Instant Coffee and Sanctification

Lately I've been reading through the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament. Chapter 19 contains several gems of wisdom: "everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts" (verse 6b) is one of my favorites. How easy it is to "buy" people with gifts! Why is this? Because everybody loves "free stuff." Lots of computer apps ("programs" in old-speak) have free versions that have all the features but are supported by advertising. This is similar to the politicians who get elected and re-elected over and over by promising "free stuff," but the price we pay is the constant barrage of "information" (advertising) that is subtly shaping our worldview, brainwashing us, telling us to want more, borrow more, eat more, buy more, consume more, etc. And you can get that next "fix" (gadget, diploma, car, house) "for free" - "Just sign up for our no-money-down, no-payments-for-many-months line of credit!" And then we're hooked. They've got a mortage on our homes, cars and brains and have enslaved our souls.

And there are many pseudo-Christian hucksters promising similar nonsense: the "free grace," "free gift of salvation," "instant sanctification," "eternal security" and "prosperity gospel" advocates push the same kind of false advertising: "We guarantee you eternal life and spiritual gifts right now for free, just say 'yes' to receive this offer - you don't have to do anything" (except give generously to support the extravagant lifestyle of this TV evangelist or megachurch pastor). They are then hooked with an emotional "high" during the worshi-tainment program, "free" coffee-and-doughnut "fellowship" after the service, and they keep coming back for more.

Several times during our twenty years of missionary service in Western Europe and Russia we encountered people who had completely bought into this pseudo-Christian philosophy. They truly believed that as soon as they learned the terminology of "free grace" and "instant sanctification" they would be saints, saved eternally once-and-for-all and instantly perfected. It seems that the Armenian theology of "perfect holiness" and the Calvinist theology of "eternal security" have merged with the western consumerist mentality of instant gratification (instant coffee, instant potatos, instant loans, fast food, instant gadgets providing instant messaging and instant news, etc., ad nauseum) to produce the "Instant Coffee and Sanctification" worldview.

But this is directly contrary to Christ's gospel of denying ourselves, our self-gratification, taking up our cross and following Him. The Bible passages telling us that only through trials and tribulations can we enter the Kingdom of God are completely ignored. Only the ascetic struggle of prayer, continually confessing and cleansing our souls of the deeply-pervasive sin that penetrates down to the roots of our being, humbling ourselves, preferring the other over oneself, serving "the poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind," caring for "widows and orphans" - only these things practiced over a lifetime can bring salvation, true sanctification and holiness. Believing in Christ as Savior and Lord is just the start of this process.

Remember Korah's rebellion against Moses and Aaron: Korah and his cohorts claimed - "We're just as holy as you are, Moses! We should be able to conduct the worship ceremonies!" But God opened up the earth and it swallowed them up. Korah and his cohorts had left Egypt and its slavery along with Moses and Aaron, but they failed to enter into the Promise. The same will take place with these pseudo-Christian worship leaders and their followers. It's time to forget "instant sanctification," to take up our cross and follow Christ!

(Linked to www.Hosken-News.info of 24 Aug. 2014.)