“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2 NLT)
When I think of inoculation I typically think of babies and young children who get inoculated for different childhood diseases or old people who need their shots to help prevent the flu, shingles, and other things old people get. Perhaps one day they’ll have a vaccination for Alzheimer’s, who knows?
Vaccinations are mostly well and good, but where the inoculation mentality fails is in our relationship with Jesus. Too many Christian groups who began with a heart for God and good intentions have watered down their “dosage” of Christian teaching to little more than “sermonettes” and pleasantries. Being a Christ follower has devolved into being a good church person, which can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people, depending on their “inoculation.”
If I’ve been taught being baptized as a child is all I need to go to heaven, it will likely skew what I believe to be my adult responsibilities as a Jesus follower. If getting to heaven is my goal and I believe I’ve met the entry requirements, I’m good to go. My attitude becomes: “I don’t need that adult discipleship, I was inoculated as a child!” “I read Bible stories as a child, I’m good. I know about the Bible.” “I went (or was forced) to attend church as a child, it’s not really my thing now.”
Truth be told most of what we “learn” as a child and/or new believer is the indoctrination of the particular group who has “recruited” us. Many, if not most churches today, at least in America, are looking to fill a seat in a building, not get people into heaven. We sing our songs and preach our sermons while people within walking distance of our church never hear the Gospel. What’s wrong with that picture?
Transformation of life and character only come through a personal relationship with Jesus. No amount of indoctrination into a certain “brand” of Christianity can prepare us for heaven, only Jesus can do that. He said in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.” Guess where the Father’s throne room is? Certainly not on earth. The Prophet Isaiah wrote in the early verses of chapter 6: “It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of His robe filled the Temple.” He goes on in verse three to refer to God this way: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with His glory!”
Who on earth do you believe will ever be given access to enter His holy presence? Someone baptized as a child? A good person? Someone who read Bible stories as a child but lives like the devil? According to the only One who knows for sure, the Lord Jesus, no one will ever enter the Holy Father’s presence except He be escorted by His Holy Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Have you been inoculated into believing your way of understanding life or even the “Christian” way is going to get you to heaven? Unless “your” way includes complete surrender and devotion to the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Lord Jesus Himself, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. Please go to Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, click on The Bridge to God and let Ron Hutchcraft walk you through how to meet the Lord and know you’re forgiven and ready for heaven. You can even have a live chat with someone if you have questions or concerns.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😃
Walking With Jesus 