Is The Church Chasing The World Away From Christ? Part 2

This subject is such a tinderbox. Why? In small part, many in the Church are to blame for the way people think about God and the Church. As I mentioned in the prior article, the way we present Jesus to the world is the way they see Him and all of Christianity.  It is impossible for the unsaved to have a Biblical worldview unless we who are truly in Christ show them the way. You know what that means? We must know what we are talking about.

What one loves is what they will give their time, energy and spend their money on. One will study hard and long with commitment and diligence to learn that subject so that they can graduate, get their degree and become employed in their field of study. An athlete trains long and hard so that he or she can be the best and win that championship ring or that cup. It signifies them being the absolute best in their sport - and everyone knows it.

How much more should we as Christians heed the command of 2 Timothy 2:15 which says to study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that does not have to be ashamed; rightly dividing the word of truth.  In other words, we cannot treat our Christian life as a hobby. It has to develop into our all-consuming passion. The more we get of God's truth, the more we should want. The knowledge of God is an everlasting well we can never exhaust.  

You see because we live in a postmodern society and a social-media-universe, everyone has an opinion on everything. Social media has allowed many to show how ignorant they can really be about God, Christianity, and the Bible. We cannot manufacture lies (presented as truth by each person) about what the Bible says.  God meant what He said and said what He meant in His word. The word never needs editing or updates by us.

You see, the world, for the most part, will reject the truth anyhow. Why? Because it goes against the dictates of their corrupt minds. We do not need to help them by being hypocritical. Biblical truth offends the lost so they are always going to militate against it.  Darkness hates the light because it is exposed. And unless the power of God's love overcomes their evil stubborn resistance, no one will ever be regenerated and saved and brought into the kingdom of God (John 3:3).

Also, just so that I am clear, those who ultimately reject the Lord are responsible for that rejection themselves. God will punish the offender. They do not get off the hook because of some vacillating or nominal Christian offended and deceived them somehow by living a double life - in other words, not living up to their profession of faith. 

So a word of encouragement: let us not be the reason people run away from God. We must be beacons of light in a dark and hopeless world of sin and unrighteousness. Let us practice what we preach. It's time we reevaluate our relationship with God and stop being Christians just on Sunday - we need a reboot of sorts. Granted we will never do this perfectly because we are still battling against our sinful flesh that has yet to receive its redemption, but with the help of the Holy Spirit and us being determined to live holy by remaining in the bosom of the Father, we will have a track record of faithfulness in our lives which no one will be able to deny.

Is The Church Chasing The World Away From Christ? Part 1

The book of Proverbs 25:26 it reads, "A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring."

I use that verse of scripture to show that those of us in the Church must be careful how we present ourselves to the world - that is the fallen world. For how are we to reach them if we are doing the same things they are doing? Answer? We will not reach them. We MUST be light in a dark world that has no hope and without God in the world (Ephesians 2:12).

We have to lovingly and firmly stand our ground for truth no matter what. We do not have to resort to gimmicks or tricks to draw the lost into the kingdom. God is adding daily to His Church those that will be saved (Acts 2:47). Our blessed role is to be the seed planters - preach the gospel.

Now, back to the original question. Are we in the Church running away the lost? Sadly and perhaps often, yes. How? When someone who is a faithful church attendee does or says something ungodly, the accuser will make sure your sin(s) are exposed to everyone. The accuser will then stereotype all Christians and label them hypocrites. Often times they're right. We do act hypocritically. 

At this point for the person that had put their trust in you as an example of a virtuous person, you most likely have blown your witness to them. Their view of God, the Church, and the Bible is distorted because in their mind you have burned them. Many people that have a bad Church experience now despise Christians and the God they serve. 

Our role as ambassadors of God in the earth cannot be underestimated. How we represent Jesus is how they view Him. So, we must all ask ourselves, "how am I representing God in my life?"

Sadly for many, they see God as a cosmic genie. This represents the prosperity gospel. They see gain as godliness. If one presents this view as gospel to those they know and these people do not prosper financially and materially, they will conclude that God is not real because they are not rich and prosperous. You see many televangelists spew financial gain as godliness. The word of God declares exactly the opposite, "Godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6). 

For others, they view God strictly as a healer. If God does not heal them of their sickness and or disease, they determine that God is not real. Why? Because someone else misrepresented God to them perhaps at some healing crusade from a fake healer. And for someone who has been paralyzed all their life, this is the hope they have been waiting for. When they find out they have been scammed, many walk away from the Church - never to return again.

