Freedom to Obey God's Word

Like the Pharisees of old, there are evil men and imposters, who deceive and are deceived. I watched a program the other day that encouraged me & made my stomach turn. The show, A Christmas for Everyone, featured a Christian pastor, a Jewish Rabbi and a Muslim Imam. My soul was edified because God's Word was read and Bible-based Christmas songs were sung. My stomach turned because the pastor twisted, mangled and revised the gospel, and the identity & mission of Jesus. To hear the people read God’s Word and sing was awesome. To hear him speak proved he did not believe what others read and sang. The Word of God was read, great Christmas songs were sung, then he explained it away as something almost secular, no mention of sin, judgment and Christ's substitutionary atonement at the cross. The pastor portrayed Jesus as part-biblical, part-political, part-self-help guru. Nothing like the portrait of Christ you see in Matt. 11. Not the Jesus of the Bible; he had as Gal. 1:6-9 says, a different gospel, a different Jesus. He quoted the 1st part of John 3:16, for God so loved the world...then made something up for the rest of the verse that fit his agenda. Nothing about how God sent His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life. God's Word changes people, but many people try to change God's Word. 1 Thess. 2:13 says it does its work in those who believe. Jesus sets us free to serve Him, but He does not give irresponsible freedom, He gives freedom under His grace. we do not have freedom to twist Scripture. We have freedom obey it, as the Holy Spirit gives us understanding.