so are dead while they live), but in
the service of God; for those only that do so live indeed, live to some
purpose. "Live not a mere animal-life, as brutes, but now, at length, live
the life of men. Live and you shall live; live spiritually, and you shall live
eternally," <Eph.
[3.] they must choose the paths of Wisdom, and keep to them: "Go in the way of understanding; govern thyself henceforward by the rules of religion and right reason." It is not enough to forsake the foolish, but we must join ourselves with those that walk in wisdom, and walk in the same spirit and steps. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)
When most people look at a preacher or teacher of the Word; the first thing most assume, is that they are a special person, and are not capable of making mistakes. The preacher is supposed to set the example that the people can follow. They are supposed to be that example of the believer, in word, in conversation, in love, in faith, in purity; keeping thyself pure unto God, that living sacrifice; however, they can make mistakes, and thus why we need to always check everything out in the Word by the discernment of His Spirit.
Just as Demas was swayed and turned away by people he associated with; we are also able to see much of the same thing happening to Barnabus. (Gal 2:13) There is much said within the Bible, on one keeping oneself pure. About avoiding evil or corrupt communications, avoiding those that may be a bad influence on us. Yet, for most, they ignore these warnings of the Word.
Gal
Barnabus, was carried away with the acting or portrayal that these people put forth. The KJV uses the word dissimulation, which means; actors or role players; hypocrisy. If a play is presented well enough, one is moved by that which they see. They will become a part of the production. This is why Paul commended the Berean's, for they searched the scriptures daily, to be sure any and all that they heard was so.
How did all of this hypocrisy or dissimulation get started? If one will read the Word, they will see that it was by the example that Peter had set, (along with James and John). They set an example, that others soon followed. How can two walk together lest they be agreed?
Gal 5:7 You were running
the race nobly! Who has interfered and caused you to swerve from the truth? 8
No such teaching ever proceeded from Him who is calling you. 9 A little yeast
corrupts the whole of the dough. (
Let's take a look at some of Matthew Henry's comments on these verses.
Now, to obviate such pretences as these, and to convince them that there was more danger in it than they were aware of, he tells them (v. 9) that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump-- that the whole lump of Christianity may be tainted and corrupted by one such erroneous principle, or that the whole lump of the Christian society may be infected by one member of it, and therefore that they were greatly concerned not to yield in this single instance, or, if any had done so, to endeavour by all proper methods to purge out the infection from among them. Note, It is dangerous for Christian churches to encourage those among them who entertain, especially who set themselves to propagate, destructive errors. This was the case here. The doctrine which the false teachers were industrious to spread, and which some in these churches had been drawn into, was subversive of Christianity itself, as the apostle had before shown; and therefore, though the number either of the one or the other of these might be but small, yet, considering the fatal tendency of it and the corruption of human nature, whereby others were too much disposed to be infected with it, he would not have them on that account to be easy and unconcerned, but remember that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. If these were indulged the contagion might soon spread further and wider; and, if they suffered themselves to be imposed upon in this instance, it might soon issue in the utter ruin of the truth and liberty of the gospel. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)
You were doing well! You were on the right path! What then, or who was it that caused you to err? After being rooted and grounded in the Word of truth, what or who caused these Galatians to become uprooted, or unstable?
When it is only a "little error", or a "small mistake" most do not think that it can or will do much harm. Yet, how much poison does it take to affect, infect a glass of water? No change in the taste, color or odor; and yet, it will have deadly consequences if it is consumed.
So it is today, with all of the false doctrines that are within the Church today. Many will say that it looks harmless, that there is no distinct odor to it, so they will allow it to remain. And the end results, will be that it will bring about death.
The Galatians too had started out on that strait and narrow path of faith. They had learned to walk and operate in the Spirit of Christ. Yet, after but a short time, false doctrine had set in, and as Paul relates to us, had now caused them to turn to operating and walking in the flesh. He tells them clearly in Galatians 5:4, that by returning to the Law, they had fallen from the grace that can only be in Christ Jesus.
Evil communications; evil or unruly companionship will indeed corrupt good morals or manners. Not because I say so, but rather because the Word of God plainly tells us so. It clearly and plainly states that a "little" leaven does indeed affect and infect the whole of the lump. By allowing these things in to hinder you, it will cause one to stray from that strait and narrow path that leads to Father's house.
"But, it is only a harmless manger scene with some wise men set about." It is contrary to God's Word! It promotes a lie! It will cause further lies to be promoted and adhered to! It will cause the wrong kind of growth. "Come out from among them, be separated from them, and rid yourself of the unclean thing!"
A little leaven affects, infects and effects the whole of the lump. Who is it, or what is it that you are imitating today? Are the words that you are speaking this day, those of life, or death?
That you may know Him
In the service of Jesus Christ.
Larry Gazelka
Copyright © 2003 Rev Larry Gazelka
all rights reserved