Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world!

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Permalink Reply by Black on August 6, 2008 at 10:06am

God bless you brother Shiller!

Paul, in his epistles to the Corinthian church, is instructing a church that is gifted, but worldly- gifted, but carnal. At the end of chapter 5 of 2Corinthians, we are identified as ambassadors of Christ- representatives of His holy government in the earth. This puts us in a position of being watched wherever we go. We are living epistles- opened and read of all men. This puts us under the microscope to be scrutinized. Knowing this, Paul goes on in chapter 6 to instruct that because of this high visibility, we should not be engaged in anything that would put the ministry of reconciliation in a bad light. We never want to compromise or dilute the witness of Jesus Christ. In a world of moral relativity and situational ethics, we need to be the moral light of the world. There needs to be a difference between darkness and light, belief and unbelief, holy and unholy. We are sanctified - set apart- that the world might see this difference. We would not only be sharing the stage with Jay Z, we would be sharing a platform- making a statement. What statement would we be making?

As we navigate the kingdom of God, we want to be accessible to the need groups of the world. Paul beautifully expressed the need of engaging and embracing diverse elements of culture without judgment for the purpose of winning souls for the kingdom:

19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

We are here as representatives of the holy government of Christ to declare amnesty for whosoever will come to Jesus. They must see, however, who we represent. Holiness is still the standard:

1 Peter 2

9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

God bless!

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Permalink Reply by Shiller on August 12, 2008 at 2:33am

Black, thanks for sharing the wisdom. I understand that we should not be conceited as Christians. I understand that we should reach out to the unsaved. However, it seems like the gospel needs to be shared without entering into a truce with the enemy.

James stated in the book of James 4 v 4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

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Permalink Reply by Dee Jay Robb-O on January 28, 2010 at 1:03pm

Good day,
It is a very good question that you have asked. The result of that question is discussion moving towards the text for reliance and guidance.
I found clarity when I defined what 'paattern" or "behavior" means. Also when I read chap 12 in its entirety.
Hit me back...I would like share more with you.
Robb

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Permalink Reply by JLYNN REED on May 5, 2010 at 2:43pm

IT'S HARD TO SAY WHAT'S EXACTLY OKAY TO DO WITH THE WORLD AS A CHRISTIAN. IT IS REALLY BEST TO ASK GOD TO LEAD YOU,BECAUSE SOMETIMES HE PUTS US IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS THAT THE CHRISTIAN WORLD DOES NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND. WE ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER JESUS AND THE WOMAN OF THE EVENING.

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Permalink Reply by DaniBaby on July 20, 2010 at 11:12am

This is one of my favorite verses in the entire bible. Romans is my favorite BOOK! Thanks for sharing.

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