A certain line of reasoning goes: "You have to be realistic living in
this world. You can't live with your head in the clouds. At some point
you've got to come down to earth. In this world you've got to
compromise those high, righteous standards." Does this sound familiar?
It's the way the world thinks, and adds insult to any Christian who
loves the Lord with all his heart, seeking to follow Him as shown in
His Word.
The world calls living a holy life on biblical standards,
in our society, "unreasonable". This is the type of excuse used by
those who call themselves servants of God, but really love this world.
To justify compromise, they add condemnation to those who serve the
Lord.
Jesus said that in the last days the love of many would wax
cold. Many would become apostate. We see this happening today among
those who call themselves Christians. Many might say to themselves, "I
know I need to make changes, but I'm not quite ready." A response like
this is a sure sign the spirit of repentance has long since fallen
asleep and needs to be revived. Jesus said in Revelation what He
thought of those who call themselves Christians that aren't burning for
Him:
15 I know thy works, that
thou art neither cold nor
hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my
mouth.
Revelation 3:15, 16
Many hear this verse and go "Ho hum, I know I'm not
what I
should be, but, oh well." That attitude is the lukewarm! The cold
becomes openly hostile to any call for fervency to God. Jesus'
preference for Christians to become cold, rather than lukewarm, is that
at least they don't tell the world they're His representatives, and by
their ungodly life blaspheme Him. "Christians" who consider Him little
less than a serious hobby, by their lack of fervency to please Him, are
a stench in His nostrils. They're the Pharisees and Sadducees of this
age. That's why Jesus would consider them only good for vomiting up.
The lukewarm who read this and still won't turn, seeking His
forgiveness, are truly most pitiable.
Too many calling themselves "Christians" say there's so
much evil about, they're no longer shocked or abhor the evil. Dislike
and abhor are two different things. A preacher once said, "The greatest
security against sin is to be shocked at its presence." Have we grown
complacent? Jesus said the love of many would wax cold in the last days
because "iniquity would abound".
Being hot for Christ is filled with love for "God is love"
and being lukewarm is love grown cold. Continually seeing iniquity
tends to remove the shock at sin as the love grows cold, but this
doesn't have to be. The greatest commandment is to love the Lord God
with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. God doesn't give us
a commandment he can't enable us to keep. Love isn't just a feeling
guided by whim. It can be decided upon. We can have the love again by
His grace. He can be our love for us, if we seek Him for it.
Jesus said:
6 Blessed are they which
do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Matthew 5:6
Pray the Lord to give you the hunger and the thirst
that's
lacking in the "ho hum" attitude or the plain "don't nauseate me"
attitude.
I heard it said, "foul language isn't really a sin. Ugly
maybe, but not a sin. The words are just ways of expressing oneself."
Because of this attitude, people don't mind movies and television with
foul language. This is catastrophic. Someone has said, "It is not
enough for a gardener to love flowers; he must also hate weeds." So to
love God can't go hand in hand with apathy of mind towards unholiness.
Let's look at the foul language. Here lies the outline for
the whole of Christian life. This defines the difference between the
ways of the world that God hates, and the ways of God that all
Christians should be pursuing. A confusion in this, means a confusion
as to the entire nature of a Christian's life.
First, what is foul language for? Why do people use it? I
came up with a number of reasons:
* To shock people into silence.
* They love referring to base things.
* It shows resistance to authority. (Children aren't
allowed to smoke, but they want to do it because they're forbidden and
adults do it. They want to be their own man. The same goes with
profanity.)
* They feel that to use "forbidden" language
expresses an idea with more force. (The main reason for this, is it
pictures the topic of discussion and so engrips the speaker. He
partially loses control of his speech. The violence speaks of greater
emotion and conveys a stronger idea.)
* Ugliness is at the heart of the person's nature
and he can't help but speak with ugliness because that's what that
person is.
* Some claim that it's now so common it's just part
of the English language, so it's no longer offensive.
