“Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16) I fear that most who claim Christ as Lord interpret this verse as being on their best behavior at all times, to dress appropriately, to have the proper hairstyle, to always be polite and kind, all of the external things that the world envisions a Christian to be.
Have you ever stopped to think about how the wicked must look upon those who say they are Christians, how many thousands of different denominations, all saying different words about who it is they serve and the proper way to serve Him who they claim to serve?
Before I was crucified with Christ, I saw them as hypocritical, not even able to agree with each other, now I see them in pity, and to a point shame, for to disagree is to dishonor His name, whether they will admit it or not. How many different denominations are within just a few short kilometers of where you live, how many so-called churches can you drive by that are within a few miles of your house? I can offer this truth to you, not everyone in those churches are holy, it is not possible, if they were, then across the entire planet there would be one church denomination.
And this is not even touching on all the religious organizations across the planet, tens of thousands of them that would never even contemplate mentioning the name of Jesus. Somebodies wrong, and not one of them that sits in those pews, much less the leaders of those “flocks” would ever admit to it.
Satan and fallen men have done a fine job of deception in this area. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) Not according to everyone. Those that live in communities where Muslims are the majority contend with Muslims for the faith, in a Lutheran area, the Lutherans, Roman Catholics, Charismatics, whichever religious organization that has a stronghold in a particular area is what we are at war against, and yes, it is a war. “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5)
You have been given only one weapon, the sword of the Word of God, the truth that salvation is only available by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. If you do not start here with those you are sent to speak with, no other words will matter. “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3) The foundation is Jesus Christ, it is where the work must begin, He is the chief cornerstone, (Eph. 2:20) without Him, you have nothing to talk about that will draw them to Him.
The lost, the wicked that do not serve Christ, those that have not been tarnished by a religious organization are in many ways easier to reach, they have little to no concepts of traditions and rules that all cults have laid upon them, they have no foundation yet, only the constructs of an imagination that has no strength to it. Those that have been indoctrinated into an idea, a religious organization have built their faith upon a lie, and for us to attempt to expound the truth to them becomes difficult, to say the least. We must prove to them by the Word of God that they are living a lie, no matter the topic of conversation, when we attempt to speak truth to such an individual, John 8:45 becomes a reality. “And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.”
The word frustration does not begin to cover our emotional and intellectual state of mind when attempting to witness for Christ at times.
I offer words of advice here, but perhaps not in what some might consider wisdom, you have to let them go, you must apply Matthew 15:14, “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Let them go. All things are in the Father’s hands, you must trust Him completely in all areas, no matter how frustrated you become, it is the very first step in becoming holy.
