In the western world, there has
been an increase in immorality. Across
America and the United Kingdom, there is an ever-increasing acceptance of
homosexual marriages, abortions, and senseless violence. In the midst of all of
this, the church of Christ has been charged with being intolerant, boring, and
irrelevant. How should pastors and followers of Christ respond to these
accusations and become a beacon to a lost and dying world? To answer these
questions, we must take a look at God’s Word and ask ourselves; what kind of
people are we ought to be.
Why
does this matter? If you were to talk to people that profess the name of
Christ, you will see that many do not act any differently from those that are
not professing Christians. This is why
those seeking Christianity find it is no different from the world. Brennan
Manning writes, “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is
Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny
Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds
unbelievable.” If we ever desire to see the Gospel advance in our
neighborhoods, schools, governments, and communities, we need to change and it
starts with us.
One of
the first characteristics of being a light to a lost world is putting sin to
death. Colossians 3 says this; “Put
to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity,
passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry… But now you must put
them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do
not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its
practices.” Mortification of sin ought
to be the duty of every person who professes the name of Christ. The Apostle John writes, “If we say we have
fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the
truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from
all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If
we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”(1
John 1:7-10) This is very important because when we go about our normal
business in the world, people are watching. We need to be genuine in our walk
and not just talking the talk.
A second characteristic of a vibrant,
spirit-filled Christian is one who is gracious to those around him. Many times,
the professing Christian shuns the person struggling with same-sex attraction,
not reaching out to the one struggling with deep depression, or gossips about
the girl who got pregnant out-of-wedlock. We grumble, complain, and slander
those shepherding over us and never give a second thought about what the
typical pastor really goes through. What we ought to be is a refuge for the
weary and burden. Colossians 3 says, “Put
on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts,
kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one
another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as
the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all
these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And
let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in
one body.” What a difference it would make if Christians heed those words. When
people love and gracious towards one another, the world will take notice.
The third characteristic of a Christian is
one who is thankful. Because Christ died for us, we should be the most grateful
people around. Lets say you were thrown
into prison for a felony and sentenced to life unless you pay a million
dollars. One day, the prison guards open
the jail doors and escorted out of the prison facilities saying, “you are free.
Someone came and paid the million dollars on your behalf.” How would you feel
towards that person? That is what Jesus did at the Cross. He paid a penalty you
cannot pay on your own. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In every thing give thanks:
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” When we have that
attitude, we recognize that God is the giver of every good thing and have what
you do not deserve. Let us give thanks to God for what we do have and not
grumble about what we do not have.
In closing, we ought to be a people that
are genuine, gracious, and grateful. You were bought with great price you
cannot pay. Live the way Jesus lived.
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