I have been watching and listening with interest for some time to people whom I talk with and supposedly share a common set of ethics, principles, and values; yet, when it comes to really putting those supposed personal standards into practice by how we treat others, vote, or handle our business, those standards no longer hold any sway.
We are said to share a common religious heritage, a common belief in treating others how we would like to be treated, stealing and lying are wrong, abortion is wrong, you shouldn’t expect others to provide other than short term assistance. You are responsible for your actions and decisions. We should try to assist those less fortunate than ourselves. Accountability is important in trying to help someone achieve the goals they have set for themselves, especially if we are the ones providing assistance in their achieving those goals.
The sad truth is, none of that goes beyond the words spoken. It is evidenced by the Christian church actively lacking a “Widows and Orphans” list or program. The church has abdicated that responsibility to the State for a multitude of reasons; none good. The church’s clearest indication of its true faith is caring for widows, orphans and those who live at the fringes of society. How we treat those most different from ourselves is the true standard by which the church will win or lose the spiritual battle in this country and our world.
One reason is the growing animosity between the Church and Government. The Courts have been creating, over time, a distance and hostility through the decisions which have been rendered. The “free exercise”of religion is being increasingly eroded by each successive decision. Forcing Christians to participate in events which are anathema to their conscience, removing prayer from schools, attempts to restrict free assembly through the use of zoning ordinances, and removing school choice options are all examples.
Another reason is the actual message being preached from the pulpits of our churches and a lack of adherence to the clear, unambiguous teaching of Scripture. We have many churches which preach God’s blessing are primarily material and are contingent upon the amount of money tithed or donated to the church or a feel good message which reduces the conviction of our transgressions to give us greater self esteem.
Scripture says the Gospel is Christ and Him crucified. We are to be brought to an understanding of our sin nature, our need of a Savior, repentance, and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. There is no other name under heaven by which humans must be saved. We do not teach this enough in the church as a whole because it causes self reflection and self evaluation; we don’t like that. We have become a people who want to hear how wonderful we are and even our mistakes aren’t that bad; especially when compared to what we know others have done.
Christians can talk about the wrong in the world all we want, but until we are actually pursuing remedies and being active in our communities and giving God the glory for what is done, we are tilting at windmills. We should not expect non-Christians to act as Christians; especially, when we who call ourselves Christians don’t.
We have to be a living example of the change we want to see. We have to be honest with our struggles and how we overcome them. God is the source of our strength and sustenance. He is the reason we are able to accomplish anything; we can do nothing in and of ourselves. The glory is His.
Remember, faith without works is dead. We are saved by grace, not works, lest any man should boast. The works come as we submit daily to Christ and His calling on our lives. We will naturally do those things which He lays on our hearts as we submit and allow Him to live through us for the world to see. We will also naturally give Him the glory because we know it is Him living through us accomplishing whatever is done.
Until we, as a body of believers known corporately as the Church, submit individually and collectively to God in all we do; our families, churches, communities, counties, states, nation and world will not change. We must give everything to God and allow His will to be shown. He is to get the glory not an individual, not a church, and not an organization. God is to get the glory. He must have all of us and it is something we must strive to do in every aspect of our lives.
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