Are We Christians Or Chameleons ???

Sermon---Are we Christians or Chameleons ???

by Pastor Kenneth Burisek

The Ole’ Country Church

Medford, Wisconsin

Romans 12:2

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Chameleon---a lizard that changes color---a tree-dwelling lizard with long thin legs---a strong curled tail---a long sticky tongue---and the ability to change color---native to---Africa and Madagascar---Family Chamaeleonidae !!!

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Maybe yer thinkin’ to yerself---this sermon ain’t gonna be about me---I ain’t no tree dwellin’ lizzard with a sticky tongue---I don’t have me a curled tail or live up in a tree !!!

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Sorry ta bust yer bubble folks---but that ain’t the definition we’re usin’ today---there’s an entirely different definition for the word Chameleon !!!

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Chameleon---somebody who is changeable---somebody who frequently and rapidly changes their personality or appearance !!!

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How many folks do you know who have a Chameleon-like ability to just blend right into their surroundings ???

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How many Christian folks do you know who are God’s gift to the church on Sunday---and are the Devil’s right hand man the rest

of the week ???

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Come Sunday mornin’ thar’ all gussied up in thar’ Sunday best---carryin’ thar bible in one hand and holdin’ thar halo on

with the other.

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When thar’ in church thar’ just one step below the angels of heaven---spoutin’ scripture and shountin’ Hal-le-lu-eah !!!

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I’m tellin’ ya---these folks are so perfect they even put the Pharisees ta shame !!!

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But these same---bible spoutin’---Holier than thou Christians seem to evaporate off the face of the earth the minute they step out-a the door of the church.

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These same fine folks have the ability to change themselves into the form or lifestyle of whoever they come in contact with.

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How many ever saw the movie "The Thing" ???

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It was a movie about this alien creature found in the Antarctic that somehow could take over the body of another living creature just by comin’ in contact with it---and they become identicle to the one it took over !!!

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Thar’s christian folks today who seem to have a similar ability to become identicle with whoever is around them---they blend into their surroundings just like a Chameleon..

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When thar’ in church---they’re the perfect christians---praising and worshipping God with their lips.

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Those same folks---as soon as they are out in the world commence to driftin’ around---til they come in contact with another life form.

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Instead of setting an example of Christianity for those around them---they become fearful of not fitting in---and suddenly those same lips that were filled with beautiful praises to the Lord in church---are now filled with the curses and lies of this world !!!

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The Bible sums it up in Matthew 23:27-28---"How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees---Hypocrites!--- You are like whitewashed tombs---beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity---You try to look like upright people outwardly---but inside your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

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The world today and even many so-called christians would have us believe that we can have it both ways.

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We can live for God on Sunday and live like the world the rest of the week---and everything’s OK--we can live in a sinful lifestyle and still call ourselves christians !!!

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The Bible paints a different picture in Galatians 6:7-9 where it says---Don’t be misled---Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it---you will always harvest what you sow---those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death---but those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit---so don’t get tired of doing what is good---don’t get discouraged and give up---for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.

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Even back in the early church---the Apostle Paul had to deal with people tryin’ ta have it both ways.

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Revelation 3:15-16 says---"I know all the things you do---that you are neither hot nor cold---I wish you were one or the other!---but since you are like lukewarm water---I will vomit you out of my mouth!

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According to the word of God---nothing sickens God worse than when us human folks try to have it both ways.

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God says He’d rather have us totally for Him or totally against Him---but this middle of the road Christianity sickens God to the point of vomiting.

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In other words---don’t claim to love God with one breath and curse Him with the next.

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Don’t claim to love God and continue to indulge in sexual pleasures outside the bonds of marriage !!!

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Don’t claim to love God and live a sinful and worldly lifestyle !!!

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I Thessalonians 5:21-22 says..............Prove all things---hold fast that which is good----abstain from all appearance of evil.