What Is A Good Christian?

 

I have a good friend. She doesn’t drink alcohol; thus, she has never been involved in any alcohol-related crimes or embar­rassments. She doesn’t destroy her mind through the use of illicit drugs. I have never heard my friend gossip or tell a sin­gle lie. She never wastes her time in nightclubs, casinos, or questionable establishments. I cannot recall ever hearing her speak with profanity or vulgarity. And she has never cheated a soul in business. Many people would call my friend a “good Christian.” Yet you need to know that I have just described my dog, Bella!

The world holds many good and hon­est souls who are not maliciously en­gaged in the blackest of evils. Many of these good, moral citizens are our neighbors, our friends, our relatives. They may, in some cases, be more mor­al than some of the church’s more nom­inal members. But they should not, by virtue of their upstanding lifestyles, be confused with “good Christians.” They may refrain from wrong; they may even be involved in promoting much that is right. But outside of Christ they cannot be considered Chris­tians. Not until one comes to Christ and obeys the gospel is one a Christian. There’s a world of difference between my dog and a “good Christian.”

 [Acts 4:12] Why is it that some Christians seem to believe that their only responsi­bility in reaching the lost is to live a pure lifestyle before them? Will alien sinners become Christians by simply observing that Christians refrain from things like profanity, fornication, and drugs? Will simply being kind to others convert the lost? There are many others in this world besides Christians who are kind to others. There can even be atheists who choose to be kind to their fellow man. There are other religions besides Christianity which emphasize humility, kindness, sobriety, modest dress, and other forms of morality. What makes Christianity different, and how will the lost learn those differenc­es?

Certainly, the Christian’s influence must not be minimized (Matthew 5:13-16); and yes, Christians are to live holy lives and be kind to others (1 Peter 1:15-16; Matthew 5:38-48); but is that all it takes to con­vert the lost? No one can live a pure enough life to save himself, and there is still no other name to save us but the name of Jesus Christ.

We need to learn what being a Chris­tian is all about. Being a Christian in­volves more than merely not doing evil. A Christian must be concerned with actually doing good, fully submitting to Christ, and living by faith. Christ taught, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Complete and total submission to Christ is essential if we would be called by His name. Like the brethren of Smyrna, all who are in Christ are expected to “…be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10).

Of course, the answer is that Chris­tians must expose the lost to the words of the Bible! True faith does not come from seeing someone live a good, mor­al life. Faith comes from hearing the Word of God! (Romans 10:17). If the Seed (God’s Word) is not planted, the fruit (a Christian) will never be produced (Luke 8:11-15). The Great Commission does not teach Christians to simply go out and live an upright life. Christians are specifically told to teach, baptize, and teach some more (Matthew 28:19-20). Philip had to “open his mouth” to con­vert the Ethiopian (Acts 8:35). If we would open our mouth and “preach Jesus” like Philip did, would we not expect the same reaction of the Ethiopia? “...what hinders me from being baptized? …I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (Acts 8:30-37).

Jesus commanded “…love one another as I have loved you” (Matthew 15:12).

The Last Best Hope

 

Sir Winston Churchill, who led Britian through its darkest hours, was a man of many notable accomplishments. He is recognized as one of the great leaders in world history. But of his life’s work, he said, “My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me.” He and his beloved Clementine were married in 1908 and remained married until his death 56 years later. Of course, many couples have been married longer than the esteemed prime minister. According to Guinness World Records, the record is 86 years, 9 months, and 16 days, and it belongs to Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher. They were married in 1924, 18 and 16 years old at the time. Their marriage held up through the Great Depression, World War II, the Koreon War, the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and fifteen presidential administrations.

Both Herbert and Zelmyra are gone now, each dying at the age of 105. Before they died, they talked about their marriage and some keys to its longevity. They felt it was important for them to respect, support, and communicate with each other. Being faithful, honest, and true to each other was critical. And, of course, loving each other with all their hearts. They always remembered that marriage I not a contest and it did no good to keep score.

[1 Corinthians 13] is often called the “love” chapter of the Bible. What these passages say about love are certainly pertinent to a marriage. No question. But the apostle Paul is primarily writing about what it takes for any relationship to work, whether it is an intimate connection like a spousal or family relationship, a church or neighborly connection, or the person who lives in the room or apartment next to you.

“Love is patient,” Paul writes. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (v’s 4-8a). Put this advice to work and any relationship will work!

In 1997 Western Christian Foundation published a book by Nelson M. Smith, entitled Agape Study Manual. Smith identified all the places the word love and its related terms appeared in the KJV Bible. Then he wrote comments on every single verse where love was mentioned. The book has 475 pages. Smith said he was no scholar, but one thing he understood well: Love is at the center of God’s plan of salvation. How would our lives be changed if we read the Bible through while focused on love, especially the love of God? How would we change the lives of others if we moved throughout each day while focused on love, especially God’s love for the lost? How would our families change if we spent every moment with them charged with love, especially God’s familial love? How would our congregations be changed if a handful of saints decided to love as Jesus loved? Just reading about love in the Bible won’t change anything. But reading with open hearts, with prayers to be transformed by the Word, with effort to become like the Lord Jesus Christ, God will make love radiate from our lives outward to touch and bless everyone around us.

One month before signing the Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln wrote a letter to Congress in which he addressed freeing the country’s slaves. Lincoln stressed the importance of doing the right thing to “save our country,” which he described as “the last best hope of earth.” God says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it…” (Psalm 127:1). When it comes to modeling for the world what the home should look like, the church of Jesus Christ is “the last best hope of earth.”

Gray Hairs

 

Well, I’m about to complete my seventy-fifth trip around the sun and I’m looking forward to several more before my ship runs out of steam. I thought I would wax poetic for a moment and then honor those who are far ahead of me in their journey on the road of life. Without parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, teachers and wise tutors of life, we would have certainly had a much harder time getting this far.