The next step is to see what the scriptures say about the
quality, character and nature of the two ways in life. The one way is
the old man Adam, the fallen nature of man, and the other is the way of
the Spirit of Christ, the new Adam that's without sin. After seeing
this, we need to consider what the Christian's responsibility is. Can
he choose to try and balance the two and call himself a Christian
according to God's Word? Is being strict in condemning sin, "walking
with your head in the clouds and not living in reality in this world"
or is it required of all who would call themselves a servant of God?
Since Jesus is the Master, He's the one who should decide.
Characteristics of the Wicked:
Let's look at some of the scriptures referring to the
nature and speech of the wicked:
7 His mouth is full of
cursing and deceit and fraud: under
his tongue is mischief and vanity.
Psalms 10:7
4 Who have said,
With our tongue will we prevail; our lips
are our own: who is lord over us?
Psalms 12:4
17 As he loved
cursing, so let it come unto him: as he
delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him. 18 As he clothed
himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his
bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
Psalms 109:17,18
12 A naughty
person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward
mouth.
Proverbs
6:12
10 As it is
written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after
God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become
unprofitable: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their
throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit;
the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of
cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16
Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have
they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their
eyes.
Romans 3:10-18
In the above, we can pull these overall
characteristics of
the wicked:
* Mouth of cursing, deceit, fraud, mischief and
vanity.
* Their tongue is controlled solely by
themselves.
* They love to curse and blessing is foreign to
their speech patterns.
* They speak with a froward mouth (froward =
crooked
and perverse).
* They speak bitterness.
* Their speech is not of peace.
Characteristics of the Wicked and the Righteous:
The following verses are combination verses that contrast
the righteous with the wicked. Let's compare these and see what they
also itemize as characteristics:
11 The mouth of a
righteous man is a well of life: but
violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 20 The tongue of the just is
as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. 31 The mouth
of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut
out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the
mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
Proverbs 10:11,20,31,32
3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that
openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
Proverbs 13:3
4 A wholesome
tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness
therein is a breach in the spirit. 26 The thoughts of the wicked are an
abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the
wicked poureth out evil things.
Proverbs 15:4,26,28
12 The words of a
wise man's mouth are gracious; but the
lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Ecclesiastes
10:12
45 A good man out
of the good treasure of his heart
bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil
treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the
abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Luke 6:45
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek
those things which
are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your
affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are
dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is
our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication,
uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and
covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of
God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also
walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all
these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of
your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the
old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is
renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where
there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision,
Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of
mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a
quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And
above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of
perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the
which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful 16 Let the
word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord 17 And whatsoever ye do
in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to
God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:1-17
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil,
full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and
therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren,
these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the
same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren,
bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield
salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge
among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with
meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your
hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom
descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For
where envying and strife, is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable,
gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits,
without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of
righteousness is sown in peace of them that make
peace.
James 3:8-18
We see these characteristics of the wicked:
* Mouth of violence.
* Speech worth little.
* Speak frowardness.
* Speaks to destruction.
* Speech shows a breach of spirit.
* They pour out evil things.
* Their speech destroys themselves.
* Manifests their evil heart.
* Speech of anger, wrath and malice.
* Blasphemy.
* Filthy talk.
* Unruly speech.
* Speech full of death.
* Hypocritical - speaks good one minute, evil the
next.
* Words of strife.
* Words of envy.
We see these characteristics of the righteous:
* Mouth a well of life.
* Speech is choice silver.
* Talk brings forth wisdom.
* Discerning speech between what's acceptable and
what isn't.
* Guarded mouth.
* Speech is a tree of life.
* Pleasant words.
* Gracious speech.
* Merciful speech.
* Kind speech.
* Humble speech.
* Speaks with meekness.
* Not speech of impatience.
* Forgiving speech, not quarreling.
* Speaks with love.
