The displays of carnality are becoming increasingly severe and wholly uncalled for. While concerned, my heart aches more for the human worshippers who defend their heroes and idols while condemning those with differing opinions.

“You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.” (Luke 16:15)

We live in a time when judgments according to the flesh have taken precedence. We respond first to what we see and feel, often making stops at the first bus stop that the flesh and nature find useful instead of progressing to where the Spirit and the Word dictate. We claim to be discerning, but in the crises of the soul, the flesh holds the sway. If the words and analyses sound spiritual and appealing and are from someone with a recognized name, paralysis happens to the minds that should be renewed and discerning.

Does anyone pause amidst these fleshly manifestations to ask, “What Would Jesus Do?” or “But what does Scripture say?”

The act of correcting has become fleshly on the one hand, while fleshly arrogance flaunts itself on the other. Our concerns are misplaced. We fight more for human idols and earthly fathers than for taking a righteous stand for the Lord and the Father of our spirits. Visible results now shape our teachings or doctrines (many of us now resent the word doctrine even though we have it all over the New Testament writings), not the foundations from the scriptures.

We cannot crusade for Him in the flesh; neither can those standing before Him be justified by what appeals to the eyes. The way to go is now subject to the whims and caprices of human zeal.

Opinions have supplanted the true contending for the faith, and labels have overshadowed the emphasis on the integrity of Scripture.

How did we arrive at this juncture?

When I first read Nkem Nwakwo’s satirical novel, “My Mercedes is Bigger Than Yours,” before the mid-80s, I never imagined that such a syndrome would characterize the Church someday.

When I read Peter and James in their polemics, I never foresaw a time when contending for the faith would be overtaken by the fleshly lack of self-control of constant naming and labelling when we preach the word.

We need to pause now and then to conduct self-examination or a reality check. “If we judge ourselves, we shall not be judged.”

Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; the corruptible cannot represent the incorruptible.

This syndrome is spiralling out of control. If any act of service is truly of the Spirit, we should recognize it by the fruit of the Spirit.

If our benchmark or touchstone comes from humans or the impressive things they have done, aren’t we already flawed?

If our eyes are on Jesus, we will walk in step with His Spirit.

The standard of Christ does not bend to the whims of humans.

May the good Lord help us as we serve on this side of eternity.

Suppose our yardstick is the human definition of success, and every opinion is valid because someone has pushed boundaries with it. In that case, our god might be the one we forged from the human doctrine of pragmatism or the “mammon” of human accomplishment rather than the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy. Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.” (Revelation 22:11-12)