Do NOT Envy EVIL MEN!

This blog is written to people who have yielded their lives to Jesus Christ. It is not for people who do not consider themselves to be followers of Jesus. The Bible teaches that everyone who confesses Jesus Christ as Lord (Romans 10:9) receives God's Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) and a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17). Having the Holy Spirit living in you gives you spiritual discernment to understand what the Bible is teaching. If you are not a follower of Jesus, you do not have the Holy Spirit living in you (Romans 8:9). This is what the Bible teaches. Therefore you will not be able to fully understand or accept what I have written if you do not belong to Jesus Christ.

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14.

The bottom line is this: If you are not a follower of Jesus Christ, you might as well not even try to understand what I have writen here. In fact, it will probably tick you off because I am talking about your heroes and why the Bible calls them "evil men" and women.

My goal for this blog is to challenge my fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ that your choices in life always have an effect on your relationship with God ... both positively and negatively.

Who are your heroes? Who do you consider yourself to be a "fan" of? Who do you "envy"? Who do you think are so cool that you pattern yourself after them? And if you think this way, I am going to challenge you that your thinking is not pleasing to God nor will it lead you to spiritual maturity and intimacy with God. In fact, it will only keep you entangled by sin which will lead you to misery and shame later in your life. Do you wonder why the Christian life "just isn't working" for you? Then read on ...

God is clear in His Word. Yes, He loves the world (John 3:16) and desires that all men and women be reconciled with Him (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). But He also is very clear that He sees some men and women as "evil". Yes, I said "evil". Do you want to see an interesting word study? Check out this to see how many times the words "evil men" are used in the Bible.

Evil men/women are not just normal people who are living life and trying to find truth and a reason for their existence. The Bible uses terms like "enemies of the cross" that quite literally defines them as people who have made conscious choices to live in opposition to God, His Word (the Bible) and His people (followers of Jesus). Question: How can a follower of Jesus Christ also be a follower of people who live their lives in opposition to Him?

For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. Philippians 3:18-19

Who are your heroes? Can any of your heroes be described as "enemies of the cross"? If so, on the authority of God's Word, I have to tell you that you are making a HUGE mistake. I have seen many. many people get discouraged in their Christian experience because they have not learned this lesson. You cannot pattern your life after men/women who do not love God. If you do, your relationship with Jesus Christ will not work! Hebrews 12:1-2 tells us us to "put off" everything that entangles us and "fix our eyes on Jesus". How can we become like Jesus when we think people who are in opposition to Him are cool?

For example: I grew up watching Clint Eastwood westerns and thinking he was cool. But as I grew closer to Jesus I realized that the gunfighter who killed everyone who crossed him was not someone who would help me become more like Jesus. By the way - I am not saying Clint Eastwood is an "evil man". I am simply pointing out that the character he played (the outlaw Josey Wales) was someone many people patterned their life after. This is a problem for the follower of Jesus because everything Josey Wales stood for was in opposition to the teachings of Jesus.

I have seen many, many rock stars influence fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in the same way. Let's be clear - I have learned as a musician to respect and learn from people's musical talent while being very discriminating of their choices to turn people away from God. It really hurts me to see followers of Jesus Christ calls themselves fans of people who are obvious "enemies of the cross". For example: I know several people who call themselves Kiss fans even though the band is committed to leading people away from Jesus and into a life of sin. Gene Simmons has a deep disdain for followers of Jesus Christ. How can any follower of Jesus think he and his band are cool when they promote hedonism and anti-Christian attitudes? Years ago, Rob Halford (singer of Judas Priest), sang sexual lyrics that should have alarmed "fans" who knew that the Bible teaches us to live a life of righteousness. But as time went on we realized that Mr. Halford wasn't really speaking of his love for sex with women but rather he was promoting a homosexual agenda. Today he is a militant homesexual activist yet I know of people who claim to be followers of Jesus who call themselves Rob Halford's "fan". Maybe we should talk about a defintition of terms or something because this totally boggles my mind. Understand clearly that I will not call myself a "fan" or "follower' of any man or woman who is actively promoting a lifestyle that is in opposition to God's Word. Dimebag Darrell is not partying in hell folks! And I cry out to you not to pattern your thinking after men like these. The Bible refers to these men as "evil men" who set their hearts against the things of God!

Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. 2 Peter 2:11-13

Two years ago "Hannah Montana" (Miley Cyrus) was an innocent little Walt Disney girl and my daughter was drawn to her. We even let her put a poster on her wall. But now I am seeing a transformation taking place as Miley is becoming more sensual and provocative. I pray to God that she doesn't become the next Brittany Spears. I am actively involved in my daughter's life and I am encouraging her to see this "slippery slope" that Miley Cyrus is getting close to. We have to make these choices when to "pull the plug" on who we let influence our lives and our children's lives. Sometimes we have to take drastic measures and completely cut off certain influences that drag us down.

What "drastic measures" are you taking in your life? What CDs have you chosen to get rid of? What TV shows have you chosen not to watch? What idol have you chosen to "smash" in your life? Why is this important? Because as followers of Jesus Christ, God tells us that we are not of this world.

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21

Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Please consider the possibility that you are being influenced by this world more than you realize. Ask God to reveal the dangers of envying people who are living in opposition to those who follow Jesus Christ. Ask God to give you wisdom not to fall into this trap.