Come Out From Among Them.

Several times yesterday, as I looked at the Scriptures, I came across admonitions about marriage in unexpected places, and now, this morning it happened again. So, I looked up 'put away' and right away I saw some things that struck me. The first use is in Genesis 35:2 when Jacob told his household to put away the strange gods that were among them. But, before that, the crappy search engine brought up something interesting in Genesis 21:14, Where Abraham sends Hagar away. Now, Hagar was a servant and the reason Abraham was sending her away, along with his son, Ishmael, was because Ishmael was the feeble attempt of Sarah (Abraham's wife) to 'obey' God within the limits of her understanding. She was getting old, and the promise of God to her and Abraham for a son, had not come to pass, so she figured out how to do the only thing she could think of to fix it. Under Hammurabi's Code, if a woman was barren, it was legal for her to have a child by her servant. The servant, Hagar, became her surrogate and gave birth to Ishmael. Years later, when God did what He said He would do, and Sarah, herself, gave birth to the son of promise, although she was 90 years old, Hagar was there, mocking. So, she asked Abraham to send her away. There is so much in this story! First, God does not need our help! If HE actually said He's going to do thus and so, He will do it. We are often tempted to think we need to step it up, that it's taking too long, that we're SUPPOSED to DO something. But, that is not the case at all. We are required to wait. When it is impossible for us, God will get the glory! Secondly, applying the law to spiritual things brings forth death. The letter killeth but the spirit giveth life. The son that Hagar birthed is still here...ISIS is STILL claiming that the birthright is theirs! This illustration is very important for our spiritual understanding. But, back to Gen 35. After Abraham, came Isaac and then Jacob. In Jacob, we see a man whose name means 'deceiver', and his mother, Rebecca, do the very same thing. They knew what God had said, that Jacob would get the birthright, but they thought they needed to 'help'. Jacob is revealed as a man with very little faith. It wasn't until he was between the proverbial 'rock and a hard place' that he wrestled with the Lord, finally coming to the conclusion that all his cleverness and manipulation could not save him. God had intervened and saved him from the wrath of his father in law, but his brother, Esau, was coming with 400 men and the possibility that none of his family would escape drove him into the arms of a Mighty God, who's answer was to permanently cripple him. Jacob learned a lesson that night...he would know that God was the only One who could keep him safe. But, even then we find his household full of idols! In Gen 34 Jacob scolds his sons for the murders they committed in the surrounding communities as they 'avenged' the rape of their sister. God said ,you're in the wrong place...go up and dwell in Bethel, (the house of God!) So, Jacob is cleaning house in the 35th chapter! Now, here is one of the Patriarchs. He has weak faith, his house is out of control, and full of idolatry right under his nose. He says, "Put Away" the false gods. How much more can we be idolatrous, out of control, and out of order, even though we hear from God, or God is dealing with us, or God has been merciful to us? This is what is happening today. We have aligned ourselves with God, but we don't believe Him. If the civil laws around us will serve our desires and the world around us says it's OK, then we do what we want to do, instead of waiting on God. We fill our houses with the idols of the day. Ungodly ideologies, ungodly pastimes, and ungodly behaviors. It's interesting to me that when God speaks about how it was in the days of Noah, He says, Mat 24:38, "For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark". That doesn't sound so bad does it? The Scriptures also say, 1 Corinthians 10:6-8, "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand". And Genesis 6:5, "...God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually". What we think is not what God thinks. When our attention is on this world and on ourselves, He calls it evil. What can we do? RUN to Him! As fast as you can, every time you realize you are doing it. ASK Him to show you IF there is any wicked way in you.. He will correct us, He will lead us in the way everlasting.

