The world stands in judgment of us Christians. Like it or not, Christianity is on trial before a jury containing every unsaved person. Every Christian has a responsibility to accurately represent who Christ is within their respective spheres of influence. Paul reminds us of this responsibility in Hebrews 12.1, 2:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
If you don’t believe that people are watching you, just listen to this. I have a friend who I’ve witnessed to ever since I met her a year ago. She told me that she looks at all the Christians she knows to see if their life actually reflects Christ. Their obedience to the Bible witnesses to her more than any words they’ve spoken to her. Their words are either verified or disproved by their life. I’ve almost found out the most about how to practically live as a Christian from her than any other Christian because of her scrutiny and outward perspective. Here’s just a few things that I learned from her.
First, treat the source, not the symptoms. The world accuses us of being judgmental for a reason. This judgmental-ism is not from God, but from our selfish piety. We’re not here to preach a social Gospel, which makes people moral without changing their hearts. Christians today are sending more clean, moral and self-righteous sinners on their way to hell than broken, repentant and humble sinners saved by Grace to heaven. Jesus came to die for our justification first and secondly, our sanctification, which comes only through the work of the Holy Spirit. The unsaved will have darkness in their lives, just as we used to. It’s the natural fruit of their condition.
Second, be honest. I’ve noticed that Christians have a tendency to assume a piety just to accentuate and ‘dress-up’ the Christian life. Sanctification isn’t completed in our life-time and we need to admit that there are still struggles in our lives. If we can, we should use our unsaved background as a tool for evangelism, always pointing out the source of our sin instead of dancing on symptoms. God brought us through a specific road to salvation that He had ordained before time. Proverbs 20.24 reminds us that ‘a man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?’ Sanctification is a process and it is only possible after the justification of the Cross and victory of Christ’s resurrection.
Thirdly, live it and then talk. Hypocrisy is one of the biggest charges against believers. This is especially vital if we’re responsible for representing Christ to someone who’s been prejudiced because of irresponsible and judgmental Christians. All God needs is the pure and undefined Gospel to convict an unsaved sinner. One strong Christian testimony may be the pivotal factor in salvation. This is also a time when it’s essential to be honest and open about your past and current struggles. Unsaved people need to see real people, not ’suit and tie’ Christians. It should also be a given that we can recognize their true need for salvation without judging their sins. Remember, they are only living out what they know. They can only be washed completely clean through justification before their lives can start being cleansed through sanctification.
Whether it’s only in casual settings, or serious, intense conversations, people are watching to see how you live. We shouldn’t become reclusive because of these ‘great clouds of witnesses,’ or treat our faith as something to keep personal because we are called to share the Gospel with others. We’ve been told to expect the scrutiny. We’ve also been told to expect the persecution. By nature, the darkness hates the light because it’s works are evil. In John 15.18, Jesus says, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” And in 1 Peter 3.14-17, it also says:
But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
I hope that this blog has been a challenge to you. It is my prayer that God will awaken every Christian to live out the Gospel before the world and to preach the Word as it has been taught us through the Bible. Remember, they still seek the living among the dead, even 2000-some years after the wondering disciples stumbled into the empty tomb.
God bless,
~Curtis~
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
If you don’t believe that people are watching you, just listen to this. I have a friend who I’ve witnessed to ever since I met her a year ago. She told me that she looks at all the Christians she knows to see if their life actually reflects Christ. Their obedience to the Bible witnesses to her more than any words they’ve spoken to her. Their words are either verified or disproved by their life. I’ve almost found out the most about how to practically live as a Christian from her than any other Christian because of her scrutiny and outward perspective. Here’s just a few things that I learned from her.
First, treat the source, not the symptoms. The world accuses us of being judgmental for a reason. This judgmental-ism is not from God, but from our selfish piety. We’re not here to preach a social Gospel, which makes people moral without changing their hearts. Christians today are sending more clean, moral and self-righteous sinners on their way to hell than broken, repentant and humble sinners saved by Grace to heaven. Jesus came to die for our justification first and secondly, our sanctification, which comes only through the work of the Holy Spirit. The unsaved will have darkness in their lives, just as we used to. It’s the natural fruit of their condition.
Second, be honest. I’ve noticed that Christians have a tendency to assume a piety just to accentuate and ‘dress-up’ the Christian life. Sanctification isn’t completed in our life-time and we need to admit that there are still struggles in our lives. If we can, we should use our unsaved background as a tool for evangelism, always pointing out the source of our sin instead of dancing on symptoms. God brought us through a specific road to salvation that He had ordained before time. Proverbs 20.24 reminds us that ‘a man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?’ Sanctification is a process and it is only possible after the justification of the Cross and victory of Christ’s resurrection.
Thirdly, live it and then talk. Hypocrisy is one of the biggest charges against believers. This is especially vital if we’re responsible for representing Christ to someone who’s been prejudiced because of irresponsible and judgmental Christians. All God needs is the pure and undefined Gospel to convict an unsaved sinner. One strong Christian testimony may be the pivotal factor in salvation. This is also a time when it’s essential to be honest and open about your past and current struggles. Unsaved people need to see real people, not ’suit and tie’ Christians. It should also be a given that we can recognize their true need for salvation without judging their sins. Remember, they are only living out what they know. They can only be washed completely clean through justification before their lives can start being cleansed through sanctification.
Whether it’s only in casual settings, or serious, intense conversations, people are watching to see how you live. We shouldn’t become reclusive because of these ‘great clouds of witnesses,’ or treat our faith as something to keep personal because we are called to share the Gospel with others. We’ve been told to expect the scrutiny. We’ve also been told to expect the persecution. By nature, the darkness hates the light because it’s works are evil. In John 15.18, Jesus says, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” And in 1 Peter 3.14-17, it also says:
But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
I hope that this blog has been a challenge to you. It is my prayer that God will awaken every Christian to live out the Gospel before the world and to preach the Word as it has been taught us through the Bible. Remember, they still seek the living among the dead, even 2000-some years after the wondering disciples stumbled into the empty tomb.
God bless,
~Curtis~
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