Distraction seems to be the order of the day in this modern society. There are multitudes of things going on contemporaneously with other multitudes of things. Lies are made to cover lies while the truth is hidden under barrages of misinformation and distractions that are in place only to pull away from the truth. These distractions are found in the judicial systems, political conversations, and even the church.

One prominent distraction is the George Zimmerman Case of Sanford, Florida. Here we have a young man that was killed and the reason for his death is not the point of this discussion. Rather the point is the number of distractions on every level that have pulled from the main of what many have argued should have never gone to court. No matter the reason for the sensationalizing of this tragic incident distractions were multiplied when our president injected himself into a local matter declaring that if he had a son he would “look like” Travon.[1]  With this, the distraction of racism was propelled into a matter that had nothing to do with racism. Yet it seems that the real distraction of this case has nothing to do with the case at all rather (at least in the eyes of this writer) it was used to distract from political problems facing the White House. More specifically this case was used to pull attention away from what happened in Benghazi.

In Benghazi, four United States citizens were killed but the cover-ups came before the actual killings. Yet the attention needed to bring forth the truth of what truly happened has been nullified time and time again. Even more, the reason for the killings was blamed on an obscure video that had nothing to do with the terrorist attack that occurred at the U.S. Consulate. This very act of war was covered up and covered up again to hide the truth of what may have really been going on. The fact is that the killings quite possibly had something to do with the sale of arms[2] but the fact of this is politically troublesome to some so this had to be covered. Even so, this is just part of the problems with the deceit that continues in the attack on our nation and the killing of people who should now be alive. So the false premise of the Zimmerman case truly served to take the focus off the real problems going on in the Federal Government which is why the Justice Department sent staffers to lobby against Mr. Zimmerman.[3]

While this type of activity is expected in the secular world it has no business in the household of faith. Yet in the “church” many scandalous things are forcing the faithful to lose focus of the Gospel. The intent of the Gospel is to present the good news of Jesus the Christ temporarily leaving His heavenly throne to reach out to the lost in order to restore a right relationship with God. Anything other than this is a distraction that pulls from the truth of the Word of God. The distractions cause jaundiced vision thereby pulling from the truth of holiness. This is done with a number of mediums under the guiles of reaching lost souls.

For instance, there are many programs that go on in church buildings today. Coupled with the programs are multiplicities of ministries. Many of these so called ministries are geared to reach the young. The problem is that these programs not only do not reach the young for salvific purposes but that many of these very ministries and programs actually present a double standard in that they fall short of teaching scriptural truths. Instead, the distraction of tickling itching ears has been employed. Further complicating the matter is the idea that prosperity is the main goal of Christian living. With this many are on a “prosperity” kick suggesting that if a Christian is not rich then he is not in the will of God. The problem is that this is not only a distraction but also an absolute lie.

I Corinthians 15:58 is an indication of how well the Christian should be focused on the things of God. The text reads,” Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” The idea here is an unwavering determination to move forward despite contrary winds or any other opposition. It further presents the idea, particularly in respect to the word “steadfast”, of one that refuses to relinquish his seat by reason of political, legal or feel good convenience. It is one doing work as ordained by God in order to reach those that would hear the truth of the Gospel. Being steadfast and unmoveable means that there is no way the seated one will relinquish his seat.

The point is that Christians ought not to lose focus.  Christianity is not about faux programs and ministries that do nothing more than tickle itchy ears. Instead, Christians need to keep focus on the task at hand without the fallacy of false truths rearing its deceitful head. Christianity is not about succumbing to the expedient rather it is about upholding the standard of the Most High. As such Christians must dispel the idiosyncratic and uphold holiness by keeping focus.