* Peaceful.
* Thankful.
* Praises to God.
* All spoken in Jesus' name. (As a representative of
how Jesus would speak in your situation.)
* Good conversation.
* Pure speech.
* Gentle speech.
* Fair conversation.
* Without hypocrisy.
The following verses show a list of characteristics, but
also instruction:
6 The words of the LORD
are pure words: as silver tried in
a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Psalms 12:6
3 Set a watch, O LORD,
before my mouth; keep the door of my
lips.
Psalms
141:3
23 Keep thy heart with
all diligence; for out of it are the
issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse
lips put far from thee.
Proverbs 4:23,24
8 All the words of my
mouth are in righteousness; there is
nothing froward or perverse in them. 13 The fear of the LORD is to hate
evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do
I hate. 36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all
they that hate me love death.
Proverbs 8:8,13,36
27 He that hath knowledge
spareth his words: and a man of
understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Proverbs
17:27
16 Yea, my reins shall
rejoice, when thy lips speak right
things.
Proverbs 23:16
2 Be not rash with thy
mouth, and let not thine heart be
hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou
upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 6 Suffer not thy mouth to
cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was
an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the
work of thine hands?
Ecclesiastes 5:2,6
16 Behold, I send you
forth as sheep in the midst of
wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as
doves.
Matthew 10:16
36 But I say unto you,
That every idle word that men shall
speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For
by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be
condemned.
Matthew 12:36,37
11 Not that which goeth
into the mouth defileth a man; but
that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 18 But those
things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and
they defile the man.
Matthew 15:11,18
1 I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto
God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this
world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. 9 Let
love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that
which is good. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the
sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live
peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but
rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I
will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed
him; if he thirst give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals
of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with
good.
Romans 12: 1,2,9,14,17-21
20 But ye have not so
learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye
have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man,
which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts: 23 And be renewed in
the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after
God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting
away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are
members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go
down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him
that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his
hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that
needeth. 29 Let no currupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but
that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace
unto the hearers.
Ephesians 4:20-29
3 But fornication, and
all uncleanness, or covetousness,
let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither
filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient:
but rather giving of thanks.
Ephesians 5:3,4
8 For ye were sometimes
darkness, but now are ye light in
the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is
in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is
acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even
to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all
things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever
doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that
sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not
unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not
drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always,
for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of
God.
Ephesians 5:8-21
12 Wherefore, my beloved,
as ye have always obeyed, not as
in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in
you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 do all things
without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and
harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked
and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of
Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in
vain.
Philippians 2:12-16
8 Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on
these things.
Philippians 4:8
5 Walk in wisdom toward
them that are without, redeeming
the time. 6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt,
that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Colossians 4:5,6
24 And the servant of the
Lord must not strive; but be
gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2 Timothy
2:24
15 But as he which
hath called you is holy, so be ye holy
in all manner of conversation;
1 Peter 1:15
8 Finally, be ye all of
one mind, having compassion one of
another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering
evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing;
knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a
blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him
refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11
Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open
unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do
evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that
which is good.
1 Peter 3:8-13
7 And delivered just Lot,
vexed with the filthy
conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among
them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day
with their unlawful deeds;)
2 Peter 2:7,8
14 Wherefore, beloved,
seeing that ye look for such things,
be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and
blameless.
2 Peter 3:14
The above verses address the servants of God. They more
than list characteristics found among servants of God, they instruct in
definite language. Examples: All words, Nothing froward, Hate
frowardness, Live Holy Is Reasonable Service, Abhor evil, Never speak
with filthiness, Rebuke ungodliness, Always speak with grace, Always
thank God, All conversation to be holy. These aren't just ideals.
They're commands. They leave no excuse for inappropriate language.
A pastor told me, "Everyone swears. They can't help
themselves. Men will slip." He himself blasphemed God twice during the
conversation, after preaching the Sunday service. God's Word leaves no
excuse and tells us ALL words are to be accounted for (Matthew 12:36).
