The
problem I see with the church and with many fellow Christians in general today
is indifference to their own faith. I'm sure there are a number of reasons for
that. Personally, I think there are three primary reasons why a lot of
Christians will not make a stand for Christ and the principles we hold to is
because such believers are too much like the world.
1.
The Compromising Christian: Their
reasoning is we need to be like the world in order to win unbelievers out of
the world. Such misguided believers misinterpret Paul's words: “I have become all things to all men, so
that I may by all means save some." (1 Cor. 9:22, NASB). The question
this raises is what difference does Christ make then in a sinner's life? If we
are to behave like those in the world, then how can we show those in the world
the difference Christ has made in our lives? The fact is Paul became "all
things" whether a Jew, Gentile, Roman, slave, or free in order to win them
to Christ. By no means does this imply he practiced the various corruptions and
sins in order to be like a pagan, Roman, or any other person who he was trying
to win to Christ. He could behave according to the custom and behavior expected of a Roman citizen, or as a Jewish citizen for that matter without adopting their questionable, sinful practices. However, the saint is called to be like Christ. Paul puts it this way, and instructs us to: "
2.
The Christian who will not submit to the
Cost: There are those who call themselves Christians, who are not willing
to suffer the cost of being associated with Christ or fellow saints. Such
Christians love it when things are going great, but quickly bail at the first
sign of persecution. They want to follow Christ on their terms, not God's. Paul
knew this all too well, for one of his fellow workers, “Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to
Thessalonica” (2 Tim. 4:10, NASB). Demas, did not want to share
in the Apostle Paul’s suffering and persecution, let alone share in the fellowship of Christ's sufferings. He was too much a companion of
this world to be a true companion to the Apostle. Of such, James writes: “You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not
know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever
wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James
4:4, NASB). How can any Christian truly be
at peace and friends with a world that has the blood of Christ on their hands? The
Apostle John’s words are clear: “Do not
love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love
of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15, NASB). So what should our
attitude be to the world? Again, Paul writes: “And those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this
world is passing away.” (1 Cor. 7:31, NKJV). The fact is, to the child of
God, this present world is not their home. We are travelers not settlers here
in this world. To the believer the world has been crucified to him/her, and the
believer to the world (see Gal. 6:14; 2:20).
3.
The Condemning Christian: This type
of Christian is highly critical of both Christians and non-Christians. The
moment he learns a particular Christian or unbeliever falls short of the
condemning Christian's unreasonable expectations and standards, he or she like
the Pharisee of old will harshly judge and condemn that person. First, to the
fellow saint, "Therefore there is
now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1,
NASB). If Christ does not condemn our brother or sister in Christ for their faults, neither should we. Second, The Lord Jesus was not an isolationist, for He often sat and
ate with sinners. The Lord Jesus' attitude towards the condemning was "I have not come to call the righteous
but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32, NASB). Self righteousness is not a virtue, Christ's righteousness is! Let us adopt His righteous attitude, and stop condemning our fellow brother in the Lord.
As believers in Christ, let's avoid being compromising, Christ denying, condemning Christians. Let's glorify Christ by lip, by love, and by our life!
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