Have You been infected with Secularitis?

Secularitis is a serious human malady. It sets in when we begin to think that things like managing our finances, managing our time, and managing physical things in general are secular matters, as opposed to church activity, prayer, Bible study and such, which are religious matters.

This disease broke out in the new nation of Israel when they got into their new land. If you remember they cried out as a young nation for a king that could do battle with their enemies, secure their borders, and strengthen their economy. Their argument with the prophet Samuel was that this was how other nations achieved these goals, and that Israel could learn from the success of their neighbors, and implement these proven secular principles. What harm could there be in that? After all, it wasn't like they were going to abolish sabbath or stop worshipping Yahweh.

The prophet Samuel was greatly grieved at this worldly way of thinking, and the way they were removing God from the key aspects of their national life by adopting worldly principles that they felt worked well for the pagans around them. After all, Egypt achieved great rich, power, and wealth by setting up a secular government. How soon they had forgotten that Yahweh drowned the great Egyptian army in the sea with one wave of His hand. They had rejected God by their insistence on leaving Him out of the equations not involving religious activity.

This rejection of God is rebellion, plain and simple.

And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. (1Sa 8:7)

But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, 'No, set a king over us!' (1Sa 10:19)

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. "
(1Sa 15:23)

Have you been infected with Secularitis? Have you separated God from certain aspects of your life in order to better manage it the way the world manages things? The cure for secularitis is letting God know you want Him to reign over every area of your life, then seeking God's will in every aspect of your life, and finally, obeying it. Trust and obey, for there's no other way.

Yours in Him,

Pastor B.