Numbers 16:3 They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, everyone of the them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord's assembly?"
I could have titled this, Just Because You Praise God Doesn't Mean You are Holy, but that would be a bit long. It does quickly get to my point. I was a at special church seminar years back when the leader made this statement: When people come into my church, I let anyone praise the Lord. They don't have to be Christians. God accepts praise from anyone. And that has become today's church.
God expects his people to be holy. We put people into leadership positions knowing they are marginal Christians at best, but because they have great leadership skills, we allow them to lead God's people. We sing praise songs promoting the holiness of God, yet are not living holy lives and have no intentions to do so.
Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. Ps 24:3&4
Sure, God wants all persons everywhere to praise him in the assembly. But just because you are there, it does not give you the right to do so. He expects us to be holy, striving to be like him with all our body, soul, and mind.
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. 1 Tim. 2:8
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30
Daughters, you must not pretend you are Christians. Many are attending church and praising and dancing before the Lord, but they have no intension on serving him or plan on changing their lifestyles for him. It is true that God accepts the repentant sinner who comes to him like they are. But the key word is repentant... they first change their mindset - I give myself to Jesus to allow him to be Lord of my life, then they enter the narrow gate and walk the narrow road, becoming new creations leaving the old behind and hanging on to what is new. Not all are holy, but you can be. It is a choice... your choice. A and K, choose holiness, choose the way of Christ, then you will climb the mountain of the Lord and praise him out of the depths of your heart. And the sweetness of the Spirit will flood your soul.
~Dad
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