The youth of today are searching for what is real and fake

He told me, “Maria, the more fake stands alongside real, the more fake will seem harmless and become acceptable.”

The world today is so very liberal. The lines between right and wrong or black and white have become quite skewed in the minds of many.

As a matter of fact, where the older generations simply believed one way or another, today’s generation believes one way and the other.

Things are not as clear-cut today as they were in days gone by. What many parents and people in authority would not stand for in the “good-ole days”, today they give rationale for the acceptance of those very things.

I wonder if you can understand how this confuses our present generation.

Can you understand that they have been born in a world where seemingly everything is okay as long as it has the “right” supportive explanation?

The children of today are searching to find out what is real and what is fake. Who can they count on? Who can they believe? Who can they trust?

This dilemma has not gone unaddressed by the Bible.

As a matter of fact, the Bible deals with the very same challenges that are found within today’s churches.

2 Timothy 3:5:

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

The Bible has an issue with people that represent one thing, but are really another thing.

Even in Christendom, you are challenged to be who you say you are. Yet there can be no doubt or surprise that there is such a thing as fake church drama.

For as long as there are persons gathered in any place there will surface some sort of drama.

Yet, Christians must be challenged and reminded that you are called to live according to a standard that is not made by mankind.

This standard has been set in place by a holy God who is all right and all truth; our God who is real expects His people to be just that — real.

Therefore, the Apostle Paul spoke to church people about knowing the difference between real and false.

Paul warned the Christians against getting involved with those other Christians who appeared to be the real deal but did not have the real power. 

They were warned to move away from those who look right, but are not right.

In other words, they were admonished, for the sake of their own continual growth in their walk with Christ, to be aware that even in the “church” there were those who could play the part.

Yes, believe it or not. Not all who clap hands, raise hands, wave hands, and give high-fives are filled with the spirit of God’s agape love. 

In other words, they do not possess the power of God.

There are many inside church buildings that have the form, but not the power. 

While the form may be a good look, it lacks the effectiveness that is needed to get the work of the Kingdom done.

The Bible tells us in Acts 1:8: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The substance or the power of Christians brings about the result of effective witness and the ability to demonstrate to others that the life of a Christian is what they ought to seek after.

The world is not reading The Word of God as much as they are reading the “workers” of The Word of God.

So the question becomes, “Are you an effective worker, or have you placed the work at a deficit because you do not possess the power to be an effective witness of the wondrous saving power of the blood of Jesus Christ?”

Bermuda, it’s time to be real. Enough of the fake stuff! Will the real church stand up and stand out?

Let’s be effective lights in a world of much darkness. Let’s be real!

Dr. Maria A Seaman is the pastor of Shekinah Worship Centre, Hamilton Parish.