In Ephesians, above, it says Christians should never have filthy
speech.
Jesus spoke with force when he condemned the Pharisees and
Sadducees. He called them hypocrites and named their crimes, but He
didn't resort to base words to express with force. Such arguing, to
allow for ugly speech to express with force, is to argue for the
promotion of iniquity.
The argument that the language is no longer sinful because
it's part of the common language of American life is utter rubbish.
Under this argument, blaspheming God's name is also no longer a sin,
because it's just part of the American language. This statement would
nullify God's Word holding all guilty who use His name in vain.
Philippians 2:12-16 above also instructs us to shine as lights in the
midst of a crooked and perverse nation. When a people become utterly
perverse and no longer see sin as sin, then it becomes no longer sin?
What kind of reasoning is this? What's more, God told us to shine as
lights - not become assimilated into the perverse mold. Under this
reasoning, it would be fine for Christians to go around naked, if the
rest of society decided it was fine. As a matter of fact, I know of a
popular female "Christian" singer who went topless on the public
beaches in Africa saying it was all right because the Africans went
naked.
The advice, "You have to be realistic living in this world.
You can't live with your head in the clouds. At some point you've got
to come back down to earth. In this world you've got to compromise
those high righteous standards.", is sheer treachery to Paul's
instruction found in Colossians 3:1-17 above. "Seek those things which
are above" and "Set your affections on things above." This sounds like
head in the clouds walking to me! The clouds of heaven that is. Romans
12:1 (quoted above) tells us this is our reasonable service, not a
meritorious, above and beyond the call of duty action. This is what's
expected. In fact, to not do so is to blaspheme God by living
sub-standard of His holiness, wearing His name and telling the world
we're His representatives. In this we're a light to the world that says
God doesn't mind obscenity and isn't beyond whatever evil it is we
cleave to, or should I say, cleaves to us.
We think that we can enjoy entertainment with ugly words,
even though we don't like the words. God is very clear to the contrary:
33 Be not deceived; evil
communi-cations corrupt good
manners.
1
Corinthians 15:33
He warns us the evil does corrupt the good, no matter how
confident we feel about ourselves. Paul even warned believers:
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he
standeth take heed
lest he fall.
1 Corinthians 10:12
Solomon said that the person who feels he can handle
corruption and won't get burnt is a fool:
16 A wise man feareth,
and departeth from evil: but the
fool rageth, and is confident.
Proverbs 14:16
1 Corinthians 15:33 teaches that ungodly language does lead
from Christ, so it's also evil on that count. This leaves it as
something to be abhorred, Romans 12:9. The passage about Lot in 1 Peter
(quoted above), tells us righteous Lot was vexed with the filthy
conversation of the wicked. The other side of the story is that a
person whose heart is right with God will be vexed (mortified,
nauseated) by filthy conversation. Hearing it all the time because it's
part of our society doesn't change that. Lot was in such a society and
he was vexed. If the conversation doesn't vex us, that tells the tale
that the foul speech has affected us. It has caused us to no longer
abhor the sin as God's Word commands. If such is part of the shows we
watch and the music we listen to, then it doesn't vex us. If it did, we
would be torn down by the entertainments, not relaxed if it vexed us.
Vexation is not restorative. We need to examine our hearts honestly in
regards to this. Such a change of life may cause strife with family and
friends, but who do we love more, God or mammon?
The verses listed in the
batch above list the following
characteristics as well as instructions:
* The Lord's words are pure, tested.
* Pray for God to keep watch over our mouths.
* Watch our mouths diligently, put perverse lips and
froward speech far from us.
* All our words are to be righteous. Nothing froward
or perverse.
* We should hate the froward mouth.
* Watch our words and let them be excellent.
* Speak right things.
* Don't speak rashly.
* Our speech is to be wise and harmless.
