by Kent Secor
I have to
ask, do we really believe the Bible is the word of God? Do we fully
accept the teaching of Jesus and the apostles and elders as clear
direction for our life in Christ today? Or do we accept and practice
only what we want to and somehow disregard and marginalize what we don't want to obey?
I think that most believers really want to do the will of God. After all he is at work in us to will and do his good pleasure. But have we ignored a vital part of his will in our nominal christian and church practice?
Watchman Nee spoke about the Normal Christian Life in comparison to the nominal Christian life. I have thought about this alot about this subject, since I first read the book in the '70s. I have come to a view point that too much of what we do in traditional and nominal Christianity is at the least unprofitable for godliness and at worse is in direct disobedience and rebellion to the revealed will of God.
To these nominal Christians I see the judgement of Christ upon them. We need to ask ourselves, are we now in this life, accounted to be with the faithful, obedient sheep or the unloving, uncaring, selfish and rebellious goats?
Judgement of the Goats.
Mat 25:41-46 (NIrV)
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'You are cursed! Go away from me into the fire that burns forever. It has been prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 I was hungry. But you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty. But you gave me nothing to drink. 43 I was a stranger. But you did not invite me in. I needed clothes. But you did not give me any. I was sick and in prison. But you did not take care of me.'
44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty and not help you? When did we see you as a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison and not help you?'
45 "He will reply, 'What I'm about to tell you is true. Anything you didn't do for one of the least important of these, you didn't do for me.'
46 "Then they will go away to be punished forever. But those who have done what is right will receive eternal life."
I must emphasis and repeat Jesus words, what we don't do for the least important of these, we don't do it for Jesus.
Serving the poor, marginalize and the needy is serving Jesus.
I think that most believers really want to do the will of God. After all he is at work in us to will and do his good pleasure. But have we ignored a vital part of his will in our nominal christian and church practice?
Watchman Nee spoke about the Normal Christian Life in comparison to the nominal Christian life. I have thought about this alot about this subject, since I first read the book in the '70s. I have come to a view point that too much of what we do in traditional and nominal Christianity is at the least unprofitable for godliness and at worse is in direct disobedience and rebellion to the revealed will of God.
To these nominal Christians I see the judgement of Christ upon them. We need to ask ourselves, are we now in this life, accounted to be with the faithful, obedient sheep or the unloving, uncaring, selfish and rebellious goats?
Judgement of the Goats.
Mat 25:41-46 (NIrV)
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'You are cursed! Go away from me into the fire that burns forever. It has been prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 I was hungry. But you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty. But you gave me nothing to drink. 43 I was a stranger. But you did not invite me in. I needed clothes. But you did not give me any. I was sick and in prison. But you did not take care of me.'
44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty and not help you? When did we see you as a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison and not help you?'
45 "He will reply, 'What I'm about to tell you is true. Anything you didn't do for one of the least important of these, you didn't do for me.'
46 "Then they will go away to be punished forever. But those who have done what is right will receive eternal life."
I must emphasis and repeat Jesus words, what we don't do for the least important of these, we don't do it for Jesus.
Serving the poor, marginalize and the needy is serving Jesus.
Notice
what is missing in Jesus teaching here. Nothing at all about judging
the person in need. If they are in need serve them, period!
Nothing about judging if they will use your charity correctly. Just serve them!
Nothing about serving only fellow believers. Serve the needy, period!
Nothing at all to support giving only through tithes and offerings so that some church official can administer it. This is all about your and me personally giving to those in need. No excuses, if you don't give, you are condemned to eternal punishment, period!
This matter of serving the poor and needy is so important to God that to not do it is to be judged guilty of not serving Christ Jesus himself, and is worthy of the sentence of eternal punishment.
Bottom line, it is not a choice for a believer in Christ Jesus to not give to the poor and needy. Normal Christianity is a life of serving Christ by serving others. As the Salvation Army stated, heart to God, hand to man.
Nothing about judging if they will use your charity correctly. Just serve them!
Nothing about serving only fellow believers. Serve the needy, period!
Nothing at all to support giving only through tithes and offerings so that some church official can administer it. This is all about your and me personally giving to those in need. No excuses, if you don't give, you are condemned to eternal punishment, period!
This matter of serving the poor and needy is so important to God that to not do it is to be judged guilty of not serving Christ Jesus himself, and is worthy of the sentence of eternal punishment.
Bottom line, it is not a choice for a believer in Christ Jesus to not give to the poor and needy. Normal Christianity is a life of serving Christ by serving others. As the Salvation Army stated, heart to God, hand to man.
No comments:
Post a Comment