Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God. ~ Matthew 22:29
In some modern Christian groups, fear of people has taken the place of strong biblical beliefs. Many social issues are now influenced more by public opinion than by what the Bible clearly teaches. Whole denominations are giving in to this fear, which has become a trap for them. The wish to be seen as progressive, open-minded, or politically correct is a trap that Satan uses to lead people away from God’s truth. For many who claim to believe, the need for approval and acceptance has become more important than God’s Word, confirming the wisdom of Proverbs 29:25.
Romans 8:31 reminds us not to be trapped by the fear of others: “If God is on our side, who can stand against us?” Christians should be aware of social issues and show kindness to everyone, but we must not let the fear of people guide our actions. Many martyrs could have escaped death if they had chosen to stay quiet about their faith in Christ. By letting fear silence them, they might have gained the world’s praise but lost their place in heaven. While Satan cannot take away the salvation of those who are reborn in God’s kingdom (John 1:12; 3:3), he can use traps to rob us of our victory, our testimony, and our chances to earn rewards in heaven by amplifying the fear of man (John 10:10; Luke 12:33).
This is a tough one David. -And welcome to the Forum btw.
The church I attend strives to be non-political, as one example. At times, this appears to me as “woke” -or at the very least ‘appeasing’ -or even weak-kneed. But here is their rationale.
If we were simply building a club, we could set membership requirements however we like, or we could take and review ‘applications’ from people to join our club. But that’s not the mission. The mission isn’t to screen people out, but to invite people in. The minute we become a Democrat Church, or a Republican Church, we immediately alienate half the potential attendees.
Jesus hung with the thieves, the liars, drunks, prostitutes and tax collectors alike. To be a friend of sinners is not the same as accepting their sin, or approving their behavior. Was Jesus, in attitude and action-- progressive? His crowd included all those who the religious folks would never have associated with.
As members of his church we should all be on the welcoming committee, not Gate Keepers.
While it is true that Jesus was often found speaking with and showing compassion to those considered sinners—such as tax collectors, prostitutes, and others on the margins of society—it is important to understand the nature and purpose of His interactions with them. Jesus did not “hang out” with sinners in the sense of participating in their lifestyles or forming close associations that affirmed their choices. Rather, He was among them to call them to repentance and transformation. For instance, when He dined with tax collectors and sinners, He made it clear that He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). His love was redemptive, not permissive. He never affirmed their sin, but rather offered them the way out of it. None of these individuals were invited into His inner circle of disciples unless they turned from their former ways and followed Him in truth. They were not appointed as spiritual leaders or spokespersons for His mission unless their lives were changed. The mission of the Church is indeed to welcome all to hear the gospel, but never at the expense of truth or holiness. Jesus’ example calls us to both love and truth—to welcome the sinner while never compromising the call to repentance and obedience.
The church is for sure not a social club nor a political organization, and its mission is not to appeal to worldly preferences or affiliations, but to glorify God by proclaiming the truth of the gospel and calling sinners to repentance and faith. Scripture is clear that while all are invited to hear the message of salvation, only those who repent and believe are to be brought into the fellowship of the church. The New Testament sets clear qualifications for church membership and leadership, emphasizing repentance, spiritual maturity, and sound doctrine (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1). Those who persist in unrepentant sin are not to be granted roles of influence or authority within the church, nor are they to remain in fellowship without correction (1 Corinthians 5). The church must not compromise its holiness or alter its message to make sinners feel comfortable in their rebellion against God. Instead, it must remain faithful to Christ by speaking the truth in love, urging all to turn from sin and follow Him. To make the church appealing to those unwilling to repent is to betray the gospel itself and abandon the church’s true mission.
Christians are not supposed to compromise the truth of the Bible in order to attract people to church or make them feel comfortable in their sin. Doing so can lead to the creation of false converts—individuals who may think they are saved because they were welcomed or entertained, but who have never truly repented or trusted in Christ. Scripture clearly teaches that salvation comes through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19; Ephesians 2:8-9), and the gospel message must not be altered to suit human preferences. When the truth is diluted to avoid offense, the result is often a message that lacks the power to truly save. Jesus never adjusted His message to gain followers; in fact, He often said hard things that caused people to turn away (John 6:60-66). The mission of the Church is not to grow through human methods, but to remain faithful to the Word of God, trusting that it is His Spirit who convicts, saves, and transforms lives. A church built on compromise may appear successful outwardly, but it risks leaving people spiritually deceived and unprepared to stand before God. We must not give people a false sense of salvation, only for them to one day hear the sobering words of Jesus: “Depart from Me, I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23). That is not being loving at all.
