Outsiders and Empty Words

I admire folks like Ken Ham, Josh McDowell, David Limbaugh, C.S. Lewis --- apologists all.  The English word "apologetics", which sounds like excuses are being made for something or one is "apologizing" for a belief system, is in my mind an unfortunate word.  It actually means that a valid, rational defense is being made for a belief system.

When I am talking with someone who is oppositional to the Christian faith beliefs I hold, as a Baptist, I find myself getting "emotional".  I'm tempted to allow my voice to take on a sharp edge, out of my desire to convince the person.  (My voice is very resonant anyhow; but, this makes it more "pronounced".  Yes, please pardon the pun!)

Paul gives great advice about dealing with people who hold beliefs different from our own or who are outside God's family.

5Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Colossians 4:5-6

Paul, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives us two guiding principles for dealing with those who do not know Christ.  However, they can equally apply to any of our conversations.

First of all, we need to make the best use of our time, in our conversations with others.  Are our conversations God-honoring?  Are they frivolous?  Frivolity is great, unless we spend an inordinate amount of time in it, which is an unwise use of our time.

The King James Version of the Bible translates "making the best use of the time" as "redeeming the time", which has a connotation of "cashing it in" or "buying it back".

The people Paul is speaking of are non-Christians, who watch how we believers live.  They also listen to how we talk.  Think about that, before you re-tweet something or post something hateful, off-color or even obscene.   It's so easy to just click the mouse and diminish your testimony.

At my church we have had a series of church conferences over the past two months.  At each one members have risen to speak at the microphone.  I wonder how many regret the words they spoke on those occasions?  And, those meetings were not with "outsiders", but, instead, within the "faith family"!

There was a preacher who was called to pastor a large church in Atlanta many years ago.  Shortly after his arrival there to minister, a local man hired a private detective to follow him around.  The preacher was unaware of this.  The detective reported back to the man who had hired him that the pastor was "the real deal".... that his "walk" matched his "talk".  And, the man accepted Christ as Savior, in large part because of this pastor's testimony.

Christians are very reluctant in this current culture to stand up against sin.  I wonder if that is because they have a "mote in their own eye" (Matthew 7:3-5), a hidden, secret sin?

When we do speak out, are our words "seasoned"?  Salt makes food taste better, to a certain extent.  If you use too much, the taste is spoiled; use too little and the food is bland.  A little salt goes a long way.

We certainly do NOT want to be as the infamous Westboro Baptist Church crowd who, though they have the word "Baptist" in their name, do not represent the Baptist denomination at all.  These are people whose hate-filled words and methods are doing irreparable harm to the cause of Jesus Christ.   (I was able to see them in person last month, at the GOP National Convention.  They are utterly repulsive.  God forbid we should even come close to their example!)

These verses are some of the most sobering in the entire Bible:

For the mouth speaks from what fills the heart. 35The good person brings good things out of his good treasury, and the evil person brings evil things out of his evil treasury. 36I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak. 37For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 12:35-37 (NET)

One of my Twitter friends told me yesterday that she prays over every Scriptural tweet she designs and tweets out.  Whoa.... What a testimony!  Twitter is just one example.  We absolutely must pray that the Holy Spirit will measure and weigh our words before they proceed from our mouths. God will hold us accountable for every single one!

Almost every day, I pray this Scripture.  Maybe it will help you too.  I certainly need to pray it often, throughout the day!   Let's pray it together right now.  Psalm 19:14 - - -

Dear Father,
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer!  
In Jesus' name, amen.

Starbucks' Red Cup

Good morning,

In the past week some dude has tried to get Christians' dander up over this whole Merry Christmas craze.  (If you don't know what I'm talking about, go Google the title of this post.)
Every year, there is some manifestation of this.  "Such and such a store is not saying 'Merry Christmas' in its ads."  Or, "the employees of ____ store are saying 'Happy Holidays', not 'Merry Christmas'. "  The latest buzz is that the coffee giant, Starbucks, has put out their "holiday" cups, and they are red; BUT, the cups don't have "Merry Christmas" printed on them.  This is supposedly a scandal the proportions of which our world has never seen.

Where's my eye-roll icon?   Let's look at today's Scripture passage which (Bless!) speaks to this craziness.

11 Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart. 13 For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died. 15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.

2 Corinthians 5:11-15

"Therefore" - - - because of what was just said...that is, because Christians will be "judged", rewarded for what they have done to further Jesus Christ's kingdom during their lives here on earth (vs. 10) ....
Paul says, "we know the reverence of the Lord" and because we do, "we try to persuade people"(vs. 11).  Persuade them to what?  To hear the gospel and accept Christ as Savior!

How do we do this?  Do we do it by "taking pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart?" (vs. 12) Do we do this by making an unbelieving world think we are obnoxious and out-of-our-minds?  No!  Verse 14 says that we do it by letting the LOVE of Christ control us and by DYING to our own selfish desires!

You know, I will say "Merry Christmas" with a smile on my face this season.  But, I will not be an obnoxious, snotty brat "in the name of JEEEZUS!"  Give me a break!  You know, maybe, just maybe, if those who claim the name of Christ were to focus more on sharing the gospel and feeding the hungry, and rescuing those who are dying (physically, emotionally, spiritually), maybe we wouldn't have to rant and rave about "Merry Christmas".  Maybe that would be because so many people would be so stunned and stupefied by the love of Christ that saying "Merry Christmas" would not even be in doubt.

