American Christians? = Part 1

2 Timothy 2:22-26 “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵ in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

This week, Michael writes how research has shown that women who gain a few pounds live longer than men who point it out. It's easy to give in to the connotative definition or cultural points of contention.  According to 2 Timothy 3, people in the last days will be lovers of self, haughty, high minded, boastful, covetous, despisers of those who are good, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. Christianity is a rescue effort for desperate men and women. What's the average Christian like who attends church?  Are they about their Father's business?  Are they ashamed to be called "man or woman of God?"  

Three hundred thousand Christians living for God in their homes will change this nation more than one person in the White House, in Congress of on the Supreme Court. The question is: Are we Christians who happen to be Americans or are we Americans who happen to be Christians? The purpose of our calling as “People of God” is that we keep our priorities in line. We don't have a political problem today, we have a spiritual problem today. Retired Lieutenant colonel Oliver North stated that if the US Congress would live by the biblical “Golden Rule” of do to others what you would have them do to you, then 90% of our political problems would be eliminated. Regardless of the problem, the answer is Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life. He is the Word of God made manifest.

What's our big challenge?  What's keeping men and women of God from their call to brotherhood in Christ? The popular culture is opposed to Christian brotherhood. The world's code is centered on self and says that the objective is to become a self-made person. However, Jesus said, unless a person forsakes their family and themselves, and takes up their cross daily to follow me, they cannot be my disciple.

Jesus said, I'm not here to give you a plan. The works that I have done you shall do also, and greater works shall you do because I go unto my Father. The greater work is that we can lead others to salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.  When Jesus was here on earth, salvation was not yet available because He had not yet paid the price for our redemption and God's Holy Spirit was not yet available. In the book of Acts, the multitudes marveled that the men who spoke at the day of Pentecost spoke with power and authority even though they were lowly Galileans. Then they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

The typical casual Christian has misplaced priorities and rarely looks inside to see how they can correct this imbalance. They’re struggling with guilt, shame, fear, and loneliness. They identify themselves with their works but cannot find the purpose for their life. They may have a  relational father-wound.  He never heard their dad say, "I love you son." They cannot relate with a loving Heavenly Father because their own dad never modeled what it means to be a godly father.

Let's continue Michael's message on Christian living in the next post.
In Christ, Brian