Sorry, that all may align with your beliefs, but it’s not part of his story. Did I miss the part where he first required them to repent, be baptized, sign a declaration and be certified “transformed” before he called them to simply follow him?
As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen). He said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people!” They left their nets immediately and followed him. Going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and his brother John, in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Then he called them. They immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.
Instead- he warned>>>
“Do not judge so that you will not be judged.For by the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive."
Yes, Jesus did call people to follow Him, and He did so with simplicity and authority—but He never called them to follow Him while remaining in their sin. When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” it was an invitation not only to walk with Him physically, but to commit their lives to Him fully. The very act of leaving their nets, boats, and families was a turning point—a form of repentance, a breaking from the old life to embrace something entirely new. While there was no formal declaration or certificate, the heart of His call was always tied to repentance and transformation. Jesus preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17) immediately before calling His first disciples. His message consistently confronted sin and called for change—not legalistic rituals, but genuine surrender. He welcomed sinners, yes, but always with the call, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11). Following Jesus is not about jumping through human-made hoops, but it is about turning from sin and being made new through Him. Any version of discipleship that leaves people in their sin misunderstands the holiness of the One who calls them.
I did not say not to invite all to come to your church, as you should. But not put them in leadership roles or let them be teachers if they do not repent and turn from their sin. Do you have a problem with repenting?
The Bible clearly teaches that while Christians are called to exhibit love and patience toward individuals, they must not tolerate sin within the church. Scripture emphasizes the necessity of addressing sin to maintain the purity and holiness of the body of Christ.
In Revelation 2:18–29, Jesus rebukes the church in Thyatira for tolerating a false prophetess who led believers into immorality and idolatry. This passage illustrates the depth of sin that compromise can lead to—full-scale idolatry and immorality—and highlights the danger of tolerating such behavior within the church.
Furthermore, the apostle Paul admonishes the Corinthian church for allowing blatant sin among its members, instructing them to remove the wicked person from their midst to protect the church’s integrity and witness. He emphasizes that while believers are not to judge outsiders, they have a responsibility to judge those within the church and to maintain its purity.
While Christians should be tolerant and forgiving toward people, they must be intolerant of error and sin. God hates lying tongues and the liars who use them, and believers are called to uphold the truth of Scripture without compromise.
Addressing sin within the church is not about being judgmental but about lovingly guiding fellow believers toward repentance and restoration. This approach reflects a commitment to God’s holiness and the well-being of the church community.
How would your church cope if most of its members who were teachers lost their jobs because they made a stand by biblical principals?
What sort of practical help could your church offer them?
Thank you for your question. First, let me be clear: what I believe does not come from a denomination, tradition, or man-made institution—it comes from the Bible, the Word of God. Scripture alone is the foundation for truth, and those who truly follow Christ are called to stand on that truth no matter the cost. Jesus Himself said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). The apostles were not honored by the world for their convictions—they were beaten, imprisoned, and killed. Jesus was crucified for speaking the truth. That is the cost of genuine discipleship.
The fear of man must never take precedence over faithfulness to God. Proverbs 29:25 warns, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” If standing for biblical truth means losing a job, losing relationships, or even facing persecution, then so be it. That is not a failure—it is faithfulness. The early church grew under persecution because its members were willing to suffer rather than compromise the truth.
Your question about how the church should respond practically is a good one, and the answer is found in Acts 2:44–45, where the early believers shared what they had to meet each other’s needs. A faithful church will support its members when they suffer for righteousness’ sake. But that does not change the call: we do not abandon truth to preserve comfort. Jesus said, “Whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:33). You are either a true Christian—willing to stand for the truth regardless of the consequences—or you are not. There is no middle ground.