4-13-06
What makes a Christian different from the world? The answer one
could glean from observation might be, “The Christian attends
Church (more than a couple of times per year)”. Again, it might
be, “Nothing.” Nothing significant. If the observer could have
completely unfettered access to the observed Christians, might
there be differences after all? Might we see greater hypocrisy,
discontent, meanness, or some other such things among the
Christians as compared to the world? I hope not, but would it be
so? And, God help us – what if the observer could look into the
Christians very thoughts? I wonder if there would be any
differences there, or just the reality of a depraved unregenerate
mind and …. and what? More of the same? God only knows.
There is also a positive difference, though, and the difference is
this: Christians are relying on Christ. They are not being saved
by being different in any way from the world except their
complete reliance on Christ! The world on the other hand is not
relying on Christ at all. And that is all the difference in the world!
Having said that, I still wonder what’s going on with Christians.
When one places his trust in Christ there are internal changes and
those changes should result in external changes in behavior in
public, behavior in private, in thinking, and in fact in being (hence
the former changes). When we don’t see those external changes
in many others it is very troubling. When we don’t see those
changes in ourselves it is beyond troubling and almost always
results in hypocrisy (heaping sin on sin and wrath on Jesus –
ourselves being the only other choice but God has promised it
would not be so for Christians). Who admits to these things and
does not go on as if all is well in one’s own holy self?
We must pray for the others without judging – if they say they are
Christians then we have no right to say they are not or even
believe that they are not! Are we to be thought lost on our worst
day – or on a bad day (normal day?)? There is a place for church
discipline if ,and only if, we can do it for the purpose of restoration
– as opposed to making ourselves more “anything”. Paul says
treat him LIKE an unbeliever not that he is an unbeliever.
When it is I – and it often is (is it never you?)- then I must continue
to rely on Christ alone and look for the changes that He is
continually making in me. I must strive mightily to obey Him, but I
must also realize that without His (complete) assistance I can
never obey Him and so certainly I must pray for myself as much
as for others. But, here is the rub. Will we enlist others to pray for
us in these matters? Not needed! I can hear the cry. Well, do
you want to be healed? In James 5 I think more than physical
healing is in view (but that too certainly IS in view). I think we
need to consider that our ongoing battle with sin-sickness may at
times require this kind of powerful medicine.
Dale
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