By Pastor Jay Grant — 
“I think I’ll get a salad,” I said to myself and pulled into the Whole Foods parking lot. They have an awesome salad bar and inside I started down the line. Hmm, spinach for a starter. Cucumbers. Chopped green onions. A little quinoa. Yes on olives. Some salsa. Pecans. Cheese, croutons, and a dash of olive oil. Yum. Tasty and only $5.
Did you know there are Salad Bar Christians, melding together a lot of curious practices, choosing what they like, but sometimes irrespective of what Scripture might say? A little of this and a little of that. A dash of Bible reading. A few prayers. A little Zen Buddhism here, and a little Hinduism (think yoga) there. Maybe church once a month. Dabbling in this and dabbling in that.
Crystal-healing sessions, fortune telling, a little astrology, a tad of magic, medium readings, spiritism, burning sage, reiki, healing stones. “What’s twinkling to you?”
There is, of course, personal conviction in dealing with these issues. What’s good for one is not good for the other. What bothers my conscience might not bother your conscience. There is liberty in Christ. But if you understand the spiritual aspects for much of the list above, it’s wise to stay away from it. And Scripture commands us to steer clear of fortune telling, mediums, and astrology. (Leviticus 19:31; 20:6-8; Isaiah 47:12-15) The Bible is also clear about compromise. We should avoid it. So what is the answer?
God calls us to a consecrated and consistent life in Christ. Total surrender to the Lordship of Christ is our call. Which means yielding. It’s about God’s will, not ours. And then there’s this warning: “Pay close attention to what you have heard lest we drift from it.” (Hebrews 2:1) Drifting is a very slow process and before you know it you are a long ways from home.
Salad Bar Christians. Be careful you’re not one.
Very true and important not to drift, in these End Times.
And I hear that Whole Foods now sponsors the Library Drag Queens. The bible is not a smorgusboard where you get to pick and choose what you want and throw the rest away. Fact is there are NO “Salad Bar” Christians, because Jesus said “I never knew you”.
Mike Nevins, there is no works/Lordship salvation from hell. There are many Salad Bar Christians. They are saved eternally, but should be warned of dangerous practices. Real Christians can and do engage in unbiblical things.
Regarding shopping for food etc, it appears that every corporation is supporting sinful practices. Sadly, they are impossible to avoid for the average person in this country. One wishes to boycott them all, but it is not possible.
You have taken Jesus’ words out of context. He was speaking of the Great White Throne Judgment for unbelievers. Christians will not be judged at that time.
This was a great article. There was ONE sentence that, although a common sentiment among Christianity, is totally wrong and dangerous for believers to use as an excuse: “There is, of course, personal conviction in dealing with these issues. What’s good for one is not good for the other. What bothers my conscience might not bother your conscience.”
This IS a truth of the Gospel, BUT, it is NOT true of things that open spiritual doors of demonic influence. Like laws of physics, in the spiritual realm, these things are not open to an individual conscience or conviction, they simply ARE gateways for the enemy to come and mess with our lives.
This is how Christians find themselves in the confusing state of being under demonic torment – after hearing other believers adamantly declare that demons cannot have such influence over someone filled with The Holy Spirit – it’s a lie from Hell, designed to set us up for effective attack. If we were not susceptible to enemy attack, we would not need to wear “The Armor Of God”.
Many things ARE indeed dependent upon personal conviction. Messing with spiritual practices outside of worship and interaction with The One True God will put you in a dangerous place and could wreck your life.
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