Now, let me come to the defense of those of us who are truly in Christ. True believers have the Spirit of God dwelling on the inside of them. It's a spiritual reality that we cannot see. The Christian life is an ongoing, developmental growth process. None of us mature overnight, or in a few days. Just like it takes years for a newborn to become an adult, it takes our whole life long to become more and more Christlike. Based on our gifting and our commitment to truth will determine our rate of growth. As in the natural world some mature and develop faster than others, it is the same dynamic in our Christian lives. And just like a natural person often stumbles and falls, we do that in our redeemed lives too.

Yes, Christians sin too (1 John 1:8-10).

But, what is so important to remember is that sin can no longer be the hallmark of our lives like it used to be prior to our conversion. We have been delivered from our sins through Christ so we no longer have to serve sin anymore (Romans 6:1).

In 2 Peter 3:18 we are commanded to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we do this, we will be more careful about how we represent Christ to the world. Peter also said this in chapter one of  2 Peter 1:5-9, "And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound (italics mine. Italics not in original text), they make you that you shall neither be barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from old sins. 

The last sentence is why so many Christians do not experience victory in their lives. They are selling themselves short in disobedience. They are also unfortunately knowingly or unknowingly merchandising their blindness-shortsighted ways to others who are getting hurt and running away from the Church.

It's time for us to grow up Church and get serious and do what we have been commissioned to do. We do not have a lot of time left before Jesus returns. 

Letter to Philemon

This letter was written by the apostle Paul to one of his sons in the faith - a man by the name of Philemon. The reason for the letter is regarding Philemon's slave, a man by the name of Onesimus. Onesimus offended Philemon somehow and ran away from his hometown of Colossae in Asia Minor which is now Modern day Turkey to Rome. Providentially Philemon encounters Paul who was in prison led him to Christ. Paul writes this heartfelt letter to Philemon to forgive Onesimus and to receive him back.

Paul greets and commends Philemon

The first thing Paul does is salute Philemon and those in his house. Next, he commends Philemon for his love and faith for the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. These are tremendous and gracious kind words to bestow upon a fellow believer. This lets us readers know that Philemon was a man of impeccable and godly character. Philemon loved not only in word but more importantly in deed (1 John 3:18). I know it had to be refreshing to Philemon to know that the aged apostle Paul was also praying for him. Paul also commends Philemon for loving people by sharing his faith with others. Philemon was a breath of fresh air to all the saints and comfort and joy to Paul himself (vv 4-7).

Paul's appeal to Philemon regarding Onesimus

Paul encourages Philemon to receive his runaway slave Onesimus back - not as a slave, but as a brother. Paul knew he had the authority to compel Philemon to do what he asked (vv 8-9), but rather he asked with tender loving care for Philemon to do the right thing. Receiving Onesimus was like receiving Paul since the apostle had birthed Onesimus in the gospel and was his dear child in the faith (vs 10b). Onesimus who was formerly useless was now useful to Paul and would be useful to Philemon since he is a converted man. As a matter of fact, the book of Colossians records that Paul sent a brother named Tychicus along with Onesimus to Colossae so that they could report to the Colossian church how Paul was doing while in prison (Col 4:7-9a). Paul wanted to keep Onesimus with him for assistance in ministry but knew the right thing was to send him back to the man that owned him. 

Paul knowing Philemon's pedigree said to him, "If you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you in any way, charge that to my account" (vv 17-18). Here I believe is the genius of the apostle, Paul was willing to pay back to Philemon any loss incurred by Onesimus' delinquency when he ran away. Paul also knew that what he deposited in Philemon in regards to the gospel was far greater than any loss he suffered because of Onesimus. Paul most likely led Philemon to Christ so in that reality Philemon owed his life to Paul (vs 19). Comparatively speaking, forgiving and receiving Onesimus back was a small thing. This act was a test of Philemon's fidelity and obedience to the word of God - forgiving his offender and receiving him back as a beloved brother.   Paul needed this benefit from Philemon - to forgive Onesimus to refresh his soul (vs 20). Paul went on to say he knew that Philemon would do even more than what Paul asked of him (vs 21).  

Lastly, Paul requests that Philemon prepares a place for him so that he could stay with him. Paul anticipated that he would be released from prison. Paul greets Philemon on behalf of his fellow prisoner Epaphras. Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke (Author of the book of Luke and Acts, vs 25) also sent their greetings.