Strange fire, strange flesh, and strange doctrines

God has methods for doing things the way He wants them done.  Throughout the Bible, some people chose to do things how they wanted to, and it cost them for their disobedience and rebellion. 

There were two men, Nadab and Abihu, who brought strange fire to God’s altar, and God’s fire came down and devoured them to their death (Leviticus 10:1-2).  In the New Testament, some men crept in secretly among churches, saying God’s grace allows people to live immoral lives, describing the permission to bring strange flesh (Jude 3-7).  There is also a biblical warning not to be misled by strange doctrines (Hebrews 13:9).  In each scenario, strange things are trying to infiltrate the methods or manner of how God’s people worship or live for Him.  The word strange is defined as profane, wrong, unworthy, unsanctified, irreverent, or lacking proper respect or seriousness. 

In today’s time, the same mindset or spirit of bringing strange things before God still exists.  People bring strange fire by bringing methods of worship to God’s house, the local church, that does not align with His holiness or how He desires services to be conducted.  This same strangeness can also be reflected in the lack of seriousness of how God is taken within His house.  Strange flesh is permitting sinful passions and affections to be incorporated within church services or activities that are a product of flesh and not God’s leading or instruction.  Strange doctrines are accepting beliefs that are contrary to the Word of God and how God establishes righteousness with Him.

 When sin is allowed within the pastors and preachers, sinners find it easier to attend their churches due to the strange fire, strange flesh, and strange doctrines that are permitted within the congregation.  Even the unspoken sins will draw people to a social gathering because deep cries out to deep (Psalm 42:7).  Some may believe this only applies to God and a believer, but this applies to whatever the deep within someone is crying out to the deep in another.  Like spirits will draw close to like spirits.  This can be a good thing or a bad thing.  Although these strange things are permitted in some churches, some Christians allow these strange things in their lives.  This should not be how God’s people live.  God’s people are to be holy, clean, and living epistles before everyone inside the church and outside the church (2 Corinthians 7:1; Psalm 51:10; Isaiah 1:16; James 4:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16). 

When people cannot tell the difference between the world’s methods and a church’s methods, strange things have been brought in, diluting the things of God.  God’s people are to be sanctified, which reflects a separation from the world and set apart for God’s own use (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2 Timothy 2:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:3).  Christians must be Christ-like in honoring God, living clean, living holy, and being a living sacrifice unto God as the least they can do (Romans 12:1-2).  If Christians do not live righteously, what are they saved from?  If Christians do not live for God, who do they serve and live for?  God’s people are not to live for themselves but live in obedience to God.  Obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22; Proverbs 21:3; Romans 6:16; Jeremiah 7:21-23).  May Christians not allow strange fire, strange flesh, or strange doctrines to enter into their lives and do everything unto God as well as by His methods (Colossians 3:16-17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.