God's Approval or Man's Applause?

One of the headlines in today's OneNewsNow reads, "Warren's 'backsliding' on marriage damages church." What a true statement that is. I particularly like what Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr. had to say about Warren's recent comments to Larry King.

Here is some of the article:

Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr., with the High Impact Leadership Coalition says he was very disappointed with Warren's statements on CNN.

"This man who's been called the next Billy Graham, who I really respect with all my heart and love what he's doing in Africa, is falling into a trap that is emblematic of the problem that the entire church is facing in this generation," Jackson states. "And that  is that we love the applause of men more than we love the work of God and the  gospel. Jesus...told us that we are to honor God first, and that we are not to fear men but we're to fear God."

Jackson argues that Warren was "aiding and abetting a deception around what kind of stance the Bible calls Christians to take" by telling Larry King that opposing the recent Iowa Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage was "not his agenda."

"He is the author of The Purpose Driven Life book," Jackson notes, "and therefore people are going to think, 'Well, this is not on my mission -- it's not on my purpose. I don't have to stand for truth.'

Click here to read the complete article.

As believers, we are set apart and are called to be different from the world. Whenever we accept the applause of men, that is our reward in the here and now. Please tell me what part(s) of the Scripture are we to adhere to and what parts can we simply dismiss?

Our standard is God's Word, not our preconceived ideology and agenda. In 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (ESV), we read: But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

In conclusion, Galatians 1:9-11, in the Amplified summarizes our role in the world: As we said before, so I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from or contrary to that which you received [from us], let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)! Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah). For I want you to know, brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not man's gospel [a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standard].