8-2-15
Being a Christian is more than just being a pew warmer. The Church is compared to a body in I Corinthians 12:14-25. Pick a part of yourself to not be able to use for a day. Want your hand to go on vacation? What about a foot? Maybe something a little more insignificant like a finger. Try tying your shoes without one of them. When part of a person’s body doesn’t work correctly or at all, that person quickly notices that something is wrong. The same is true of the Church. Unless each of us is doing the work we are supposed to, the Church will suffer.
So what work exactly is it Christians are supposed to do? It is absolutely not enough to think, “We have a preacher and that is what he is paid to do,” or “We have elders, and that is their job.” Philippians 2:12 says, “Therefore, my beloved, as you 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.” When was the last time you considered Christian work in the context of trembling from the gravity of what we are actually supposed to be doing?
It’s too easy to get comfortable and complacent. There’s no room for that. Mark 16:15 says, “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.'” Jesus didn’t say to stay in the Church building and let the world come to us. The apostles didn’t stay in one place. They traveled seeking people out. It isn’t possible for every Christian to live the life of a traveling missionary, but there’s plenty of work within driving distance of any of our houses to keep us busy.
It’s up to us to reach this world with the gospel. Some people will read it on their own and find the truth. Some will happen upon the Church. But most need help to get there. If it wasn’t necessary for us to do it, God wouldn’t have commanded it. He doesn’t give commandments lightly. We have to reach out to people.
Not everyone will listen easily. Maybe few will. But all of us are around people every day who need to be taught the truth, and one thing they can’t avoid is seeing the way we live. Do we stand up against abortion in discussions? Do we pray before we eat? Do we keep our words, and our jokes, clean? We are setting an example every minute of every day. Let’s make it a good one.
This world needs us. There are people desperate to find meaning beyond drugs. There are people questioning religions they believe in. There are people who have sunk so far in life that they can’t see a way out. Where are we? We need to be ready with a hand stretched out and hearts willing to teach in love without disdain. That’s where Jesus was, and that’s what He did. He talked to the rulers and the people nobody wanted to be seen with.
Considering Jesus as our example, how are we measuring up? Of course we will never be as good as He was. God expects us to be the best we can be. We all, myself included, need to be sure that we are going and doing. This world needs us. We are supposed to be lamps. Christians aren’t glow in the dark stars that are only expected to light up for a while after being charged. We are supposed to pierce the darkness. So Christians, let’s go and light up this world!
May the Lord bless and keep you,
– Heather
Heather Tabata 