Few would disagree with this statement: “We are living
through challenging times. Conflicts in society are growing, tearing us apart.”
This is the second in a series of blog posts looking at how Christians may make
the most of our present opportunities.
First Building Block. We need to know our starting
point. The temptation is to start with the never-ending news, which is
coming at us like a tidal wave. Suppose we begin a conversation by commenting on
the latest happenings and not basing our thoughts on something permanent. we will
like the people Paul talked about in Ephesians 4:14 “…infants, tossed back and
forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching by the
cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitfulness.” Many texts in the New
Testament describe our present unsettled, conflicted, sinful, and harming
society. Godlessness will abound in the Last Days. 1Timothy 3:1-9
Instead of being taken captive by captive through hollow and
deceptive philosophy which “depends on human tradition and the basic principles
of this world rather than on Christ” Col 2:8, we need to be mature in the
faith. We grow up “by speaking the truth in love, we grow up into him who is
the head, that is, Christ.”
Second building Block. We cannot do this on our own. North
American life is primarily built on the preferences brought about by
individualism. The quest for freedom has brought significant advances. Still, when
taken to an extreme, we are tempted to live our Christian life apart from the
Body of Christ. Hundreds of interpretations are available on every topic, it
seems.
Yet, the Christian is bound to others. Our lives are joined
in the Body of Christ. “From him the whole body, joined and held together by
every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love as each part does
its work.” The emphasis throughout the New Testament is this: Christ calls us
to live in him. The Holy Spirit teaches us how to interpret our thoughts and
actions in the light of Christ’s righteousness.
Third building Block. Beware of judgmentalism. It
is easy for us as Christians to look at the world and impose our values upon
other people. Each one of us, everyone, comes short of the glory of God. Only
through Christ are we given the grace to be saved from the wrath of God. We
cannot begin to live in the world, making decisions about society, from the point
of self-righteousness.
When we live in a society that is marked by “sexual
immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord,
jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy;
drunkenness, orgies and the like” (Gal5:19-21) we need to beware of the danger
of judging others. Jesus said, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your
brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye!” (Mat 7:3)
(To be continued)
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