Christians are "not of this world"

Citizenship Conflicts

Christians are “not of this world” according to our Master (John 18:36). Of course, necessity demands some involvement in the affairs of earth-life, but we must continually remind ourselves that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20). The apostle Peter (1:1) referred to Christians as “strangers” (KJV) or “aliens” (NASB) He wanted them to see themselves as Jesus described them, “not of this world.”

But Christians have to be careful about their behavior among people who ARE of this world. Consider Peter’s instruction further in 1 Peter 2:11-12, “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to … Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (NASU) If we are not careful, our behavior among “Gentiles” can be counter-productive to our purpose in the world. Our purpose is to bring glory to God by helping others become citizens of heaven, too.

As difficult as it may be, this means we cannot become so engrossed in earthly concerns to the extent that we lose focus on our heavenly hope. Let the Gentiles be Gentiles, but keep yourselves pure (1 John 3:3).

- by Mark White

 

God will provide

We live in trying, unsettled, unsure times but for those of us who are Christians it is good to know that God is there for us. We trust in God, we rely upon God, we believe that God will provide what is necessary. After all Paul writes in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” 

But, is there more to living by faith than just believing and trusting? I believe there is!

 

A friend shared this story with me that speaks to this problem. “A girl brought home her fiance, a theology student, to meet her parents for the first time. Her father was keen to learn what prospects the boy had.

"How do you plan to make a living?" asked the father. "I don't know," said the student, "but God will provide." The father raised his eyebrows. "Do you own a car?" "No," said the student, "but God will provide." "I see. And where are you thinking of living once you're married? "No idea, but I'm sure God will provide."

Later the mother asked the father what he thought of their prospective son-in-law. "Not a lot, really," sighed the father. "He's got no money and seems to have given precious little thought to the future. But on the positive side, he must think I'm God!"

 

You see it is a act of faith to trust in God and trust that he will provide, but God also instructs us that our faith requires some actions to have God work in our lives. James 2:14-16 tells us, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

 

The attitude of the young man in the story above is not a new concept. It is my understanding that when the Gospel was first preached that people really, really believed that Christ was coming back very soon. They gave up there jobs and set with others in their places of worship and prayed and sang waiting for the Lord to come back, believing that God would provide for them. In response to to that problem, Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 3:10-11, “While we were with you, we used to tell you, “Whoever refuses to work is not allowed to eat.”

 

I honestly believe that God will provide, but I am also very committed to the fact that He requires us to do something to make that happen.

 

If you want your life to be blessed, then work at it, if you want your church to be blessed, then work at it and God will provide the increase.

 

"Preach, but Leave Others Alone"

The above caption not only represents the thinking of a great majority of people in the denominations, but unfortunately it reflects the attitude of some of our own brethren. It involves the idea that we should preach only what is agreeable to everyone, avoiding anything of a controversial nature.

First of all, it is impossible to preach the truth and leave other people alone. It does not matter what subject a gospel preacher may select, it will contradict the belief of somebody. For instance, suppose that I should decide to preach on the subject of God. In that sermon I point out that there is but one God and no other. I point out the attributes of God, showing the characteristics of God as taught in the Bible. That sermon would meet the approval of many people who are not even members of the church of Christ. But are we so naive as to believe that it would meet the approval of everyone?  It certainly would not leave the atheist alone and it would not be agreeable to the man from China whose ancestors have worshipped idols for hundreds of years.

But suppose that I should decide to preach on the subject of Christ.  I go to the word of God and prove His virgin birth, His divinity, His pure and sinless life, His example for us to follow, and the authority of His teaching. This sermon too would meet the approval of many who are not even Christians. But even that kind of preaching would not be agreeable to the orthodox Jew who rejects Christ as the Messiah. Are we to cease preaching Christ because it offends the Jew?

But now I decide to preach on baptism. I simply preach what the New Testament says about it. I quote such passages as Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Galatians 3:27 and 1 Peter 3:21. However, when I do this I am not leaving a good majority of religious people alone. A good part of the denominational world would not be in agreement with my preaching on baptism because a good part of the denominational world denies the essentiality of baptism as a condition of salvation. Should I refrain from preaching on baptism because it does not leave others alone?

We cannot preach and leave other people alone in the first place, and in the second place God does not expect us to do so. Paul wrote in Galatians 1:10, "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ." Just before this, Paul had said in verses 6 and 7: "I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another gospel only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ." No doubt this statement did not take well with those false teachers in Galatia, but Paul did not leave them alone. He preached the truth regardless feeling.

Let a preacher oppose mixed swimming, immodest dress, dancing, or preach on the present-day issues facing the church, emphasizing that each congregation is to do its own work of benevolence and preaching without erecting human institutions and adhering to centralized elderships, or call denominational names and some of the brethren will accuse him of being a "hobbyist" and they will charge him with being "too hard."

Jesus Christ did not leave others alone and neither must we. He said to His disciples in Matthew 16:6, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." The entire 23rd chapter of the book of Matthew is a denunciation of the teaching of the Pharisees.

Most people, including some of our brethren, do not know what it means to preach the truth in love. If we know the truth and love the truth, we shall want it preached regardless of whom it may offend. To preach the truth in love means to preach the truth in love of the truth and in love for those who hear it. Paul asked in Galatians 4:16, "So then am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth?" People must know the difference between truth and error so that they may be saved from their sins. Many are sincere, but wrong; many are honest, but they are misled.  It is only when error is pointed out to people that they will know to leave error.

Gospel preachers must not submit to the advice of denominationalists and uninformed brethren who cry, "Preach, but leave others alone." The matter of how we are to preach was decided a long while ago by the word of God.  May faithful gospel preachers continue to "preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." (2 Tim. 4:2).

- by Hoyt  H. Houchen

 

Things to Remember When in Worship

1. Remember the purpose of worship is not to entertain or amuse one another, but it is to pay homage, love and honor to God.

2. Remember the people in worship; they are not perfect, neither are you.  Those with imperfections are worshipping Him who is perfect.  He who realizes his own imperfections most is better qualified to worship Him who imagines himself ‘perfect’.

3. Come to the worship period thinking how great God is and how insignificant you are.

4. Give due attention to the thoughts contained in the spiritual songs as well as in the harmony and melody of the singing of them.

5. Remember that a sermon depends as much on the hearing of it as the presenting of it.

6. Keep in mind that a critical, intolerant attitude is foreign to the spirit of Him whom you purpose to praise and to them that are gathered with you.  You should be seeking to encourage those who are worshipping with you.  

- by Jim Sasser