As I have been pondering the sermon from Sunday, I have been plagued with thoughts of what a loving refusal to agree with culture looks like. We "christians" have made a name for ourselves over the years in the ways we have chosen to refute the lies that the world tries to promote. When we stand by our legalistic mind sets as to what is right and what is wrong, we often forget the point of why it's right or wrong and who it is we are trying to point a lost and watching world to.
As I have thought over the life of Christ as He came here to earth in the flesh in order that we might see the perfect life He lived, the way He served, the way He loved, the way He called out sin, and ultimately the reason He died, I have reasoned that our approach to opposition with a world that is bent to sin is FAILING. We should have a voice, we NEED to have a voice, but what should our voice sound like?
"And He(Jesus) went out again by the seashore; and all the people were coming to Him, and He was teaching them. As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him. And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and HIs disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, "Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?"
And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:13-17
According to Luke chapter 5's account of this very same event, this dinner party was thrown by Matthew(Levi)...the tax collecting sinner... in Jesus' HONOR! And since the circles Matthew ran in were the religious and social outcasts, that's exactly who was in attendance at this gathering.
As I have read and reread over this passage of scripture, these additional verses have come to mind...
1 John 2:6 ...but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same maner as He walked.
Phil. 2:1-11...Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is an consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on ONE PURPOSE. DO nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW of those who are in heaven and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Ephesians 5:2...Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Unity amongst a people standing for Truth is essential. We must unite despite our differences to promote CHRIST; but the way we do it has already been modeled long before any of us were ever in existence. Christ came and formed the mold we are to adhere to and unless we set aside our pride and legalism we will never be or have a loving voice. Our burden for the lost should far exceed our anger for them.
When an infant spits up on our clothes or makes a mess, we don't get irate and demand they change their ways. A loving parent just cleans up the mess and focuses their attention on the child's needs and not their own inconvenience. We as humans are all born into a natural fallen state and until we have been saved by the Grace and Mercy of God, our messes are just as uncontrollable as the infant child's. As we become Children of the Living God, He graciously fills us with the Truths of His Word and we begin to understand what causes the messes we make and learn to clean them up and ultimately stay away from the causes. But those still living apart from the Word of God still have no idea that living so contrary to His Will for our lives keeps us in a state where our messes are things we can't control.
So our approach to those who delight in sin should be just like a loving parent to their infant child. We should handle them with love and care and focus our attention on their need for a Savior and lovingly guid them there with a gentle and Christ-like approach. Our hearts should desperately seek to see their eternity changed and not be so disgruntled at their desire to live in sin, because we were once there!
"I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh..." Rom. 9:1-3
Paul expresses his deep love for His fellow Jews to know the amazing Grace of GOD! Somewhere and somehow we as believers have lost sight of our purpose...To Glorify God and Enjoy Him Forever...and teach others to do the same!
Tomorrow is the day we as believers have a chance to hold the arms up of the leaders of Chick-fil-A who have so lovingly told the world their view on marriage, not condemned those who don't believe likewise, but just as a parent lovingly instructs their child. Let's not lose our voice, but let's dine with the religious and social outcasts just as Christ did!
As I have thought over the life of Christ as He came here to earth in the flesh in order that we might see the perfect life He lived, the way He served, the way He loved, the way He called out sin, and ultimately the reason He died, I have reasoned that our approach to opposition with a world that is bent to sin is FAILING. We should have a voice, we NEED to have a voice, but what should our voice sound like?
"And He(Jesus) went out again by the seashore; and all the people were coming to Him, and He was teaching them. As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him. And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and HIs disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, "Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?"
And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:13-17
According to Luke chapter 5's account of this very same event, this dinner party was thrown by Matthew(Levi)...the tax collecting sinner... in Jesus' HONOR! And since the circles Matthew ran in were the religious and social outcasts, that's exactly who was in attendance at this gathering.
As I have read and reread over this passage of scripture, these additional verses have come to mind...
1 John 2:6 ...but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same maner as He walked.
Phil. 2:1-11...Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is an consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on ONE PURPOSE. DO nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW of those who are in heaven and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Ephesians 5:2...Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Unity amongst a people standing for Truth is essential. We must unite despite our differences to promote CHRIST; but the way we do it has already been modeled long before any of us were ever in existence. Christ came and formed the mold we are to adhere to and unless we set aside our pride and legalism we will never be or have a loving voice. Our burden for the lost should far exceed our anger for them.
When an infant spits up on our clothes or makes a mess, we don't get irate and demand they change their ways. A loving parent just cleans up the mess and focuses their attention on the child's needs and not their own inconvenience. We as humans are all born into a natural fallen state and until we have been saved by the Grace and Mercy of God, our messes are just as uncontrollable as the infant child's. As we become Children of the Living God, He graciously fills us with the Truths of His Word and we begin to understand what causes the messes we make and learn to clean them up and ultimately stay away from the causes. But those still living apart from the Word of God still have no idea that living so contrary to His Will for our lives keeps us in a state where our messes are things we can't control.
So our approach to those who delight in sin should be just like a loving parent to their infant child. We should handle them with love and care and focus our attention on their need for a Savior and lovingly guid them there with a gentle and Christ-like approach. Our hearts should desperately seek to see their eternity changed and not be so disgruntled at their desire to live in sin, because we were once there!
"I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh..." Rom. 9:1-3
Paul expresses his deep love for His fellow Jews to know the amazing Grace of GOD! Somewhere and somehow we as believers have lost sight of our purpose...To Glorify God and Enjoy Him Forever...and teach others to do the same!
Tomorrow is the day we as believers have a chance to hold the arms up of the leaders of Chick-fil-A who have so lovingly told the world their view on marriage, not condemned those who don't believe likewise, but just as a parent lovingly instructs their child. Let's not lose our voice, but let's dine with the religious and social outcasts just as Christ did!
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