1 Corinthians 9:14-18 “Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.”
This last Sunday, Pastor Obie continued in City Church’s sermon series through the book of 1 Corinthians and how the truths brought forth by the Apostle Paul then, mirrors the heavily pagan social environment for those truths to be applicable today for spiritual growth and maturing Believers. He points out that in America, our country secures the Rights of its citizens as a Republic (where the exercise of the sovereign power is lodged in representatives elected by the people). The US Declaration clearly states: “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—-That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among men.” The US Constitution was established by the Founding Fathers with a Bill of Rights with its Amendments for citizens, such as Freedom of Religion and the Right to Bear Arms for self-defense to preserve life and liberty. In the First Amendment we have the Freedom of Speech to say what we think, and in the Fifth Amendment we have the Right to remain silent to not incriminate ourselves. In 1 Corinthians we read that the Apostle Paul laid down his Mosaic Right as a minister of spiritual and holy teachings of God’s Word for the sake of loving others and to not hinder the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, laying aside certain God-given liberties for the sake of godly love to advance the Gospel, reduce the population of Hell and increase the kingdom of God.
1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect.”
If you are a Jesus Follower, a disciple of Christ, a born-again Believer, a child of God and a citizen of the kingdom of Heaven, then you live in a way that is often counter-cultural to the secular world and to the natural humanistic norms around you, and there will be times when the people will question your ways, your faith and your views and opinions. Be prepared to give an answer. The word “defense” here is the Greek word “apologia”, which means a verbal dense; a reasoned statement or argument as a justification of one’s actions or opinions; to make good his or her cause with a dative [something to be given to a person or for his benefit] of the person who is to hear the defense. But, do it with gentleness and respect.
For example: If you were asked why you don’t hang out and carouse with your friends after work and party, get drunk or high with all your co-workers, and you answer them: “because I’m not a heathen sinner that’s going to Hell like the rest of you all”. Though maybe true, that’s not going to go over well because that’s not respectful and, definitely, not gentle. It doesn’t matter what your answer is, if you are rude and offensive because the message is not going to be received well. You don’t tear down strongholds of the devil by causing people to throw up walls against your aggressive verbal abuse of character; it’s the wrong tact and will most likely not accomplish the Gospel intent of turning from sin in godly repentance. The right tact is to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect. The goal is to lovingly restore a fallen in sin individual to an upright position before God and to find forgiveness at the foot of the Cross from the Savior of the world.
Let's continue Pastor Obie's message on the Christian attribute of "Being Loving" in the next post. In Christ, Brian
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