Worldly Chrisian?

What does the Bible say about the Christian's position in the world? Should we have lost friends? Should we listen to secular music or watch secular TV or read secular books? Should we steer clear of the world altogether or attempt to integrate Christian culture in to the world's culture?

The problem with many extreme views is that they are often developed as a reaction opposing another extreme. The separatist (totally separated from the world) and synthetic (blending with the world) approaches to the Christian life are a perfect example of this problem. Both ideas, when taken in context, are Biblical. However, when taken to the extreme they can become quite destructive to our spiritual lives. The Bible does call for us to be in the world. In fact, that has to happen in order for the great commission to take place. Jesus commissioned His followers to go and make disciples, not to stand still. Many sit in the church building waiting for the lost to come in out of sheer curiosity. No wonder the world is growing more secular. However, others spend their time integrating with the world attempting to prove to the lost that Christians can "have fun too!". They may have good intentions but often find themselves in compromising positions stumbling under the foot of the world's temptations. No wonder the world claims that Christians are hypocrites.

While praying for His disciples in John 17, Jesus acknowledged that they have been sent into the world but also exclaimed that they were not were not of the world. The disciples proved just that as the early church went in to the worlds and quickly spread throughout the Roman Empire. We read about these Christians reaching out to the lost, but as Paul's letters suggest, they stood by their convictions and condemned any compromise in holiness.

The problem with many Christians today is the lack of wisdom in decision making. They're either too black and white, shutting out any opportunities for witness, or they compromise because they have failed to guard their hearts in Christ. In summary, we as Christians must purposely go into the world as ambassadors for our Lord while seeking purity in all things knowing that if you walk in slippery places, you are sure to fall (2 Corinthians 5:20). This takes wisdom and that can only come when we truly and humbly seek the face of God in our daily choices and actions.

- Scott Hescht

Why You Do What You Do?

No Root, No Fruit

Have you ever wondered why you do what you do?

One former Navy pilot tells how he was living a wilder life than he knew he should live. He decided his problem was that he was being led astray by his friends in flight training. So he arranged to finish his work in the program early and be transferred to another field nearby. Yet, it wasn't long, he said, before he was back in the same old bars, with the same girls, just with different friends. One night out-on-the-town he wondered, "Why do I do this?" And he realized, "Because I like to."

Before a person becomes a Christian—I mean a real Christian, not just someone who says he is—his "want-to" is broken. He is not interested in God. He is bored by church and by reading his Bible. He cannot "make" himself "want to" do right and he cannot "make" himself "want not" to do wrong. When a person is born again, God repairs his "want-to." Even though he still feels the pull of temptation, he will have a new set of desires. He will love God and want to talk to God in prayer and see what God has to say to him in His Word, the Bible. He wants to be around other people who love God; church attendance becomes meaningful. There is a new desire to obey God.

Why do we do what we do? The answer is simple: we do what we do because of what we are. It's like fruit trees. Apple trees bear apples, pear trees produce pears, peach trees grow peaches. The fruit is the natural result of the nature of the tree. I suppose you could tie apples to a peach tree, but that would not make it an apple tree. In the same way, adding religious activities to one's schedule doesn't make one a Christian. Just as the fruit of the tree naturally flows from the nature of the tree, even so the attitudes, words, and actions of our lives reveal the true nature of ourselves.

Jesus said, "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit…. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them" (Matt. 7:17, 20).(copied--author unknown)

Spiritual Anorexia

--- from David Stone's "Morning Manna"

In a sense man's greatest need is to see his need. Until a person realizes he has a need he isn't going to do what he should. People don't get saved until they first realize they are a sinner in need of a Savior. But even God's people have problems in this area. Far too often we suppose that all is well between us and God when it isn't. At other times we know that something is amiss, but we don't take any steps to correct it.

We could talk about numerous things in this regards, but the one thing that stands out the most in my mind is people's attitude toward the Word of God. Based on their actions it's obvious that they don't see any great need for it. They seem to think that daily Bible reading and study is only for preachers and teachers. For them, all they need is a weekly portion spoon fed to them by someone else.

If that's your case, let me ask you some questions. Don't you ever long for God to communicate with you in a vivid meaningful way? Don't you ever feel that, although you have all the major doctrines pretty well nailed down in your mind, something is still missing? Don't you ever wonder why you can't stay fresh and excited about your duties as a Christian? Have you lost the wonder of worship?

I'm simply trying to help you see that you have needs. I think every true Christian can identify with the things I've just mentioned. I would guess that we have all felt that way during some period of our life. So what's the solution? I'm sure, at least I hope, that you already know where I'm going. The answer for all those questions is the Word of God. Just as God designed us so that we need our daily bread physically, we need His word daily. You can't neglect God's Word without paying a price. You can't neglect it without serious consequences anymore than you can refuse to eat without suffering physically.

God's Word provides peace for your problems, comfort in your calamities, strength in your struggles, hope when you are helpless, direction in your despair, faith to face your fears and much, much more!

Don't miss out on the wonderful feast God has prepared for you. Make sure you spend quality time everyday feeding on His wonderful Word. You'll be glad you did and it will show. Job said,"I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food".( Job 23:12). We all should do the same!