Question for You

Question: Has God become less worthy of your love now that almost 2000 years have passed since He gave His only Son to save you? Or has He become less powerful than He was, so that there is no longer any need to have a healthy respect for Him that you should obey? Is society more "enlightened" now, such that people know "better"? No? Then why are so many professed believers behaving as though He doesn't know what they do, say and think?

Jesus summarized what is expected of believers in two simple commands: Love your one true God as your highest priority, above all people and things, and love your neighbor as yourself. Those cover ALL of the commands if you do them. When God is first, then you care about His honor and glory most--you don't follow the world, but Him--you know that what you do reflects on Him. When you love your brothers and sisters in the Lord and your neighbors (everyone else, and even your enemies), you care enough to warn them about the consequences of sin--eternal punishment for anyone who is not redeemed by the blood of Jesus through grace by faith. You don't sugar-coat sin for them, celebrate it, join them or do anything to cause them to stumble in it; and you don't pretend like they're the only ones with the problem, because EVERYONE has the sinful nature and will struggle against it until we die (but that doesn't mean giving in to it--fight the good fight!)

To be an overcomer and inherit all of the glorious promises of God, you need to lay down your will and take up His--even unto death IF need be. (That includes literal death, not just "death by social media.") Am I adding works to salvation? No. I'm saying what the Bible says: that eternal life depends upon believing and that saving faith is evidenced by works; and some will enter into eternal life as through the fire, with loss of reward. Think about it. Do you want to give up ETERNAL rewards for a very short time of having your own way here on earth? If you do, you'll regret it. I just hope that the regret is NOT that you never were saved to begin with. The Bible tells you to examine yourself to be sure you are in the faith.

If you LOVE Jesus, you will not think to yourself that "it was worth it" to "live it up" during this brief lifetime at the expense of your witness to His beautiful, holy, perfect and loving nature. That is loving yourself more than God when you enjoy your sin so much that you will not give it up for Him, and that my friend, is idolatry. You were meant to CARE about the lost souls for whom you are the LIGHT, because He should be shining through you. He will return to gather those who are His prior to executing the wrath of God against the rest. Time's up when that happens or when your own personal "appointment" arrives. Does anyone know when either will be? No, they don't. (Don't watch absurd YouTube videos by "prophets" setting dates, taking donations, giving messages that don't match the Bible, etc.)

If Jesus returns SOON, are you ready? If you picture Him with you throughout every day and night, is there anything you would be embarrassed for Him to see? How about watching or listening to media that exalts all sorts of immorality, laughing at inappropriate jokes, gossiping, lying, being greedy or gluttonous, envying, lacking purity in "private" matters, and anything else shameful? ALL can be forgiven, but Scripture says He is faithful to forgive and cleanse you when you confess it to Him. You are not meant to live as though you forgot what it cost Him to clothe you in pristine white. You WILL slip (and He is willing to cleanse you again and again when you repent and ask Him), but you will not live IN continual, deliberate sin. One of the fruits of His Spirit is self-control--if you haven't got it (and hopefully it is increasing if you do), then make sure you really are saved because whoever hasn't got His Spirit is NOT His. (He's returning for those who are IN Him, who were given to Him by His Father.)

Getting back to your day-to-day life, would He ask why you manage to make time for so many meaningless things that have NO eternal value and yet claim not to have time to pray, worship and read your Bible? Would God ask why you don't speak up against it when people tell lies about Him, saying that everyone goes to heaven whether they believe in His Son or not? What about when they say that He has "changed" such that He no longer hates sin--no worries, just SAY you believe and you're good to go? That is what He means when He says you are the SALT of the earth--speaking the truth in love (not love of sin, but of lost souls). He said that salt that has lost its saltiness is useless. He said if you don't FOLLOW Him, you're not worthy of Him.