The Wilderness

Thinking this morning about Abraham. God promised Abraham that all the Nations in the Earth would be blessed through him. God promised Abraham and his wife Sarah, a son. That son was a miracle as Sarah was 90 years old before he was born! God was fulfilling His Word to Eve, that although the Serpent that deceived her would bruise HIS heel, HE would CRUSH his head. That Seed, the HE God was referring to, was Christ who came through Abraham's seed. I was thinking of the many years that passed from the time Abraham bore the son of Promise, Isaac, and Isaac bore Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel), and Jacob bore his own 12 sons. Those sons had borne children, and their children bore children until they numbered in the millions.They grew to a Nation under the wing of Pharaoh, in the land of Egypt. One time favored, they eventually became slaves in the land where they languished for 400 years. These were the twelve tribes of Israel, God's People. God, in all of His great mercy provided a savior to lead His People out of Egypt into the Land He had promised to Abraham. That great leader, Moses, obeyed God. He was called the Friend of God, and the meekest man on Earth. Now, what I wanted to get to is that those whom GOD called His own, wandered in the Wilderness for 40 years. They complained that they wanted meat, they were afraid of running out of water, they had questions about Moses' authority, and leadership, and they thought that they would die in the desert. All of those things seem reasonable, naturally speaking. But, God recorded everything that happened to His People as lessons, pictures, for us. What do we want? What do we worry about? What do we use our strength for? What are we bound and determined to have? Not everyone that is aligned with God, known as 'His People', are right with God! I saw the great masses of people in the world, as an ocean wave, rushing...mingling with the clear waters. On the extreme sides, it was obvious as to who was who. The dark, muddy waters vs. the pure, clear water. It was where they met that was murky and unclear. These are pictures of what calls itself the 'church'. Jesus said it would be mixed, like a loaf of leavened bread (leaven always being presented in Scripture as evil doctrine), and like a grain of mustard seed, which would grow up into a massive tree and the birds of the air would nest in it's branches, (again, birds of the air are images God uses to depict unclean spirits). Strange things to find in the 'church'. Going back to the Children of Israel, wandering in the desert. God was preparing a body for Himself through Judah. The genealogy of Christ is found in Matthew's gospel, and in Luke's gospel. It splits in David's sons, Solomon, and Nathan. One line goes to Mary and the other to Joseph, (Mary's husband). The point being that the actual line going through Abraham is a very narrow one...father to son. So, although the entire Nation came underneath the umbrella of being 'God's People', very few had hearts that were after Him. Most, were just like the mixed waters, and the leavened bread, part of the huge tree that God has planted in the Earth. This is a very important point, because this mixed people is what God addresses over and over, warning them just like He did those in the Wilderness. God knows those that belong to Him, but not everyone that says they belong to God, is His child. Not everyone that sayeth unto Me, Lord, Lord, will enter into life. The entire generation, save for a very few, fell in the Wilderness, "Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and above, shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT WHOLLY FOLLOWED ME, except Caleb…and Joshua…for they have wholly followed the LORD". (Numbers 32:11-12). Romans 11:7-8 "...What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, as it is written: “GOD GAVE THEM a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.” and verses 20-22, "But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. DO NOT BE ARROGANT, BUT TREMBLE. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off". It is difficult to express (especially in a few words) exactly what this means for you and me. But, very simply...God's wants ALL of us, ALL of our lives, just like He gave His all FOR us. We cannot come OUR OWN WAY. We cannot pick and choose what we believe of His Word and what we will do, or not do, and make it how we want it. Unfortunately, those to whom I am referring will not read anything like this. They will not allow themselves to be troubled, they will continue to do what they want to do. But, I am bound before God to tell you what I see, whether or not you choose to open your eyes. This is where the battle rages for the souls of men. Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God". IF WE INSIST ON WHAT WE WANT, GOD WILL GIVE IT TO US. THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING. HIS WAY, HIS DESIRE IS BETTER. LET IT GO...IT'S NOT WORTH ETERNITY.

