"Thou shalt be not of the world" Thoughts of a church person disengaging from the world and such

I've been reading a great book by Brad Powell called "Change Your Church for Good." It is amazing how many pages of notes and stories have come out of my reading and I'm only two-thirds of the way through! God took me through a little journey Friday morning as I was reading a portion of the book. This statement jumped off the pages at me:

"Jesus walked, talked, worked, and lived with those in His culture. Of course, more often than not Christians today isolate themselves from those who don’t know God. They know and associate only with other Christians. Unfortunately, this makes it impossible for them to be the “light in darkness.” Of course, Christians have their weaknesses. (Yes, we do have them.) The Bible makes it clear that “bad company corrupts good character” (I Corinthians 15:33). It also warns us about joining ourselves too closely to those who don’t embrace Christ and His values (II Corinthians 6:14). However, this is speaking of our most intimate and influential relationships. This isn’t a command for us to isolate ourselves from all who don’t know Christ. Jesus revealed the Father’s love to those who were broken, guilty, and far from God. He didn’t isolate Himself from them, nor should His followers today." Brad Powell

Okay, this is good. Many times we hear that we are not to be of the world, and I have seen many Christians hiding in their Christian bubbles. That makes sense...But Paul in these two passages seems to contradict Jesus teaching about being the light of the world. It is almost as if Paul is saying draw a line in the sand and make sure you stay on your side. 

Then God started to take me on a journey, which ended up just being a journey of questions He asked me...

Question 1: Who was my servant Paul writing to? That's easy; the church of Corinth

Question 2: What do you know about Corinth? Well, the city was sinful. I would compare it to that of Las Vegas of today...After all, they coined the term "Corinthianize," which means to practice sexual immorality, after those that lived in Corinth. 

As I was writing this blog, I wanted to go a little more in-depth and researched Corinth a little more. I had forgotten that they had built a temple to honor the Greek goddess Aphrodite (Greek goddess of love). This temple contained thousands of priestess prostitutes and sexual debauchery was running rapid among the people of Corinth. 

Question 3: What did my church look like in Corinth? Well, the church was not around a very long time. So, I would say a church full of mostly young believers that just put their faith into the Way. Then also many of them were also Gentiles with none or very little understanding of the Jewish Law. 

Things started to connect in my head. Today, when a lost person comes to Jesus; we do our best to get them in the Bible, get them to church, surround them with other Christians, and engulf them with anything Godly that will grow them in their walk! After all, they are a baby Christian. They are at a very moldable time in their new birth. In Paul's letters, I see him writing these new believers to be careful in their walks or what was being taught to them in the church would be overtaken by the pull and draw of Corinth. 

We are to follow God's commands in the Bible, and He has given us the Holy Spirit to us to discern His truth. Should we follow Paul's commands to the church of Corinth and stay away from the ungodly or are we to follow Jesus commands to be lights in the world? I would argue both! As young Christians, we need to let God mold us and sometimes when life is falling apart around us we need to seek refuge in the church and among Godly friends. At the same time, we are commanded to share our faith! We need to be a light among the dark. 

Today, I shared in our Sunday School class that for us to live as a Christian all our life and not share our faith; it is a sin. After all, we are held accountable for not just the things we have done; but also the things we fail to do so...Pastor in his sermon later, told us that 95% of Christians do not share their faith. Wow! Now, I am not sure if that was an American, or a world or a denomination statistic; but nevertheless a scary statistic any which way. Why does Europe only have 5% of the population that goes to church or calls themselves a Christian? Even with 4,000 church plants a year, why are there still 7,000 churches closing their doors a year?

The church has better start something! When you see no lost people coming to your church, this is a problem! When the baptism pool is being used for other things more than baptisms, this is a problem! When church people are fighting over little things within the church but are not fighting for their lost communities, this is a problem! We are not to be of the world? That's fine! But we are called to be in the world! I am glad Jesus didn't say, "well, I am not going in the world"; because he would have never came...and you and I would have the grace of God in our lives!

Politics, social issues of today, and temporary things...

What political party should a Christian be for? Where should I stand as a Christian over this current social controversy? Should we as Christians really be concerned over temporary matters or eternal matters? Read the below three paragraphs; they answer these three questions in an outstanding way! 

There are churches that are primary Republican, and they’re beating up on the Democrats. There are churches that are primary Democrat, and they’re beating up on the Republicans. As if politics were the point of the cross of Jesus Christ. While Christians should be good citizens and vote according to the ethics of Christ, the purpose of the church isn’t political. Think about it. Politics have temporary impact. When your candidates are elected, they only have four to six years before they can be voted out. Then what? Everything changes back to the way it was...or worse. What a waste. But, when Jesus Christ gets voted in as King of people’s lives, their hearts are changed eternally. The church was never meant to focus on the temporary political agendas of any group. It was always  intended to focus on the eternal needs of a desperate world. 

And yet, churches, in the name of the One who lovingly asked God to forgive the angry and vile people nailing Him to a cross, are often filled with hate over these temporary issues that won’t change anything. They use their lobby to sign petitions for the latest social outrage, which is an obstacle to offering God’s hope people on the other side of that political or social issues...the people who most need hope. This clearly causes the church to miss its ultimate purpose of reflecting Christ and His love to this world. As John 13:35 says, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 

Instead, the church has started embracing the compassionless ways of the Pharisees who were excited to have the harlot thrown down and killed (John 8:3-11). On the contrary, Jesus, with great compassion, lifted her up and encouraged her with the truths that her failures weren’t final. He said, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” The church was never intended to be a reflection of man’s hateful and hurtful rejection. The church was always intended to be a reflection of God’s loving and acceptance. Brad Powell

Let's face it, the world is full of darkness. It has always been. Politicians and politics will always be around us; and will have some effect to our personal lives. And yeah, we struggle with the unbelievable acts of abortion, homosexuality, and sex slavery of today; but the world has not much changed from its darkness thousands of years ago where there was still homosexuality, human slavery, and the throwing of children into the god's fire pits. The world will always be full of darkness; as Christians, we are called by God to shine our light of the hope of Jesus! (Note: the darker it is; the stronger a light shines!) People are hurting, they are searching for hope out of the misery of darkness. How are we shining our lights? How are our churches reaching out with hope of the Gospel? How are we attacking the gates of hell looking to reach out to those who are blinded by the god of this age? How are we representing Jesus through the way we act, talk, and portray our faith? Are we giving the hope of the Gospel of Jesus to a dark world? 