Starbucks people: the fake Jesus being portrayed in this Facebook campaign (and elsewhere) is not "the real deal".  The real Jesus was (and is) loving and humble and kind.  His compassion for our brokenness was so great that He gave His very life in order to heal it.  He is magnificent, and I pray that you will encounter Him in a very real way this holiday season.   Love to you, in the name of Jesus Christ!

Father, this makes me sad ... and angry.  The world is going to Hell and some of my misguided brothers and sisters are bringing silliness and dishonor to the name of Your Son.  Please show them that this only makes us all look ridiculous.  Please forgive me for my sins.  I'm not perfect either, nor do I pretend to be.  Show me where my life is hurting the advancement of Your kingdom so that I can confess that and make it right, so that my testimony won't hinder the gospel either.  Beyond that, please show me how I can extend the love of my Savior to someone who is hurting, desperate and broken, as The Message version says in James 1:27 "the homeless and loveless".  May they see me as a light-bearer, someone who can show them the hope and rescue available to them through Your blessed Son.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Dressed Right

Good morning,

Do you ever have that dream where you are out in public somewhere and, suddenly, you realize you are naked?!  I do.  It's terrible!  True disclosure (pun intended): I have it pretty often.  I think of that when I read the passage that just precedes today's passage.  The verse is in the passage we looked at yesterday.

4 For we groan while we are in this tent, since we are weighed down, because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

2 Cor. 5:4 (NET)

Clothes say a lot about a person.  I've heard it said that, in the job world, you ought to dress for the next position you desire.  So, if you are a mid-level manager, you should dress like a manager, in anticipation of that promotion coming to pass.  Who first clothed mankind in the Garden of Eden? God did.  In Genesis 3:21, we read that God killed an animal, skinned it and made clothes for Adam and Eve to wear.  Nakedness, even from the beginning, symbolized incompleteness.

Paul uses the analogy of clothes often to describe the Christian life, or what I call "the resplendent walk".  He uses this analogy briefly here in 2 Cor. 5, but I want to also show you other places he talks about "being dressed right". Before we do that, though, look at what Isaiah said in 61:10 ---

I greatly rejoice in the LORD, I exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a groom wears a turban and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (HCSB)

Now, this is an interesting verse.  Some theologians want to distinguish between these two "spiritual garments" - - - the garment of salvation being one, the robe of righteousness being another.  It is an interesting distinction.  The theological point made is that God gives us salvation through Jesus Christ, and this is symbolized by the salvation garment.  But, the robe of righteousness is an additional piece that He dresses us in.
Now, to Paul:

26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Galatians 3:26-27 (NET)

Paul emphasizes here, as he does elsewhere, that salvation comes by faith, not by good works.  By accepting Christ, through faith, we become sons of God.  This act has "clothed us with Christ". Beyond that transformational decision, we are also commanded by Paul to adorn ourselves with the characteristics of Jesus, to imitate Him in our daily lives.  This does not secure our salvation; it is a manifestation of what has already been done in our hearts.  In this way, we "reflect" Christ.

14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires.  

Romans 13:14 (NET)

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,

Colossians 3:12 (NET)

So, our righteousness comes from God the Father, through Christ the Son.  That is indisputable. However, we are responsible for making spiritually healthy choices as we live the Christian life.  This is how we "clothe ourselves".  It is a conscious act on our part, analogous to "taking up one's cross daily and following Jesus" (Matt. 16:24).  Now, look at today's passage, lol.  (You were beginning to think we wouldn't get there, weren't you?!)

6 Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth we are absent from the Lord— 7 for we live by faith, not by sight. 8 Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So then whether we are alive or away, we make it our ambition to please him.10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.

2 Cor. 5:6-10 (NET)

Notice the phrase "make it our ambition to please Him". This is the conscious act of "putting on Christ" daily.  Paul goes on to say that we will have to give an account of all that the Lord Jesus has blessed us with in this life, in this body.  Our salvation is secure.  Our eternal destiny is fixed.  "There is therefore now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).  But, and I've blogged about this in previous posts - - - I'll try to find which one and post it under "Sources:" - - - all of us Believers will be given rewards at this "judgment" seat...or not.  Some of us may stand there nearly naked, clothed only in our salvation garment!  Not too long ago, we studied 1 Cor. 3:12-13 and saw that our actions after salvation will be tested by fire, and that some of them will be "burned up" like wood or hay or kindling.  Not cool!

Well, I want to be dressed right on that great judgment day, clad not only in my salvation garment, but also adorned with the beautiful jewelry of Christ-likeness.  I'm dressing for the next position I desire!

Good morning, Father.  Thank you for securing my salvation and clothing me in salvation.  I also realize that my righteousness comes from Your Holy Spirit living within me, bestowed on me through Your mercy.  In light of that truth, and because of how grateful I am for it, I choose to imitate my Savior.  Well, at least I try to most of the time, because I want to please You.  I confess I'm nowhere near 100% in that effort.  Help me be more like Him as I look more like Him.  In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Sources:

Resplendent Daughter blog: Honor's Day
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=967525413435341031#editor/target=post;postID=1129579313904961451;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=44;src=postname

Matthew Harmon's post at jesus.org:
http://www.jesus.org/following-jesus/discipleship/what-does-it-mean-to-be-clothed-in-christ.html