a blog challenge to our readers.

As media director at Good News for Israel, I am amazed at how many people facebook and twitter these days? I know some people, even in my own family love to spend time following people on twitter, and getting caught up on facebook. I do think these electronic networks provide a great service to the on line community. Everything is getting so casual and common place today, that it seems there is little to revere any more. We just don’t stand in awe of any thing, because it seems everything can be accomplished. The same can be said of God too. He has been reduced to a good God whose existence is to make his creation happy, wealthy, and He redeems everyone and everything. I am not sure the Bible supports that kind of God, in fact, we know God is gracious, and merciful, but His expectations of His worshippers goes beyond a simple understanding of grace and mercy. He wants us to understand that He is Holy and we are not, this is why our need for his grace and mercy is so profound. In Ezekiel 22:26, God says that the priests were guilty of not presenting God’s standards the way He wanted them presented.

For example, the prophet writes, “Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean.”

You see, God expects His leaders to let people know about His holiness, and that there is distinction between Him and us. He expects His people to worship Him, to fear Him, and obey Him. Today, we are losing those voices who had the calling upon their lives to preach a message for God’s people to return to a righteousness that honors God. Too often, Christian leaders are afraid of this culture, they are afraid to be labeled, and resented, and even hatred for what they believe. We have found out through several of our informal surveys that many Christian leaders won’t tell you what they believe, because they don’t want to cause any waves in the body of Christ. They are avoiding opportunities to set the record straight, and take a stand for the righteousness of God.

Here are some simple questions to ask your Christian leaders. Listen carefully to their answers, and be ready with your Bible to ask further questions on any answer that is not supported by the scriptures.

1. Are we living in the millennium right now?

2.Does the church replace Israel as the new Israel?

3. Are we living in the last days, and is Bible prophecy important for the church today?

4. When Jesus returns, will He return as a Jew? If so, why would this be important?

5. Are miracles, signs and wonders, and gifts of the Holy Spirit for us today?

These are simple straight forward questions, but depending on how they are answered will give you some indication, how holy we think God is, or how common we have made the things of God.