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The Whole Will of God

While on the internet last night, I came across a review of the new CD by the Christian band “Casting Crowns”, so I decided to have a look.

The review was brutal! I have rarely, if ever, seen anyone who has disliked a CD as much as this reviewer did. He did not like the songs, the music, the lead singer’s voice or anything else about it.

Interestingly, his main complaint was that the CD was “too preachy”. He thought that the lyrics were too serious, too pointed and too demanding. The album made him think too much.

“Casting Crowns” is one of my favorite bands because their lyrics are deep and their songs are challenging. Don’t get me wrong, I like fun, joyful, fluffy songs, but I listen to “Casting Crowns” because their songs say something that is based on the word of God.

I guess I should not be surprised by the fact that someone does not want to hear what the Bible has to say. Two thousand years ago, the apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote to a young preacher named Timothy to warn him of a similar problem. “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3).

What is the remedy to this problem? Paul states it very clearly: “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (verse 2).

I do not always like what the word says. Sometimes it demands things from me that are difficult or even against my nature, but that is ok.

We are still better off when we know, teach and follow “the whole will of God” (Acts 20:27) and not just the parts that we like.

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