Good Manners Don't Go to Heaven: The Watch Letter

1 Samuel 2:12: Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord.

This scripture is short but powerful and sobering.

Eli the priest had sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who were also priests. Their father taught them how to conduct the affairs of the tabernacle of God and how to do the acts of a priest, but they were not of the Lord.

To hear that a priest's sons, who were also priests, were considered by God as sons of belial is very grieving.

Belial is a word used to personify wickedness, evil and worthlessness and a word used to describe the devil.

Why were they considered sons of belial? Because they were rebellious to the ways of God. They did not care to obey him or regard him even in his sanctuary. They were robbing people of their offerings and causing people to abhor making offerings to God. They also were found to have committed adultery by taking advantage of the women at the tabernacle and when their crimes were discovered and they were confronted they failed to repent.

The reason this scripture is so critical is that it shows us that no matter if you look the part -- you have on priestly garments and you know the traditions of the church -- you could still be bound for hell. Attending church or serving in the church is not the same as serving God. What good is it to have a relationship with a building or a congregation but not the reason for the building or congregation, which is God?

You see, Eli's sons were taught good manners. They were taught what to do and say but not who to obey and who to be. Good manners are for social purposes but being obedient to God and loving him is for soul purposes.

All week long, I have run across scriptures or heard old messages that have focused on this, so I believe it needed to be on today's blog.

I was reading about Jesus and how he said that just because you call on him and say his name doesn't mean you will enter into his kingdom. You must love the Lord, obey his commandments and do God's will to enter into his kingdom. (Matthew 7:21-23)

This to me says the same thing: good church manners and good societal manners do not get you to Heaven.

Manners are defined as: a person's outward bearing or way of behaving toward others. Notice the keyword outward.

Psalm 51:6 says: Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part, you will make me to know (Godly) wisdom.

The inward parts, your heart, your mind, your soul, your will, etc. -- that's where love for God, obedience to God and doing his will comes from. Manners come from our lips and physical actions. It is like lip synching. You make the movements of your lips and physical actions to appear to be singing but no sound is coming from the inside of you.

Isaiah 29:13: Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men."

Saying please, thank you, amen, yes sir, yes ma'am and other things in this manner are lip service, if they don't come from a place of sincerity and of obedience and willingness to please and love God.

So, if we are teaching our children to be polite and mannerable, but their life has no fruit of obedience to God, care for him and his people, and wanting to do and experience his will, then what good are manners?

If a child says "yes sir" to the pastor in person but at home mocks him or purposely does the opposite of what he taught at church in your home or at school, then what good are those manners? When you love God and are obedient to him you know how to treat the people of God too. As you notice, Eli's sons had no care for the saints, so the proper rituals they performed in the church had no meaning.

If you come to church every Sunday, out of respect for God, but don't care about his word and his way then what good is that respect?

Yesterday, my husband and I listened to a broadcast message from Chief Apostle Gunn from 2018 called "Structure." Chief Apostle Gunn has always taught us that the word God sends is alive and we will always find it to be relevant. This is so true. I am a witness that every time I listen to an old message or read old notes from the word it is right on time.

In the message "Structured," he was teaching the importance of teaching discipline, order, and structure at home. If this is taught at home, then the chaos we see happening in our schools, in the community, in families, and in the church, that God is not pleased with, would not be happening.

You see, manners are different than discipline, order, and structure. Discipline, order, and structure teach a child to be obedient out of sincerity not to get a reward or get something in return. This also helps them to feel loved and safe, which in turn instills in them a desire to be loving and a safe place for others.

Obedience is not something you do only around a certain person or group of people. When you are obedient to God you do what is right no matter where you are or who you are around. Discipline, order, and structure teach Godly conduct, which is the true skill you need to make it in life and to eternity. Many quotes say good manners can get you anywhere and open any door, but if you don't have the heart and mind to obey and love God and desire his will, then again those manners will not find you in Heaven.

Have you ever noted how the most grotesque and raunchy entertainers get on stage during awards season and say they want to take time to honor God and their parents but moments later the music they perform or lines they act go against everything in God's word and probably everything their parents taught them? What good are those manners or showcases of respect if they are corrupting generations of God's children and helping satan in his mission?

Sometimes parents try their hardest to train their children to obey God and love him and his will, and the children still decide to serve the devil. But this message is for us to reflect on: Have we really tried our hardest to train our children in the way they should go in God? The Bible says when we train them in the ways of God it will not depart from them when they become adults. So, often when we see corruption in our lives as adults we have to go back to see what we were lacking in Godly training. Yes, a child may fall away from God at some point, but Godly training gives them a bounce back. There will be a seed planted in them that draws them back to God.

(A side note to children: If you know you are not being trained in the ways of God at home, don't accept that. Understand that if you are aware that you are not being taught then you have enough accountability to seek to be taught. You won't be able to tell God your parents didn't teach you as an excuse, if you know right from wrong. You can take it upon yourself to know God for yourself. God can father you and teach you obedience, structure, discipline and to do his will. He is available to you and you can ask your pastor or an adult who you know is walking with God to help you.)

From what I have read, Eli's sons never repented and did not have the desire to change. So, what if Eli only trained his children on their duties in the temple, but not how to serve and love God in life? That lack of training could have opened the door for all of hell to come after them and enter into his sons. The devil used them as his vessels to corrupt the church.

How many people were turned off from worshiping the Lord because of what his sons did? Who have we turned off from serving the Lord because of our corruption? Who have our children turned away from God because of the corruption we have allowed in their lives by not training them in God? When we fail to teach our children in the structure and discipline of God, we may be raising them up to be the next generation of agents of satan.

And as adults, we must go back to God and bring before him the areas where our parents did not teach us to obey and love God and do his will but just to be mannerable. We must ensure that our good manners are not fooling us to think we are Godly people.

How many serial killers had good manners? How many child molesters and rapists had good manners? How many robbers had good manners? How many drug dealers had good manners? How many scammers had good manners?

Now, don't get me wrong, we need to have good manners in the sense of treating people right and having good conduct, but we can't let manners be the cloak or mask that covers up a sinful and rebellious heart.

We need to bring our children and ourselves back to God. If we have breath in our bodies, it's not too late. What if Eli could have turned his kids back to God but he thought it was too late? When they failed to repent, what steps did Eli take to bring his family back to structure, discipline, and order in the Lord? Don't delay. Time is of the essence. Let us seek God and teach our children too while he may be found.

Listen to today's FORREAL Radio Broadcast with Chief Apostle Gunn "Altar Call": https://www.thebodyofchristinc.com/listen-in?wix-music-track-id=6453543459266229&wix-music-comp-id=comp-kjfzbgmx

You can listen to "Structure" from 2018 here: https://www.thebodyofchristinc.com/listen-in?wix-music-track-id=6665719070588928&wix-music-comp-id=comp-j3hyec8g

Also, listen to "Train Up a Child" from 2018 here: https://www.thebodyofchristinc.com/listen-in?wix-music-track-id=5117606698680320&wix-music-comp-id=comp-j3hyec8g