The End Times from Matthew's Gospel

Thinking about the 10 virgins, I decided to look at the Scriptures again. In doing so, I had to go back into the previous chapter (Mat 24), to where Jesus started answering questions from his disciples about the 'end of the world'. I found out quite a lot and wish to share it with you, because we 'pick up' ideas along the Way. The Lord speaks in a progression, and there are layers of like things happening as the Time get shorter. He starts from a wide perspective talking about what will happen in the world, false Christs, wars, famines, epidemics, and earthquakes, then He tightens up the view to talk about a more personal experience, where Christians are 'delivered up' to be afflicted, killed and hated, and then He gets even more personal by talking about many becoming offended, betrayals, hate, false prophets (or teachers), and that the love of many will become cold. All these things have already happened. I have links to lists of people claiming to be Christ, lists of wars, famines, epidemics and earthquakes which are really eye-opening. Summarizing further...He talks about 'the beginning of sorrows', enduring to the end, the Gospel being preached to all Nations and then the End shall come. All this in verses 3-14. Daniel 12 also throws light on these words, referring to how it was in the days of Noah. Then in verses 16-20, we land in the middle of the Tribulation period, and shoot forward to the Lord's second coming and how that's going to look. All the tribes of the Earth will mourn...so they will see Him for sure! And it's summed up with a dramatic depiction of lightening, sun and moon darkening, stars falling, and the powers of heaven being shaken. He says in verses 32-34 that when we see 'all these things' know it is near, and that the generation (he repeats) seeing 'all these things' will not pass until 'all these things' be fulfilled. That's us. No man knows the day nor the hour of these things. Heaven and Earth will pass away, but His Words will not pass away!
Then there's a big BUT. Matthew 24:37, "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be". The conversation changes and He begins to talk about something else that needs to be discussed. They didn't understand until it was too late, in the days of Noah. Then He talks about 2 in the field, one taken the other left...2 grinding at the mill, one taken the other left. and tells us to WATCH. On the one hand, He is described as coming in glory, and on the other hand, as a thief in the night. He says if you knew when the thief planned to come, you'd be ready.
I know this is long, but this is so important! He describes being ready. Mat 24:45-51. He will come suddenly for those who are READY. Continuing in Chapter 25, He tells the parable of the 10 virgins. Now, we've gone from looking at the world as a whole, to looking at those in the world that claim to be His own. They all went out (from the world/hence they were 'virgins') to meet the Bridegroom. The wise had OIL, and the foolish did not have OIL. Major point. The Holy Spirit is often compared with OIL. The Scriptures say, Romans 8:9, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his'. You must have OIL. If you need oil, you must ask God for it, asking others for it will not do. Mat 25: 8-9, " And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves". While they were trying to get oil, the Bridegroom came, and the Door was shut. The Lord expects us to be READY. The next verses are the Parable of the Talents. All were given talents (money as an investment, not talent like singing). Two were profitable, and one just hid the money. The Lord expects us to be PROFITABLE servants. The Lord ended His teaching by describing the Judgment Seat. He gathers all Nations. He separates His sheep, from the goats. He reveals their hearts, and He pronounces judgment. We will all stand before Him. We need to be real. We need to understand. Daniel 12:10, "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand". Hosea 14:9, "Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein".