When shades of night begin to fall, And shadows lengthen on the wall, My thoughts roll back to days of yore; Like waves that gently lap the shore. The youth I lost, so long ago. Just where it went, I do not know. Too soon, a young man took his place. Then, age replaced that smiling face. The child I raised, from very birth, Has gone to find his place on earth. He, too, will find that time flies by. ‘Tis but a twinkle of God’s eye. I live my memories, o’er and o’er, And wonder if I could have done more. Not one of those days were perfect spent. And yet the next was duly sent. I tried and tried, with all my might, But never did get one right. I’ve lived for many thousand days; A testament to God’s patient ways. And now my memories, good and bad, Remind me of the chance I had, To live my life the way I should; To shun the bad, embrace the good. And yet, I trod the time worn road. I walked alone, with heavy load; Too proud to think that God would care, My many burdens to gladly share. And then, one day, I was wholly spent. So, down from heaven, His Son He sent. Not only did He lift my earthly load, But put me back on the narrow road. So now, my mind is full at ease, No longer tossed like heavy seas. Whatever life, now, has in store, I have a haven on yonder shore. It’s not a prize that I have won, But the gift, from God, of His precious Son.

[Leviticus 19:32] “You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord.”

From time to time, it is appropriate, and actually commanded by God, that we reflect upon the “specialness” of the older generation. What champions they are. They have been victorious over many ruthless enemies. They have blazed many trails before us that has made life better for us. They have taken the gospel to much of the world. They have built many great congregations. With their generous giving they have financed an innumerable list of tremendous works to the glory of no one but God.

The “gray hairs” encourage us. Many have retired but most of them haven’t stopped being productive citizens of our Lord’s Kingdom. They have a mind for work, a heart for giving, and faces covered with “laugh lines.” Older folk make mole hills out of mountains. They adapt, find solutions, pray fervently, and love to worship. They give us stability, maturity, confidence, wisdom, sound instruction, and direction.

They know a lot more about people than computers. They belong to the generation that delights in simple things: a grandchild’s laugh, a warm pot of coffee shared with friends, all five verses of “Amazing Grace,” our nation’s flag, a hand-made quilt.

With dignity they have weathered many storms, bade farewell to many precious loved ones, seen too many doctors, battled diseases, depression and loneliness.

Older people stand for something. They live on for Christ. They take time to smell the roses. They still say “sir” and “ma’am” and deserve the same from others. Their bodies age but their souls have no wrinkles. They built the fires we warm by, and with God’s help, they’re not done yet. There’s still plenty of fuel in the tank. The sun has not yet set on them.

“Gray hairs” we owe you, big time! Thank you, Lord, for those who are leading the way.

God Is In God's Word

 

“Mister, why doesn’t this cow have horns?” asked the young lady from a nearby city on a field trip to the country. The farmer cocked his head for a moment, then began in a patient tone, “Well, ma’am, cattle can do a powerful amount of damage with horns. Sometimes we keep ‘em trimmed down with a hacksaw. Other times we can fix up the young’uns by putting a couple of drops of acid where their horns would grow in, and that stops ‘em cold. Still there are some breeds of cattle that never grow horns.” Not wanting to embarrass her in her ignorance the farmer continued hoping to properly answer the child’s question, “But the reason this cow don’t have no horns, is ‘cause it’s a horse.”

There is an urban legend about a group of famous scientists who stopped for lunch at a small-town diner. Seated at the table were six of the greatest thinkers of our day. Their average IQ was in the 160s. They noticed that their salt and pepper shakers had been reversed. One with the S on top was filled with pepper. The other with the P on top was filled with salt. So, they concocted an elaborate plan to switch the contents without spilling them. It involved a napkin, a straw and a saucer. Proud of their solution, they presented it to the waitress. "That is an interesting scheme," she said. "Of course, we could do this." Whereupon she simply unscrewed both shakers and switched the tops.

The Bible asks an important question: "Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?" (1 Corinthians 1:20b). To a Being as wise as our Lord, we must seem like little children to Him. We develop our theories and axioms and syllogisms, but to Him it's just child's play. So, the truly wise one is the one who accepts God, and His Word, by faith.

A graduate philosophy instructor was a newly minted PhD, and he was an expert in Immanuel Kant. A well-informed, thoroughly devoted expert. His seminar on the German philosopher was, of course, excellent. Too many instructors present philosophy and philosophers through the writings of other interpreters. They rely on broad historical overviews and topical anthologies — academic texts that cover hundreds of philosophical concepts — to expose students to a wide range of ideas. As valuable as such resources may be, nothing takes the place of reading what the original thinker thought. His cardinal rule for his class was simple: Read Kant.

The instructor once mentioned a paper he had presented at a philosophy conference. It was one of those over-the-top academic treatises that only fellow philosophers (especially the Kantians) would appreciate. After the presentation, a world-renowned Immanuel Kant scholar approached him, shook his hand and said, “You've read Kant.” The instructor was thrilled. Of course he'd read Kant. He didn't just read what other people said that Kant said. He read Kant. His thorough familiarity with the philosopher's thought was evident. Clearly, he had immersed himself in Kant's own words.

[2 Timothy 2:15] The application for Christians? “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Don’t just read what someone else says the Bible says. Read the Bible. Handbooks and commentaries and background studies are all excellent tools. But if these are your main source of knowledge, and you fail to read His word directly, you might miss what God actually wants you to know.

If you want to know what Immanuel Kant thought and said, I suggest you go to the primary source. Read Kant. If you want to know what God wants you to know and how God wants you to live, go to the primary source. Read God’s word. Know God, know life.