Love God and Do What He Says!

Working on tonight's Wednesday night youth group message; and decided to post a few thoughts of the message.

Verse 1 of I Samuel 3 says, "In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions." Not much different than that of today, don't you think? Many people have suggested that God doesn't speak as much as He used to. I would tend to disagree! I believe He speaks just as much today as He has in the past; the problem is, we are not listening! It's hard, I admit; to spend time with God. If you read the Bible on your phone I can guarantee you that you will have a million texts. If you put the phone in the next room, you will hear it going off or someone will knock on your door. Fighting for time with the Father; is a daily challenge that is so worth it, that is if you want to hear from God.

What if the church looked more like a gang?

On first thoughts, that would sound crazy! Churches looking like a gang? The more I think about it though, I believe that churches would be better off if they took a little away from the structure of a gang. 

Point One: They are for each other

If you mess with a gang member; good chances you will find yourself beaten and bleeding along the side of the sidewalk. Gangs protect all their members at whatever cost. Once a person finds themselves in a gang, they are protected by all the members of the gang. Many times the gang becomes the individual's family and the "family" takes care of each other. 

What if the church kept to this same concept? Imagine the church protecting its members from those who verbally attack their beliefs, character, or just the person in general. What if the church became that of a family, taking care of the needs of the people within the church and even out into the community? 

Point Two: They work together

To understand a gang working together, we need to understand a little about the groups that we find within a gang. The Veteranos are the leaders and the ones that put in their time on the streets. The G's are the main gang members that manage and run the gang.  The Wannabees are mainly youth that want to be part of the gang. The Gangster-groupies, which is a new category, consists of youth who just want to hang out and associate with the gang. Finally, the Resident G's are those who grew up in the gangs neighborhood. To be part of the gang, you must be able to pull your weight. Whether the person is the main gang leader or a runner or even a watcher; the individual has his part to play.

Many times in the church, we don't work together. In fact, sometimes, we go in opposite directions and even many directions instead of working together. The church need to communicate with each other and go in one direction for the growth of the church. Then there is the dead weight factor...The ones that are just along for the ride. It is very hard for a church to run on it's 10-20 percent of the church body serving in the church. Imagine with me for a moment if each member of the church pulled his or her weight. What would that look like for the church?   

Point Three: They stretch for more territory

Gangs are constantly in battle with other gangs and their communities for territory. The more they control, the more they grow and prosper. Gangs that predominantly take over a city many times tends to control the city; police, courts, and politicians included! Now that is a powerful organization. 

Close your eyes and think about your church battling for your community, becoming so predominant in the city that it effects the city. Imagine that ten houses north, south, east, and west from your church; that at least 50% were plugged into your church (that's 20 families out of 40) Imagine your mayor calling your church and saying we got this need over here and we know that your church is perfect for meeting the need. Imagine the school's superintendent contacting your church saying that there are children in the school system that need weekend meals because if they don't receive any they won't eat and we know that your church would like to help. Imagine if we followed Jesus to build His church, instead of building our church...

Point Four: They promise deliverance

When someone gets hurt or killed in a gang, the gang leaders gets everyone together and promises that revenge will be made. 

Unlike the gangs violent messages of deliverance; the church has the best promise of deliverance that is offered to man. The deliverance from sin and death; with the good message of Jesus Christ dying on the cross for this deliverance! The church needs to continue to make this it's focal point and reach into a lost world with good news of Jesus!

In closing, I need to make a note I do not encourage gang life. The majority of gangs do many violent acts towards God and man, that I don't want to endorse. I just wanted to take something many can relate with and take some good thoughts away from their structure. We as a church need to encourage the church to protect its members, to work together, reach into the community, and share the good news of deliverance! 

Thoughts on labels from the book I am reading called Alter Ego by Craig Groeschel

"No matter what you have or haven’t done, God’s power is big enough to change you. There is no sin too great for God’s grace. There is no habit too big for his healing. There is no label too strong for his love. Let me say it again, because I want you to believe this: God’s power is bigger than your past.

And his power is rooted in his love for you. He knows who you really are no matter what others label you — or what you label yourself. What’s true about you now doesn’t have to be true about you later. The goal is not to reinvent yourself by striving to be some perfect person but to allow God to do an extreme makeover by uncovering your true self in his image, redeemed through Christ. What once was, no longer has to be. God can and will break the labels that have held you hostage.

You were made for more than you’ve settled for. You know your life does not reflect who you really are deep down inside. You know there’s more, and you’re tired of settling for less, but you’re just not sure how to move forward. It’s time for you to learn who you really are and what you’re capable of doing across eternity.

So many competing messages vie for our attention, trying to tell us who we are and what we should do, where we should shop and how we should vote, who we should cheer for and who we should condemn. But if we’ve committed to follow Jesus and have accepted the ultimate gift card of salvation, which carries an infinite balance over the charges of our sins, then there’s only one source for knowing who we are and how we should live."