Joyce Meyer: Church Is Making Compromise With Sin
Christians Can't Be Like the World and Be an Example to the World
Christian author and speaker Joyce Meyer says she's seen a good deal of compromise and giving into the ways of the world going on at church, and warns believers that society often blurs the lines between right and wrong.
"There is a ton of compromise in the church today. We can't just be like the world, and be an example to the world," Meyer said in a sermon to her congregation in St. Louis online on Monday.
"The lines are getting really blurred out there about what is even right, and what's wrong," she added.
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Meyer explained that God calls people to be happy and holy, which she said are not mutually exclusive conditions, but warned Christians that they need to be careful about the situations and people they engage with.
"If I hang out with the wrong people, and listen to dirty jokes at lunch, and I sit and partake in all the office gossip, and go to all kinds of raunchy movies, and I go to parties where there is drinking and all kinds of sexual stuff," she said, but then also go to church on Sunday — "that's not pursuing holiness."
"We can catch unholiness by hanging out with the wrong people consistently," she warned.
The Christian author said believers have a choice in everything they do, and how they go about doing it.
"Sometime, you're gonna need to get full enough of God, to get into a situation that's difficult, and just be what you say you believe on Sunday morning," she said.
As an example she offered a scenario where a Christian goes to work where they are surrounded by unbelievers who are making fun of them, and said that the best thing a person can do in that situation is just "be who you are" and stay true to their faith.
"Holiness is a gift to God's grace," she said. "We are made holy by the grace of God."
Meyer dismissed some ideas out there that using make up, beauty products, or going dancing are in of themselves bad, and said that believers can do all these things if they conduct themselves properly without crossing sinful lines.
"Believers are called to sanctify themselves, forsake sin, live a holy manner of life," she added.
Meyer has taught on the subject of sin, forgiveness and healing on a number of occasions in recent weeks, and revealed back in April that she was raped at least 200 times by her own father when she was young.
"He didn't force me physically, but through lies, and manipulation, and fears, and threats, I was still forced," Meyer revealed.
"My father did rape me, numerous times, at least 200 times."
She explained that she is sharing her testimony to encourage others that no matter how dark things in their life can get, there is always hope through God. She said that despite her past, she has learned to love her life, and is thankful for her husband, Dave, her four grown children, and 10 grandchildren.
"How can that have happened to me, and me be standing here today, if God is not alive and well?" she asked the audience.
"I want people to know how good God is, and that your struggle is worth it, your journey is worth it. Don't give up," she added.
