Faith or Fluff?

There is a very great, serious danger being preached in the church today. All the realities of life stand as a solid wall of powerful contradiction against it, but yet it is still preached and people still gobble it up like so much 'carnival cotton candy fluff'! What is being preached today is 'soggier than milk toast' and more watered down than 'ice melted in leftover dregs of a glass of ice tea found after sitting for hours in the living room'. It has absolutely no nutritional substance and is completely worthless! And worst of all and most seriously dangerous of all is the fact that a heart filled with such useless 'sustenance' will be completely over run, over taken and overwhelmed by the realities of real life. 

I'm talking about the so-called 'best life now' garbage (those who seek to save their life will lose it, those who lose their life My sake shall find it)... the 'follow your dreams' (not God's will) garbage... the 'just believe' (in yourself and not in Christ) garbage, etc, etc...

Except for the very young or the very naive, everyone knows that as you get older and experience more and more of life, you are confronted with the reality of struggles, hardships, pain, suffering,disappointments, despairs... afflictions galore! All encased in an innumerable array and variety of packages! That is life! That is life in a fallen world.

Some of us experience it to very high degrees and others not so much... but it is a given! As life proceeds on this earth... troubles will abound! And you know it's true!

So why does the church preach otherwise!? And in doing so commit the gravest of crimes against the people of God. That of unpreparedness! When life strikes (And it will!) these people who have been scarfing down sugar coated feel-good teachings are stunned!! And they are so weak from lack of nutrition and solid meat of the true Word of God, that they become disillusioned, bitter and shake an angry fist at God, 'accusing Him of wrongdoing' (can anyone say 'blasphemy'?)! They have no way of fighting back because not only are there no weapons in their hands, they wouldn't know how to use them if they had them! And this is all completely inexcusable! They have no idea how to face such things and have no concept of coming through the fire stronger, steadier and closer to God than when they went in. Which is one of the main reasons for testings and trials. They are needed by the body, used by the Holy Spirit to purge, cleanse, strengthen, purify and sanctify the believer... and these things are sent and allowed by God Himself and therefore should be accepted and not 'kicked at', 'Run from', 'Rebuked as though from the devil', etc... and here is why:

 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;

and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 5:2-4

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

But let patience have its perfect work,

that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

James 1:2

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Ephesians 6:10-18