* We will have to account for all idle words.
* Speech is a mirror image of our heart.
* Corrupt speech defiles a man.
* Present ourselves a living sacrifice, holy,
which
is reasonable service.
* Don't conform to this world. Renew our minds to
prove what's good, acceptable and perfect will of God.
* Abhor evil, cleave to good.
* Bless and don't curse.
* Don't speak vengefully.
* Put off the old man's speech.
* There are appropriate things to be angry at, but
this anger does not give place to devilish speech.
* Speech should never be corrupt, but should
minister grace.
* Christians should never speak with filthiness or
foolishness or any allusion to evil.
* Speech shouldn't curse misfortune, but praise
God's faithfulness always.
* All speech should fall under the classification of
goodness, righteousness and truth.
* We must examine all speech to see what is
acceptable to God.
* Don't fellowship with speech that is ungodly, but
rather rebuke it.
* Our speech should be fulfilling God's good
pleasure, not complaining, not fighting, harmless, not bearing any sign
of something that should be rebuked.
* True, honest, lovely, pure, of good report,
virtuous, praiseworthy.
* Speech always with grace.
* Gentle and patient.
* Be holy in all manner of conversation.
* Refrain your tongue from evil and speak no guile.
* Filthy conversation vexes the righteous.
* Speech without spot and blameless.
Looking back over the lists, ask yourself the question:
"Can I say that ugly words
are _______________________________?"
Put the different items in the blank and see what
the
answers come up. Looking at some of the last list: Can I say that ugly
language is righteous? excellent? harmless? holy? perfect will of God?
ministers grace? after all goodness, righteousness and truth? after
God's good pleasure? lovely? of good report? virtuous? praiseworthy?
with grace? without spot? These are the things we're called to, and the
other list we're to abhor and stay clear of. On which side do ugly
words fall? Answer the following and see which side you would have to
answer the affirmative to. Can I say that ugly words are violent? worth
little? froward? manifests an evil heart? filthy? unruly? strife?
cursing? bitter?
Note: Christians are to be harmless. Can ugly
speech be
said to be harmless? If the answer is no, then we're clearly commanded
to stay far from it. But one might object that Jesus' clearing out the
temple wasn't harmless. Paul's calling the high priest at his trial a
white washed wall wasn't gentle. The point isn't that the godly don't
deal forcefully when needed, but they don't resort to ugliness.
Banishing thieves from the holy place isn't ugly, even execution of the
law on criminals isn't ugly. It may not be delightful, but it isn't
ugly. Paul's reference to the high priest wasn't ugly. It was a phrase
Paul used to show the appearance the hypocrisy was bearing in one
playing the judge, yet being the offender.
The symptoms manifest in our language are indicators of the
condition of our state before God. I know of people who are active in
their churches, yet profane speech comes from their mouth. The true
state of the inner heart is made light in this. They may do all sorts
of charitable things and seem to care about others, but the state is
still profaned. Remember the rich man and Lazarus. When they died, the
rich man was in Hell. He prayed Abraham to send Lazarus to visit his
brethren to warn them so they wouldn't go to Hell. The rich man cared
for his brethren even when he had nothing left. On the
other hand, there are those who never use profanity, but aren't
surrendered to God. Some can bridle their tongue and hide what's
inside. To discern the inner state the foul language is a definite
tell-tale sign, but when the tongue is carefully watched, the
individual needs to look deeper. Don't be satisfied with the controlled
mouth.
Briefly looking at Blasphemy:
Many don't think anything of using God's name in vain. They
do this by either using His title or something refering to Him or His
holiness as an expressive phrase. God said he wouldn't hold him
guiltless who used His name in vain (Exodus 20:7). He also commanded
the execution of anyone who did (Leviticus 24:16). I think if people
realized what the issue of this commandment is they would realize the
evil to a greater extent. What's the crime? God is holy and He is to be
revered as such with due respect. All that refers to Him is to be done
with honor. To use His name or anything referring to Him for common
usage, is not showing honor to Him or His holiness. It's to desecrate,
or say He's not worthy to be set apart for reverence.
