The following words of C H Spurgeon are a biblical rebuke to the contemporary church that loves the world and is always busy incorporating worldliness into the church.
To be a trendy believer these days, means that you have to subscribe to LGBTQ, CRT, pro-choice… and a host of other worldly ways that are totally UN-biblical, but that make you acceptable to them.
That is 180 degrees from a right/biblical Christian walk; completely opposite of the true and narrow way in which Christ calls us to endeavor.
If fact, the contemporary church seemingly thinks that those who believe the Bible are antiquated, or worse.
It has long been a core goal of the contemporary church to seek “relevance.” That word in itself calls for a rebuke because it means that they want to be seen as relevant to the world, to those who have worldly values.
Any “Christian” who bothered to read through the Bible one time would be awakened to the corrupt nature of such a goal.
There are only two ways spoken of in the Bible, see Psalm 1: the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked: there is no way that incorporates elements of each; such a way would fall under the category of “wickedness.”
(Part of my own problem is that I have too many worldly values, which makes me somewhat double-minded, as the epistle of James calls this state. Born-again believers must let go of such things by learning God’s truth and seeking obedience; the first step in that process is to see it by God’s grace, via His truth.)
From Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Thoughts – Devotional
For November 10
Evening
“It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master.” — Mat_10:25
No one will dispute this statement, for it would be unseemly for the servant to be exalted above his Master.
When our Lord was on earth, what was the treatment he received? Were his claims acknowledged, his instructions followed, his perfections worshiped, by those whom he came to bless? No; “He was despised and rejected of men.” Outside the camp was his place: cross-bearing was his occupation.
Did the world yield him solace and rest? “Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”
This inhospitable country afforded him no shelter: it cast him out and crucified him.
Such (if you are a follower of Jesus, and maintain a consistent, Christ-like walk and conversation) you must expect to be the lot of that part of your spiritual life which, in its outward development, comes under the observation of men.
They will treat it as they treated the Saviour-they will despise it. Dream not that world-lings will admire you, or that the more holy and the more Christ-like you are, the more peaceably people will act towards you. They prized not the polished gem, how should they value the jewel in the rough? “If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?”
If we were more like Christ, we should be more hated by his enemies.
It were a sad dishonour to a child of God to be the world’s favourite. It is a very ill omen to hear a wicked world clap its hands and shout “Well done” to the Christian man. He may begin to look to his character, and wonder whether he has not been doing wrong, when the unrighteous give him their approbation.
Let us be true to our Master, and have no friendship with a blind and base world which scorns and rejects him. Far be it from us to seek a crown of honour where our Lord found a coronet of thorn.
End of Spurgeon text.
Some Bible references that support the above; that born-again believers will experience the hatred of the world:
John 15:18-27
John 15:18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you….
Texts that are related to the John 15:18, from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge [a free commentary that comes with E-sword]:
Joh_15:23-25, Joh_3:20, Joh_7:7; 1Ki_22:8; Isa_49:7, Isa_53:3; Zec_11:8; Mat_5:11, Mat_10:22; Mat_24:9; Mar_13:13; Luk_6:22; Heb_12:2; Jas_4:4; 1Jn_3:1, 1Jn_3:3, 1Jn_3:13