The people of God perish for lack of knowledge (Hos. 4.1).

Moreover, the people of

God perish due to an active dismissal of the knowledge of God as seen in the subsequent verses of
Hosea chapter 4. Modern American Christians have more tools available for intense Bible study than
ever in the history of man. Yet, we are more Biblically and theologically illiterate than at any other time
in human history. We have become those who are tossed about by the winds of false doctrine and we
dont even see the fallacy in our theology.

We betray our ignorance in the flippant and trite religious sayings with which we communicate our
belief. For instance, what is wrong with this statement made after the apparent recovery of a Christian
struggling with sickness: The power of prayer has resulted in Gods favor. The immediate question that
comes to my mind is; What if the person remained sick and/or died. Does that mean that Gods favor
was removed from this Christian? Would in mean that the prayer was not adequate to evoke the favor
of God upon the believer?
This theological fallacy is not new to our word of faith and health and wealth centered Christianity
in America. Jesus encountered a similar fallacy as recorded by the Apostle John in his gospel:
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him,
saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither
hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him (John
9.1-4 KJV).
The implication of the disciples was that this mans sickness was a result of sin and exhibited a lack of
godly favor as a result. Isnt that similar to our statement above? Doesnt it suggest that sickness is a
sign of Gods displeasure or lack of favor upon our lives? Doesnt it suggest that Gods favor is evident
only when we are experiencing Our Best Life Now? This is an unfortunate fallacy which has ensured
many Christians to day.
The reason so many Christians have succumbed to such fallacious theology is intellectual laziness. The
theology of many modern believers is shaped by the popular writings of their favorite Christian author
rather than the Scriptures. More tragically, too many modern believers interpret the Bible in light of
these modern authors instead weighing these works against the Bible. If believers would turn again to
the sacred Word of God we would quickly realize the fallacy of statements like the one with which we
started.
With just a cursory reading of the text of Gods Word we would see that life on this earth is not our best
life now. We would see that for believers life on this earth is often filled with tragedy and persecution
because of our faith. We would learn that the fall of humanity brought sickness and diseased from which
God does not always choose to bring healing in the here and now.
We would realize, like the Apostle Paul, that even when we pray consistently and fervently that God
may chooses to allow us to live with the thorn merely to demonstrate the sufficiency of His grace. We
would see that God promised times of difficulty and even death simply because we are called by His
name.
Moreover, we would also see that in spite of our thorn, in spite of our disease, in spite of our tribulation,
in spite of our persecution, and even in spite of our death that we have been blessed with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 1.3 KJV). We would reckon with the Apostle Paul that this
is not our best life now and that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with
the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8.18 KJV).
May we always remember that by virtue of our being in Christ that we are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that should shew faith to the praise of him who hath
called [us] out of darkness into marvelous light (1 Pe 2.9 KJV). Let this be our declaration whether in
sickness or health; in poverty or wealth; in life or death. Let us be ever reminded by the Apostle Paul,
that in spite of our worldly plight, we are highly favored because we are the adopted sons and daughters
of God through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with
which he has blessed us in the Beloved and which grace He has lavished upon us (Eph. 1.5-8 KJV).
Let us all come to the understanding that because of our being in Christ we are favored by God. let us
further be resolved to know that because of Christs righteousness being imputed unto us we stand in
favor with God. In light of this knowledge let us praise God when He heals His favored and let us rejoice
even in our suffering because we know we are His favored. Let our prayer ever and always be that
Christ shall be magnified in [our] body, whether by life, or death. For to live is Christ, and to die is
gain (Php 1.20-21 KJV).
Grace,
Ronnie