The Group

This is hard to write. But, it's heavy on my heart. We live in a world that is full of groups. Each group is defined by their particular viewpoint, whether religious or secular. Look at it this way, thoughts become words, words become visions, visions become ideologies, and ideologies become entrenched. People are gathered along the way. Entrenched thought continues to add adherents through time, and people are born into the world where they are encouraged to pick their preferred group. Does that make sense so far? Rarely will anyone venture into some other avenue of thought, and they are chided if they attempt to do so. They are shut up. Now, the Lord calls us out of the world. He calls us to Himself. He admonishes us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. He says we will be persecuted as a result...that we will be considered 'peculiar'...that we will be shunned. Now, the hard part. Many of the groups are religious groups. 
The Lord was recorded as being angry several times. First, He was angry with the religious elite. They were supposed to know His Word, but HE IS the Word and they sure didn't recognize Him. They help up the ideals of their particular sects (groups) and attempted to shut Him up! Matthew 23:27, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness". 
The other one He was angry with was Peter. Bombastic Peter flew to the 'defense' of the Lord when he began to understand what was going to happen. The Lord was speaking about His impending death and Peter was trying to push such a thought away as fast as he could. The Lord rebuked him...Matthew 16:23, "But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men". 
How many times are we like the Sadducees, the Pharisees, and Peter? Like the religious in Jesus' day, we do our best to be what those in our group say we should be. We 'try the spirits' against our beliefs, to be sure they measure up. And we stubbornly 'do not care' what others think of our religious behavior, because we are backed by our (very pious) group. We, perhaps have made the outward appearance 'beautiful', but what's really happening in our heart? 
Or, like Peter, we do not understand what is happening, but it is definitely not what we expected, and it sure doesn't sound 'right'. But, it was right. It was the very Plan of God for you and me. 
If we cannot depend on our group, and we cannot depend on our own understanding without incurring the ire of God, how can we know what is right before Him? If we can actually know the Word, be students of the Word, even preach the Word (like the Pharisees did, and the Sadducees did, and like Paul did too), and not be right at all, how can we know? It's very important...eternally important, that we figure this out. The religious elite never figured it out as a group. Peter finally shut up and paid attention to what the Lord was trying to say...he 'got it' later on the day of Pentecost, and Paul, (Pharisee of Pharisees) 'got it' when he met Jesus, left the group, didn't confer with any flesh and blood for three years...not even the other Apostles, but received it by the revelation of the Holy Spirit! Now, obviously, we need to forget the group speak, forget what we have learned from them, and ASK the LORD HIMSELF to have mercy upon us, to forgive us for our errors, to show us what those are, and to speak to us by His grace, to reveal HIS TRUTH, by the power of His Holy Spirit...give us ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying! Much of the time, what we have learned is very close to the truth. It is a form of what God does in reality. What makes it even more confusing is the depth of passion displayed, that people actually 'love' God, follow Him (to the best of their knowledge), but hear...Mat 7:21-23, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity". They ARGUED with Him at the Judgment Seat!!!
Look at what they say...we PROPHESIED, we CAST OUT DEVILS, we did WONDERFUL WORKS! People! I cannot emphasize the importance of getting before God with this issue. Be willing to let Him scrutinized what you believe! You are in good Hands, if you will listen only to HIM. The rest will fall into place as you seek HIM. SEEK HIM.

Regarding Tradition

Thes 2:15, "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the TRADITIONS which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle".

Galatians 1:6-11, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ".

Here's an example of how we must rightly divide the Word of Truth. In 2 Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul is exhorting the church to hold the traditions they've been taught by word or epistle. But, hear the same Apostle Paul make it clear that the gospel (good news) originally preached is what they need to cling to, even if he, or another Apostle, or an Angel from Heaven should preach something else, (Galatians 1). These are strong words indeed, and he repeats himself for added emphasis. Then he declares that he received this gospel by the revelation of God, he did not confer with the other men, not even the other Apostles, but was separated from them for three years being taught by the Holy Spirit, verses 15-19, "when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I CONFERRED NOT WITH FLESH AND BLOOD: neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother". Just before saying that, he said that before being saved, he had 'held to the traditions of the fathers' with great zeal. So, Paul is not about to instruct the church to make the same mistake he did. He is specific about what to hold on to. He was full of the Holy Spirit and lived his life being poured out. He says 'follow me'. But, when we hear others saying that, we must beware. Others take on the same office, and declare that others should follow them, and it is not the same, for they do not have the same spirit. How many preachers, teachers, and others in the church have received their message from the Holy Spirit? By revelation, not from other's writings, not from a specific doctrinal teaching! Read Jeremiah 23! Doctrinal teachings assume that all the work has been done, that someone else long ago figured it out, wrote it down, and made it 'understandable'. Preachers then, simply research the research and preach it over and over. They have NOT heard from God, and that is why you leave church empty. Now, having said that, God is gracious, and merciful. He is loving and kind, so from time to time there are evidences of His love. God's mercy and love in our lives does not mean WE are right! He calls us to repentance! PAUL'S MINISTRY WAS MARKED BY SELF-DENIAL. He put his very body on the line over and over. It wasn't just words. If you compare Paul's life to those that the Lord speaks to in Mat 15:6-9, "Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, THIS PEOPLE DRAWETH NIGH UNTO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONOURETH ME WITH THEIR LIPS; BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. BUT IN VAIN THEY DO WORSHIP ME, TEACHING FOR DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN". Can you see the difference? Philippians 3:17-20, " Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, Whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, WHO MIND EARTHLY THINGS.) For our conversation is in heaven...".Now, if you read what Paul says in the first 16 verses you will be able to understand a little about this man's heart. God had done a work and continued to work, the outworking of life in the Holy Spirit, could be seen in Paul, praise God! May it be seen in us also.