To live ungodly and say we're Christians is also to take
His name in vain. Why? Since we're to do all we do in the name of
Christ we are, therefore, saying that Christ is like this, He does
that, to the rest of the world (Colossians 3:17). If we go to the
movies to watch that which uses His name and His Father's as filth, and
enjoy the movie instead of being nauseated by His desecration, we tell
the world Jesus isn't made sick by such. We therefore smear His
character and that's representing Him in an unholy manner. That is
blaspheme.
This brings us to the
second part of our message:
Who Are We As Christians?
We call ourselves Christians, yet so often don't think about what that
means. Do we really care about being a Christian? Do we really love the
Lord? My heart bursts with grieving over the iniquity I see Christians
partaking. They don't want to remain pure until marriage, they joke
about sexually inappropriate things, they watch shows and listen to
music that blaspheme that holy name by which they're called. Their
heart has grown cold and indifferent.
Let's examine ourselves in light of the following titles.
We need to hold before us a list of the offices we're entrusted with to
remind us of God's expectations and our responsibilities.
We are Disciples:
In Acts we're told the disciples were called Christians.
26b And the disciples
were called Christians first in
Antioch.
Acts 11:26b
So what's expected of a disciple? In Luke we see a
disciple
is one who continues in Christ.
27 And whosoever doth not
bear his cross, and come after
me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a
tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have
sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the
foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to
mock him. 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to
finish. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that
forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot by my disciple.
Luke 14:27-30,33
In John, we see that a disciple is one who continues
in
Jesus' Word:
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, if ye
continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
John 8:31
A disciple is to be as his master. He
studies and imitates.
He checks to see how his master behaves and conforms to that behavior
himself. That's the definition of a disciple. If you don't care to know
how He behaves and His ways, that violates the principal of
discipleship. The principal of being a Christian.
We are ambassadors:
We're a representative to the world of Christ. The Great
Commission gave us this position. In 2 Corinthians 5:20 we see Paul
pointing this out, in particular about himself, but it applies to all
Christians. What does this responsibility place on us? It leaves us
with the reminder that all we do is a testimony to the world. Knowing
we're Christians through our word, the world observes to see what our
testimony means and what kind of a God we serve. We need to ask if our
behavior's suitable for one in the position of representing God on
earth.
15 But as he which hath
called you is holy, so be ye holy
in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be he holy:
for I am holy.
1 Peter 1:15,16
We are glorifiers:
31 Whether therefore ye
eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do,
do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
We need to ask ourselves if what we're
doing glorifies God.
Yes, all we do reflects on Him. When you're about to do something, ask
yourself this question: Does this glorify God? If it's playing a game
of volleyball it can in the way you play, your attitude. It also
testifies God's people enjoy life with clean activities.
We are the living dead:
Not quite zombies. We're to carry our cross, daily dying to
ourselves. Does our life and behavior testify to our doing this, or the
opposite?
23 And he said to them
all, If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow
me.
Luke 9:23
We are confessors:
All our works confess or deny Him. Paul said of Jesus that
if we confess Him He will confess us, if we deny Him He will deny us (2
Tim. 2:11-13; Mat. 10:32, 33). Paul told us some deny Christ in works
(Titus 1:16). This reminds us that our actions either confess Christ
before men or deny Him. Does our action tell of Him or deny we know
Him?
We are overcomers:
He has overcome all.
