A big difference between a Christian and the rest of the world is a Spirit-filled desire to obey God. This has been a defining characteristic since the beginning of the Church at Pentecost. This seems like a straightforward claim - Christians want to obey the God they believe in and the God who saved them.

However, with the advent of post-modernism beginning in the 20th century and the supremacy of individualism being valued, more and more churches are being infected. Whereas the Reformers and early Church Fathers fought for things like Sola Scriptura and the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible as the guiding principle of the life of the Church because it came from God's own lips - we have some who have given up this fight.

It will be interesting to see where liberal churches and the American churches in general will be a century from now. What happens when you remove the Bible as the chief cornerstone for your church? What purpose is there to come together to worship God? When hyper-individualism and self-determination replace the very words of God and make it a sub-class of general good suggestions - where will that group be?

We must strive to hold on to God's Word. Jude tells us to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints" (Jude 1:3). We must plead with our teachers and pastors to challenge us with soul piercing messages. We should desire to be squirming in our seats and stretched out like rubber bands each time we go to God's Word. Let us never settle for our own pat on the back but we should seek the very speech of God that necessitates obedience. Hebrews 4:12 "For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Let us be pierced daily and let us encourage others who desire that as well. That's the topic of Pastor John Samuel Barnett's Ministry Moment today.

https://youtu.be/DQJGdahB-O0