Know this. Jesus DOES see every.single.thing you do and say (and even knows what your thoughts and attitudes are). Your behavior shows how much you love and respect Him (or don't). He IS with you at ALL times if you are born again, because that means you are indwelt by His Holy Spirit. (Remember, God is ONE. We know Him as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but there is really no "dissecting" Him and putting Him into various "boxes.") If you don't have His Spirit, then you are NOT born again, you do NOT belong to Him and you will NOT enter the kingdom of God. It's by HIS power that you can overcome. When you truly believed in your heart that Jesus was the Son of God who died for your sins and rose again--that He is now your Lord--you were baptized into Him, into His death and resurrection, by the regenerating power of His Holy Spirit, who then STAYS with you to teach, guide and strengthen you in the faith.

Please note: Water baptism is symbolic of the fact that as a believer, your old sinful self has been drowned and you now live in Christ and His resurrection, a new creation, washed clean, rising up out of the water. As with the Lord's Supper, it comes AFTER belief--your physical actions could never bring about faith--the Spirit alone saves. If you think about it, that would be works if you could do something to bring it about. Faith comes from hearing the word. Needless to say, you must be able to understand what you hear. Does anyone think that God condemns people to hell for being born with a sinful nature? Did they have any choice in the matter? No, but because of it they WILL sin and for THAT, they need salvation. Before a person knows there is such a thing as sin, their sins are not held against them (and everyone is given a conscience, so they will eventually know unless they have a mind of a young child for their entire lifetime, as sometimes happens). Babies who were not baptized do not go to hell. That would be works, and more so, relying on works done TO them, completely out of their control--the same way their birth was. So why do people baptize them when they are utterly unaware of what is happening, and unable to "follow" Christ, they have not yet sinned (they do not know right from wrong yet), they cannot understand the Word when they hear it, and so on? The Bible does not say, "be baptized and believe," but to "believe and be baptized."

If no one has free will to accept or reject God's grace, then why does the Bible repeatedly exhort everyone to BELIEVE and not harden your heart against God? Do infants harden their hearts? How can you refrain from hardening your heart if you have no free will? (I think we can all testify to the existence of free will every single day.) So no, rather than DOING something (such as being baptized, taking the Lord's Supper, or doing good works), you CEASE your rebellion against God in RESPONSE to the message of the Gospel, which is His gracious offer of eternal life, of having Jesus' completed work of salvation applied to you personally. Knowing that God loves you inspires you to love Him in return. Once you realize how amazing and wonderful He is, you don't WANT to resist Him anymore. He DRAWS you to Himself, by His grace, despite the fact that not ONE of us deserves it. It is not works to RECEIVE a gift that was freely offered and given. God does not force anyone to accept it (nor does He force anyone to obey Him after they receive His gifts).

Make no mistake, EVERY knee will bow and EVERY tongue will confess Jesus as Lord. At that point, compliance WILL be forced, but it will not result in salvation. God allows people to cause Him frustration and pain in order to receive TRUE worship from those are WILLING to humble themselves and admit He is God and they are not. He wants obedience out of love (and a healthy dose of respect) from those who recognize His sovereignty and perfect, beautiful nature. There are examples of God granting freedom to choose to grieve Him at the time of Noah, every time the Israelites provoked Him to jealousy with their idols, at the cross and everything leading up to it, and when we are told as believers not to grieve the Holy Spirit.

Before you surrendered to God in the war your spirit was waging against Him, you were hostile to God. You basically wanted to be in charge, which is to BE God--there was no hope of overcoming this world or of eternal life for you. The hope of glory is Christ IN you. When you received (and accepted rather than rejecting as you may have done in the past when offered) the gifts of faith and forgiveness, you became a child of God, His treasured possession to do good works He prepared for you in advance, that His Father may be glorified--to "work in His vineyard" and "bear fruit." At that point, your treasure was to have begun being kept in heaven for you eternally, where your heart (Jesus) is, not on earth, continuing to value temporary things. You were to begin seeking the kingdom of God FIRST.

The parables Jesus told warned that it would appear that His return has been "delayed," but that you should keep watching and be ready--found faithfully serving Him, pleasing Him not yourself and/or other people who draw your attention and devotion away from Him. He wants you to be kind to strangers, love your enemies, feed the poor, defend widows and orphans, pray unceasingly, give Him thanks in everything, work at everything you do as though it were for Him (because it is) and share the Good News--to be the light and salt of the earth. He said with good reason to "count the cost," because He was serious when He said "carry your cross" if you want to follow Him and be found worthy. Why would you want to live in such a way that casts doubt that you possess saving faith or that you recognize His infinite worthiness of all that you could ever offer Him? If you claimed to love and respect any person on earth, would they believe you if you didn't follow it up with your actions? Can God be fooled?