Beware of men and women who use the Scriptures to uphold whatever it is that they follow when their lives and what they say are about self. The lives of those preachers with huge congregations are certainly not being poured out...they are taking in. They are filling themselves full of every thing the world has to offer, whether its expensive clothing, houses, planes, and whatever their hearts desire. And YOU are being taken in. They make merchandise of you. Many times the Scriptures are used in their sermons, and in the books the pump out to add weight to what they say, but you need to FIND OUT WHAT THE REST OF THE CHAPTER AND BOOK SAYS! Don't just accept their interpretation or usage of it. This started in the first century! Paul and the other Apostles were already dealing with those who had figured out how to make this new 'ideology' enrich them. Remember Simon? Acts 8:18-19, " And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power...". Yes. It's too often about power. Power, authority, riches, validation, but not about Christ. He gets used, and the Word gets abused, while they are 'lovin' life'. And it trickles down. Jude 1:4, "... there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ". Jude 1:3, "

 Beloved...it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints". 

Two Camps

Two Camps

There are two camps of people in this world. Those that believe God and those that deny Him. Often this basic fact is overlooked by followers of the Lord Jesus, and/or by those that want to know why He allows certain terrible things to happen, if He is God (i.e. in control).
First the Bible concludes the entire human race as dead in trespasses and sins, Ephesians 2:4-9, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast". The only way out of the mess is through the Lord Jesus Christ. This was God's plan from before the foundation of the world, to join with man through the sacrifice of Himself in human form…Jesus, 1 Peter 1:18-21, "…ye were not redeemed with corruptible things….But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead…". He made us to be compatible with Him and desires those who worship Him to be real about it, John 4:23-24, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth". When we believe His Word, He counts it to us for righteousness, Galatians 3:6, "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness". He gives us Himself in the form of the Holy Spirit, who comes to live in us. He makes us, therefore, a new creature in Christ and we become the sons of God, Romans 8:9, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his". Every individual who has come through the Door, (which is Christ) is part of one camp, John 10:9, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture". God's children have the privilege of entering into His presence, of hearing His voice, of calling on Him, of casting their cares on Him, of loving Him, rejoicing in His love, of being directed by Him, of having the peace that passes understanding, and many other such riches, Psalm 28:7, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him". Those that refuse to believe Him, that insist on their own way make up the other camp
Isaiah 53:6, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Romans 3:10-12, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one". They find themselves victims of many dangers…the very dangers He strives to protect us from. They go their own way and never realize that with every step they get farther and farther away from life, love, peace, and every other good thing that God intends to give to them, 1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour"; then they blame God for their predicament. The interesting thing about that, is that He answers all those who call on Him out of their desperation. Psalm 107 describes His faithfulness to unbelievers in detail.
Now, it's pretty easy to see the extreme cases of these two camps, but it gets more difficult to discern who's who closer to the center. There's where people who act like Christians, but have never truly trusted Him find themselves. These people may display a certain amount of kindness, generosity, and caring to a degree. They may think that attending church, or Bible study; having 'devotions' and maybe giving to the poor may certainly prove that they are Christians. But the Scriptures clearly state that if doing any or all of these things could save us then Christ would not have had to die. Galatians 2:16, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified". So, it's not about listing, but listening. Galatians 3:2-3, "This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?".
And then there are those who deny Christ altogether, but act the same without any religious over or under tones. They don't think they need a Savior. Let me say that, just like you as a parent, have no authority over children that do not belong to you, God will not intervene in the lives of those Who do not belong to Him unless He is asked to do so. Jesus paid a huge price to buy back your soul. He made the deal available to everyone who takes Him at His Word. So, if you don't take advantage of His generosity, you are on your own. Even so, God is merciful. He loves you and desires you. John 3:16-19, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil". Come to safety quickly! Let the Creator, the Savior, the Beginning and the End, teach you the ways of life. 2 Corinthians 6:2, "…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation".