Disturbing
That is what I call some of the statistics I have been reading. It seems that, in almost every way, the Evangelical Church in North America is indistinguishable from the world around us. We have the same rates of bankruptcy, child abuse, spouse abuse, drug use, pornography addiction, divorce, and other vices, as the surrounding world. My beloved readers, this ought not to be.
Being in Christ, our God and Savior, ought to be a life changing experience. It ought to mean something. Now, at the risk of sounding prideful, let me make a few observations that I think are very true and need to be said.
People ought to expect Christians to act like .... well ... Christians. Some things that ought to be true of Christians. For one, we are supposed to be living testimonies of the truths we say we believe. Our sins are forgiven. We hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. God illuminates scripture for us. We are freed from our slavery to sin. We ought to behave better than the world. While many other groups advocate violence against people who differ from them, Christians don't. Our weapons in this world are truth, and scripture, and debate. Why? Because we are not like the world around us. We are Christians! Followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, Incarnate God. We walk in the light as He is in the light. That should make us different.
Our bosses ought to be able to expect an honest employee who will give 8 hours of work for 8 hours of pay. Our spouses ought to expect to be treated like they live in a Christian home. Our children too. The government ought to expect us to live up to all of our civil responsibilities, including paying our taxes and obeying the laws set over us. People ought to expect us to be charitable, merciful and gracious in our dealing with people. If anyone should be expected to behave well in public, it ought to be Christians. People should expect to be safe and secure around us. No one should ever feel threatened in the presence of a Christian. We need to remember that the heart of the law is mercy and good works.
Friends, we are worshippers of the One, True and Living God. We should be better than the world around us. Too often we are not and that ought to be to our shame. God has called us to be perfect as He is perfect. And just because we fall short does not give us a license to stop striving for that perfection to which we are called. Let me ask you this ... when people look at you or when they think of you ... do they think of you as a Christian? Or are you just another guy to them? When people are around you, do they smell the fragrance of Christ on you? I hope you can yes to that. But if you can't, are you going to do anything about it? When? I say how about now?
That is what I call some of the statistics I have been reading. It seems that, in almost every way, the Evangelical Church in North America is indistinguishable from the world around us. We have the same rates of bankruptcy, child abuse, spouse abuse, drug use, pornography addiction, divorce, and other vices, as the surrounding world. My beloved readers, this ought not to be.
Being in Christ, our God and Savior, ought to be a life changing experience. It ought to mean something. Now, at the risk of sounding prideful, let me make a few observations that I think are very true and need to be said.
People ought to expect Christians to act like .... well ... Christians. Some things that ought to be true of Christians. For one, we are supposed to be living testimonies of the truths we say we believe. Our sins are forgiven. We hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. God illuminates scripture for us. We are freed from our slavery to sin. We ought to behave better than the world. While many other groups advocate violence against people who differ from them, Christians don't. Our weapons in this world are truth, and scripture, and debate. Why? Because we are not like the world around us. We are Christians! Followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, Incarnate God. We walk in the light as He is in the light. That should make us different.
Our bosses ought to be able to expect an honest employee who will give 8 hours of work for 8 hours of pay. Our spouses ought to expect to be treated like they live in a Christian home. Our children too. The government ought to expect us to live up to all of our civil responsibilities, including paying our taxes and obeying the laws set over us. People ought to expect us to be charitable, merciful and gracious in our dealing with people. If anyone should be expected to behave well in public, it ought to be Christians. People should expect to be safe and secure around us. No one should ever feel threatened in the presence of a Christian. We need to remember that the heart of the law is mercy and good works.
Friends, we are worshippers of the One, True and Living God. We should be better than the world around us. Too often we are not and that ought to be to our shame. God has called us to be perfect as He is perfect. And just because we fall short does not give us a license to stop striving for that perfection to which we are called. Let me ask you this ... when people look at you or when they think of you ... do they think of you as a Christian? Or are you just another guy to them? When people are around you, do they smell the fragrance of Christ on you? I hope you can yes to that. But if you can't, are you going to do anything about it? When? I say how about now?
posted by John | Monday, March 30, 2009
7 Comments:
I agree totally! Great post and great perception!
Good post, brother.
I remember you from when I was on PalTalk a few years ago.
Tim, thanks for your comment.
Chris, I confess, unless I knew what nickname you used, I don't remember you. But I have a memory like a steel trap ... rusted open. I can't remember what I had for breakfast usually. But .. welcome to my blog and hello again. Feel free to comment as the Lord leads.
Awesome post brother! The only question I would ask those that live, talk, and walk like the world is "are you saved, or do you just walk under the banner". Keep writing the truth!
When I was on PalTalk my username was Pilgrim or some variation thereof. I wasn't on there long, mostly in early 2006.
Amen John this message reminds me of a quote I've had posted on my fridge for a few years.
My brethren, let me say, be like Christ at all times. Imitate him in "public." Most of us live in some sort of public capacity—many of us are called to work before our fellow-men every day. We are watched; our words are caught; our lives are examined—taken to pieces. The eagle-eyed, argus-eyed world observes everything we do, and sharp critics are upon us. Let us live the life of Christ in public. Let us take care that we exhibit our Master, and not ourselves—so that we can say, "It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me."
—Charles Spurgeon
thank you for the reminder.
Cristina
So true John, so true. I have to ask this question when i read statistics on the church and the world....just how few ppl that attend church each Sunday are truly born again? If "the church" looks just like the world, there can only be one possible reason for it, the world has infiltrated "the church" to such an extent that it makes the statistics equal. God help us. I believe the words of Paul Washer ring true and clear...."Sunday morning is the greatest hour of idolatry there is"
(not an exact quote)
I hope you don't mind, i'm going to post this on my blog.
TruthMatters
Post a Comment
<< Home