God is a consuming fire. He has given ALL out of love for you, and He is not interested in lukewarm "love" in return. You can choose to give Him the leftover crumbs of your life if you want, but I say with certainty that you will regret it. He is preparing unimaginably wonderful things for those who love Him. He is worthy and EVERY knee will bow, EVERY tongue will confess that He is Lord. Behave like you believe it if you claim to be His. Keep your lamp lit and live like He is returning soon. You'll be glad you did.

NOTE: I have used "you" instead of "we" in this article to make it more personal for each of us who read it, not to "point the finger." This applies to ALL of us who believe. This is not meant to hammer anyone over the head, but to inspire us all to remember from moment to moment that it matters. When we don't live up to our calling, it not only represents our Savior to the world in a bad light, but it may discourage other believers from doing as they should as well. Let’s be prepared to hold our heads up high when we see Him face to face and not shrink back in shame at His coming. We are told in the Bible to encourage one another in this way.

I normally compile a multitude of corresponding Scriptures to go with what I have said. I am not going to do that just now, but perhaps I will come back and add them later. In the meantime, this is the same message as I always present and the same Bible verses apply. To point you in the right direction as a starting point, you could read John chapters 14-17 and Revelation chapters 1-3, 22.

Lord, please help us to do only Your will and all of Your will. Apart from You, we are nothing and can do nothing. Please mold and shape us into vessels worthy of service to You, our very heart. Your love redeemed us and Your strength enables us to serve You as we should and to put You first in our lives. We want what You want and love who You love. Help us to recognize evil and flee from it. Let us hate everything sinful, giving it no place in our lives, and love what is good and pleasing to You. We ask You to make something beautiful out of each of us to glorify Your wonderful name. Please make us like You, faithful, true, steadfast, loving, long-suffering, strong, persevering, brave, wise and holy, fit to be Yours, worthy of You and the price You paid for us. All of our hope is in You. Thank you for forgiving and cleansing us. Oh, how we love You! If we have any idols in our lives, please show us and help us to tear them down. Please make us lights in this dark world and draw us near to You, keeping us firmly in Your love as we revere You above all, adoring and worshiping You until Your (hopefully soon) return, and forevermore. Amen

The Bible vs. The Shack

The Shack is just another psycho-babble book encouraging people to focus on themselves instead of worshiping the one, true God. I have no idea why anyone who has the truth of the Bible would support it or do the same by going to the movie. This one quote from the book is enough to show anyone that The Shack is full of lies, not truth:

[Jesus] paused and grew sober. "Seriously, my life was not meant to be an example to copy."

Hello? Here are some Scriptures to see what God has to say about this:

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:21-25

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 1 John 2:3-6

Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. Hebrews 13:12-13

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Matthew 16:24

“It's only fiction" does not cut it. Is it about God or not? Haven't they renamed Him to their own liking? So it's a book about a fictional God? Then why would Christians want to see it?"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." Matthew 12:30-32

Redefining God to be as we think we would prefer to understand Him is WRONG. He told us what we need to know. Adding to it or subtracting is not only unnecessary, but evil. The saying "eat the meat and spit out the bones" is utterly useless. Just stick with the Bible, and there will be no bones to spit out and none to choke on!! If we know and love the ONE, TRUE GOD, then we will not be ashamed of His words that are not fluffy. We will not try to make God into our own invention that is “nicer” and exists only to please US. "For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 

God does not need us to revise His holy word, to say it’s irrelevant or inadequate or to “improve” it. Here is what Jesus said about changing the Book of Revelation, for example:

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. Revelation 22:18-19

The author of The Shack has felt free to have the main character disrespect and question God, requiring an answer of Him, but it would be far better to heed Isaiah, Jeremiah (see Chapter 18) and Job. 

Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.” Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?” You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, “You did not make me”? Can the pot say to the potter, “You know nothing”? Isaiah 29:14-16

“Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’? Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’ or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?’” Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: “Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands? I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.” Isaiah 45:9-12

But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8

Then Job answered the LORD and said, "Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth.” Job 40:3-4 

Then Job answered the LORD and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:1-6 

If God needs our opinions, or his ways and nature change, then we are all in trouble because then we couldn’t trust Him. Thankfully, this is not the case. He is God and we are not, forever and always. Jesus is the ONLY way to the Father. The broad path leads to destruction, but Jesus is the narrow, only gate. If everyone goes to heaven, then why did Jesus have to die on our behalf to make us right with God? Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, but our sins are only forgiven IF we confess and believe in our heart that He is our Lord and Savior. God does not bow to us; we bow to Him. All roads do NOT lead to God. Only ONE road leads to God, and it starts with humbling admitting we are sinners in need of a Savior. Anyone who thinks they’re smarter than God and can play games with Him and His word is a fool.

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Numbers 23:19 

“For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. Malachi 3:6 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you. Psalm 33:1-22 

No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD. Proverbs 21:30 

“Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.” Isaiah 45:21-23 

For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:10b-12 

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:5-14 

On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? Romans 9:20-21 

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Psalm 2:1-12 

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, Matthew 7:13-28 

“No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.” 1 John 2:23 

“The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.” John 5:22-23 

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:18

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:8-10

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Psalm 14:1-3 

How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep! The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this: that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever; but you, O LORD, are on high forever. For behold, your enemies, O LORD, for behold, your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered. Psalm 92:5-9 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all. Psalm 103:19

If "your Jesus" would never say anything harsh, but only lives to please YOU—If He died for nothing because people who claim to be saved can willfully continue to live in sin and people can get to heaven any way they choose—If He would never "exalt Himself" as I have shown the Bible actually says, then PRAISE GOD—you have just received another chance to repent while there is still time, because you have accepted a FALSE Jesus!  God is GOOD!  You just found out in time to get on your knees and ask Him for forgiveness for worshiping an idol, which was your own version (or someone else's, perhaps that of a celebrity you admire or someone who told you what you liked hearing) of Him, instead of who He really IS, as He Himself has had recorded for us in the Bible.  He alone is worthy of ALL praise!  We are here to serve, honor and obey HIM, not the other way around.  Knowing what He suffered for us to free us from the damnation of hell should be ENOUGH for us to give Him everything we have and is or ever will be in us.

Who are these people who are making themselves famous and making a BIG profit telling lies?  God loves a broken and contrite spirit and despises pride, selfishness and greed.  Don't listen to them! Let's examine ourselves continually throughout each day so that our walk will please Him.  If we truly belong to Him, as born again children of God, then we have His Spirit and gifts to use for His glory.  Let's humbly seek to do His will and make His holy name known, starting with our own pursuit of holiness and desire to serve in love.

I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me!  For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.  But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.  For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 2 Corinthians 11:1-4  

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.  For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.  For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.  For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:6-12

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.  For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. Colossians 1:9-23  

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.  2 Timothy 4:3-4

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.  For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:1-7

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.  For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.  Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.  And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.  Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”  But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.  Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.  These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted;  wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.  It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones,  to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”  These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.  But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.  They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.”  It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.  But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.  And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Jude 1:3-23

For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. Isaiah 48:11

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17 

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.  He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.  A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”  This is what God the LORD says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:  “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.  I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.  See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”  Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them.  Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops.  Let them give glory to the LORD and proclaim his praise in the islands.  The LORD will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.  “For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant.  I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools.  I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame. Isaiah 42:1-17  

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,  eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” Ephesians 4:1-8 

 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.  For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;  if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;  the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.  Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.  Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Romans 12:1-13
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.  Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.  Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.  Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;  for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:13-22 

No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead. Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord. Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many. Hebrews 12:11-15

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With the movie based on the book is coming out soon, I would also like to share this post by a sister in Christ, Sunny Shell, author of the blog "Abandoned to Christ."

http://www.sunnyshell.org/2009/05/biblical-review-of-shack.html