24 Now unto him that is
able to keep you from falling, and
to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with
exceeding joy,
Jude 24
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his
commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever
is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that
overcometh the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:3,4
We can overcome all things through
Christ. As far as how
this testifies of Him, we show the world He truly is sufficient for all
our needs or He's not. If we say, "We just can't live the Christian
life," we say Christ is insufficient and He hasn't provided for us to
be victorious. What shameful witness we tell the world of the creator
of all things. God has shown us that it's in our inability that He is
glorified:
9 And he said unto me, my
grace is sufficient for thee: for
my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I
rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon
me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
These titles: Disciple, Ambassador, Glorifier, Living Dead,
Confessor and Overcomer speak very clearly about our behavior and guide
us in knowing if it's appropriate or not. All shameful behavior brings
shame on Christ and all honorable behavior magnifies Him.
If we have a problem with lack of desire to resist
temptation or lack of desire to examine what we're doing, do we just
think, oh well? Do we really care? There's no excuse for this. We're to
hate evil.
As disciples, we're to follow our Master's example. Jesus
gave us an example for dealing with attitude battles in the Garden of
Gethsemane before His crucifixion. His flesh was weak, so He struggled
in prayer until He overcame. If our hatred of evil isn't there, we need
to struggle in prayer with God to possess the mind of Christ. If we
have His attitudes, we'll be zealous to live to His standards and
examine ourselves with fervor and honesty. I see people who call
themselves Christians bringing shame to the name of God and they don't
even begin to realize it. They have no knowledge of His ways and they
don't care enough to read His Word to find out how they should be
living.
10 But the day of the
Lord will come as a thief in the
night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and
the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works
that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these
things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all
holy conversation and godliness,
2 Peter 3:10,11
2 Peter makes it clear. Many Christians read this
verse,
but never think how it applies to them, or how they're living in light
of this. Stop and ask yourself how you measure up as I cover the
different ways we testify and fulfill the titles we've been given.
3 And every man that hath
this hope in him purifieth
himself, even as he is pure.
1 John 3:3
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS WE TESTIFY?
In our business:
If we have a business of our own, what do we sell as
representatives of Jesus? Do all to the glory of God. Does our
merchandise do that? What type of books are on our shelves, ones that
use profanity, ones that show sexual immorality; or clean wholesome
books we wouldn't be ashamed to give to Jesus as a gift? What type of
video tapes do we sell or rent? What type of advertisements do we have
on the wall? Does our business operate under the Golden Rule? Does our
business speak out holiness or unholiness?
In our job:
If we're employed by someone, how do we testify? Do we show
faithfulness, showing up for work on time, giving our best for our
employer? Are we diligent in our work? Do we work with an attitude of
rendering service to God? On the other hand, do we refuse to lie for
someone, partake in something we shouldn't?
Our choice of
entertainment:
What do we listen to, watch and read? Is it holy or unholy?
Does it testify that we're purifying ourselves as we are pure in
Christ? Does it speak Christ? Is it something you could see Jesus
enjoying, or would He who hates sin hate it?
Our conversation:
Is our speech foul or beautiful? The words that come from
our mouth, could they come from the mouth of Jesus? Do we speak gossip
or bigotry? Do we speak evil of men or women, complain about our
husbands or wives? How do we treat others? Do we show compassion? Do we
boast so people think the best of us and maybe look a little better
than the person we're boasting to? Is our conduct towards our boyfriend
or girlfriend after modesty and decency?
Our dress:
Is our dress modest or immodest? Could you see Mary the
mother of Jesus in that short skirt? We need to examine all our actions
and see if they meet the test of who we are as Christians. If we can
ask the following questions and answer them in the positive response,
we can rest assured we're living faithfully towards God.
In everything:
We need to ask ourselves in all we do:
Would Christ do that?
Would an Ambassador of Christ do that?
Is this glorifying to God?
Is this something that would be seen in someone who is dead to himself?
Does this confess or deny Jesus?
Does this declare the victory that Jesus has given me or cast
accusation on Him of not supplying sufficiently?
In so many ways we testify as to which world we represent
and which world we love. Let's take a closer look to make sure where
are hearts are really found.
|
Free to Copy under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND3.0 License by Darrell Farkas