Sam Bridges
Clarion call to Christians: reclaim your identity
By Sam Bridges
Several weeks ago, in the column entitled "The State of the Modern Church," I wrote about how there are some within the ranks of the Christian church who are either misguided in their application of Scripture or masquerading as being part of the body of Christ while truly having no part in Him. Perhaps a more accurate assessment of the modern church would lead to the conclusion that an increasing number of Christians — at least in Western cultures — have forgotten their citizenship, focus, place, and purpose.
Scripture is filled with admonitions to the people of God about their true residency, but also about their responsibilities on this earth. Christians may be in this world, but they are certainly not of this world. We have the responsibility to change and impact this world, and to not be hindered or degraded by accepting the ways, thoughts, and behaviors of this world.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15
We are to lead God-centered lives primarily for His glory and secondarily for our spiritual growth. Furthermore, understanding our own sinful humanity and our total inability to be righteous on our own, we are to seek the righteousness that only God can provide.
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33
...and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Man's sinfulness is epitomized in his self-centered vanity and humanism, which routinely leads him to falsely believe that created mankind is better equipped to rightly judge and discern than its Creator. Christians must stop being deceived by the subtle falsehoods of humanism and relativism that taste so delicious to our self-centered pride and ultimately attempt to usurp God's place and authority.
There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
The Christian's purpose on this earth is to grow in spiritual maturity to be more like Christ, and in so doing reflect Him and His light to a dying world that needs the salvation, justification, and sanctification that Christ alone can provide. As a new creation, we are to draw others to Him through our distinctive character. We are to be a purifying influence in this world...a job we can never do unless we consistently and wholeheartedly seek purity in our own lives.
"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house." Matthew 5:13-15
Our world and culture are increasingly attempting to interpret Scripture to meet their own whims or desires, and in so doing are usually acting and living in direct opposition to Scripture. This occurs even where that Scripture is not prophetic or allegorical, and therefore not open to arbitrary interpretation. The self-serving "pick and choose" mentality that results is infecting some churches and their congregants as they try to manipulate Scripture to be more palatable to their sinful flesh.
More and more, the world is also trying to remove God and any trace of Him from each and every aspect of our lives, culture, schools, and governments. Sadly, many Christians are losing their eternal perspective and bowing to this pressure in the name of tolerance. However, Biblical tolerance has more to do with patience and longsuffering with people as they struggle with their weaknesses and as they grow on their spiritual journey. The current manifestation of tolerance...even from Christians...is full acceptance of choices, behaviors, and sin without reservation or limit.
Without exception, every Christian must necessarily strive to have a Biblical worldview. And to have a Biblical worldview, God's Word must direct how you analyze and respond to the world around you. Using the world and changing cultures to dictate how we interpret and implement God's Word is in direct contradiction to having a Christian, Biblical, and God-centered worldview.
© Sam Bridges
Several weeks ago, in the column entitled "The State of the Modern Church," I wrote about how there are some within the ranks of the Christian church who are either misguided in their application of Scripture or masquerading as being part of the body of Christ while truly having no part in Him. Perhaps a more accurate assessment of the modern church would lead to the conclusion that an increasing number of Christians — at least in Western cultures — have forgotten their citizenship, focus, place, and purpose.
Scripture is filled with admonitions to the people of God about their true residency, but also about their responsibilities on this earth. Christians may be in this world, but they are certainly not of this world. We have the responsibility to change and impact this world, and to not be hindered or degraded by accepting the ways, thoughts, and behaviors of this world.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15
We are to lead God-centered lives primarily for His glory and secondarily for our spiritual growth. Furthermore, understanding our own sinful humanity and our total inability to be righteous on our own, we are to seek the righteousness that only God can provide.
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33
...and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Man's sinfulness is epitomized in his self-centered vanity and humanism, which routinely leads him to falsely believe that created mankind is better equipped to rightly judge and discern than its Creator. Christians must stop being deceived by the subtle falsehoods of humanism and relativism that taste so delicious to our self-centered pride and ultimately attempt to usurp God's place and authority.
There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
The Christian's purpose on this earth is to grow in spiritual maturity to be more like Christ, and in so doing reflect Him and His light to a dying world that needs the salvation, justification, and sanctification that Christ alone can provide. As a new creation, we are to draw others to Him through our distinctive character. We are to be a purifying influence in this world...a job we can never do unless we consistently and wholeheartedly seek purity in our own lives.
"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house." Matthew 5:13-15
Our world and culture are increasingly attempting to interpret Scripture to meet their own whims or desires, and in so doing are usually acting and living in direct opposition to Scripture. This occurs even where that Scripture is not prophetic or allegorical, and therefore not open to arbitrary interpretation. The self-serving "pick and choose" mentality that results is infecting some churches and their congregants as they try to manipulate Scripture to be more palatable to their sinful flesh.
More and more, the world is also trying to remove God and any trace of Him from each and every aspect of our lives, culture, schools, and governments. Sadly, many Christians are losing their eternal perspective and bowing to this pressure in the name of tolerance. However, Biblical tolerance has more to do with patience and longsuffering with people as they struggle with their weaknesses and as they grow on their spiritual journey. The current manifestation of tolerance...even from Christians...is full acceptance of choices, behaviors, and sin without reservation or limit.
Without exception, every Christian must necessarily strive to have a Biblical worldview. And to have a Biblical worldview, God's Word must direct how you analyze and respond to the world around you. Using the world and changing cultures to dictate how we interpret and implement God's Word is in direct contradiction to having a Christian, Biblical, and God-centered worldview.
© Sam Bridges
The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)
