How to Read the Scripture in Current Culture
Does today'south anti-Christian rhetoric brand you mad? Ever get then fed upwardly you lot'd similar to give someone a piece of your mind?
Christians have a bulletin worth dying for. Nosotros accept standards and convictions that place us at odds with our culture.
But how can we be wise as serpents and every bit harmless as doves? How can nosotros maintain our Christian sophistication in a confrontational age?
We tin can learn from Jesus. He was never weak, simply never rude. He spoke clearly and confidently, yet without venom or virulence.
The apostle Peter, sometimes a loose cannon, learned that lesson well. Writing in his first epistle, he told us to handle opposition as Jesus did. The theme of 1 Peter is to walk in His steps, to deal with opposition as Christ did.
Speak Up – Respectfully
That means speaking up when needed. Peter told u.s. to "proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (one Peter 2:9). We're to speak equally if delivering "the oracles of God" (4:eleven).
We're to preach the Gospel given by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven (ane:12). And so if you lot become half a chance, say a discussion for the Lord.
But Peter besides reminded u.s. to present our defense of the faith "with meekness and fright, having a skillful conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your expert conduct in Christ may be ashamed" (3:15-sixteen). He warned us about grumbling (4:nine) and to be submissive to governing authorities (2:thirteen-fourteen).
The erstwhile word for this is "manners."
Augustine of Canterbury was a missionary who sought to revive Christianity in England post-obit the breakdown of Roman rule. When a conflict arose between Augustine and some of the indigenous Celtic Christians, a meeting was proposed. The local believers arrived, merely Augustine didn't rise from his chair to run across them. His mental attitude seemed ungracious, and relationship broke down, leading to years of sectionalization.
It is important for Christians to be gracious and to exist patient in disharmonize. Yes, Jesus spoke with fiery passion, and I'1000 amazed at the bluntness of His "Woe to You lot" sermon to the Pharisees and scribes in Matthew 24. But Christ always controlled His anger, and Peter said, "Arm yourselves besides with the same mind" (i Peter iv:1).
In our hostile world, a smiling and a pleasant demeanor stand out like a redbird on a snow-covered mural. We can fight the skilful fight, only we can exercise then in a Christlike way. Every bit someone once said: "To win some be winsome."
Know When to Continue Tranquility
We can besides learn from Jesus the art of keeping serenity. By example Jesus taught usa that sometimes a closed mouth offers the loudest testimony. Our Lord's majestic silence still evokes nobility as nosotros read of Him continuing before Herod, Pilate, and the Sanhedrin, offering not a word of despair or defence force.
One of the secrets of the martyrs has been their ability by God's grace to maintain self-possession when existence treated indignantly. They displayed a poise and peace that completely confounded those intent on destroying them. It was undoubtedly the glow on Stephen's face and his words of forgiveness that haunted the immature Saul of Tarsus until he became Paul the apostle.
In 1 Peter, wives of unbelievers are told to win their husbands to Christ, if possible, "without a word" by the ability of "a gentle and tranquillity spirit" (3:1, 4).
We can ever open our mouths to the Lord in prayer, however, for Peter told the states to bandage all our cares on Him (five:7). Jesus taught, "Dear your enemies, bless those who curse y'all, exercise practiced to those who hate you lot, and pray for those who spitefully apply y'all…" (Matthew v:44). Why this advice? First, for our opponents' sake. They badly need someone interceding for them. Only another reason is for our ain sake. Praying for our foes (think of some outspoken humanist, secularist, or atheist you know) helps keep our hearts in balance.
Equally we pray, we can besides leave grievances with God lest a root of bitterness spring up. Peter told the states, "For to this yous were called, because Christ besides suffered for u.s., leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 'Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His oral cavity, who, when He was reviled, did non revile in render; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously" (1 Peter 2:21-23).
We're to "commit our souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator" (four:19). We can't right all the wrongs, nor can we change people'southward spots. Merely we tin do our all-time, leave the residuum to God, and shake the dust off our anxiety along the way.
Let Your Good Works Speak for Themselves
Finally, we find peace amid the conflict when nosotros let our skilful works speak for themselves. "(Have) your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak confronting you as evildoers, they may, by your expert works which they observe, glorify God in the 24-hour interval of visitation" (1 Peter ii:12).
In Luke 14, Jesus went to a dinner where His foes were watching to see if He would violate Sabbath regulations. A diseased man was present. Jesus asked, "Is information technology lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" The Pharisees kept silent, so Jesus healed the human. Turning to the oversupply, He asked, "Which of you lot, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, volition not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?"
Luke tells us, "They could not answer Him regarding these things" (verse 6).
The earth has a hard time finding fault in good works. When we feed the hungry, care for the unfortunate, prefer orphans, provide relief, and alive out our faith, they are silenced.
As Christians, nosotros must confront our culture and speak the truth in dearest. We're God's ambassadors in a hostile world. This is no fourth dimension to go mute. Morals are spiraling downward, marriage is being attacked, the church building is being marginalized, atheists are scorning the truth, and humanists are relentlessly advancing an ungodly agenda on a new generation. Nosotros have to speak up.
But nosotros must practice so as Christ did—and He was never ill-tempered, hot-headed, loose-lipped, or bad humored. We have to watch ourselves because the whole world is watching u.s.; and when others run across us, we want them to see Him.
Read most 31 undeniable signs of the Apocalypse in our globe and how we should live until Christ returns at Dr. David Jeremiah's Living in the Age of Signs website.
Photo Credit: ©Thinkstock/Katarzyna Bialasiewicz
Source: https://www.crosswalk.com/church/pastors-or-leadership/3-keys-to-confronting-current-culture-the-way-jesus-would.html
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