The preaching of today has deteriorated to the point the believers think the purpose of the Christian Gospel is to help them live a happy, self-fulfilled life in the present world. The concept of being a stranger and pilgrim on the earth has not been preached to them.

Go into any evangelical church in America and listen to what is being preached. Do you hear the pastor or teacher warning the people they must present their body a living sacrifice if they are to do the will of God? Do you hear the demands of discipleship? Do you hear that the believers are not to entangle themselves with the things of the present life but are to endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ?

The odds are against your hearing such preaching.

You will hear over and over that the believers will fly away at any moment so they cannot be harmed by Antichrist or the great tribulation. You will hear that God does not see the behavior of the believer but only the righteousness of Christ. You will hear that the believer has no need to fear the Judgment Seat of Christ because even if he has not served the Lord he will be saved as by fire. (Do the preachers and people have any idea of what it means to be "saved as by fire?" By fire?)

There may be some statements made about being crucified with Christ, or serving the Lord but everyone understands the pastor is not practicing such a world-rejecting gospel and does not really expect them to do so.

Rather, the pastor in his unfaithfulness wishes to make friends with the people. He is advising them to change what they think they owe the Lord so the demands are not as great.

Perhaps after he dies the members of his congregation will receive him into the caves of darkness where they are dwelling.

To be circumcised in heart is to be separate from the world and holy to the Lord. We are to totally reject the claims of the world. We are to cleave to the Lord and all His holy ways. We belong to the Lord and to the Lord alone! We are not of this world. We have been called out of this world that we may belong to Christ. We are to be holy as He is holy.

The enticements of the world continually, unrelentingly, claw at the believer. "Look here! Look there! Isn't this wonderful! Isn't that wonderful! Just think how marvelous life would be for you if you would take advantage of the opportunities the world is offering you."

Wasn't this what Satan offered Eve? Think about the result of her acceptance!

The follower of the Lord must wrench himself away from this siren call and follow the Lord with a holy heart. If he does not reject the malice and wickedness of the world spirit and set himself apart as holy to the Lord, it is absolutely impossible for him or her to destroy the enemy and enter the land of promise that is the inheritance of God's warriors. (from Entering the Land of Promise)