Although I have no intention on quitting, and although I need to learn to lean further upon the grace of God for strength and stamina, I must admit a certain frustration at times with the way the world is.
Why?
Because I'm a sinner! But also because of this: what we (Christians) must do, by His grace, to turn the tide of evil and wickedness in family and church isn’t that hard to understand. What I’m realizing is this: for most people, those biblical solutions are simply too hard.
It comes down to this: following the patterns Christ gave us:
- 2 Timothy 1:13 ESV Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
In the same Epistle, Paul mentions it again, but in different way:
- 2 Timothy 3:12-17 ESV Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (13) while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (14) But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it(15) and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (16) All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (Emphasis mine)
These patterns can be described as:
The fundamental doctrines, expressions, and traditions given to the Church by Christ through the New Testament writers.
The pattern is simply:
Who Christ intended His church to be, what He intended it to teach, and the way He designed it to operate. All of this is clearly illustrated in the New Testament.
But this seems too hard too often. There’s always an excuse as to why the Bible doesn’t apply or why carnality is ok. Too often, we think we know better than our LORD.
So we continue on…in my view beneath the power and authority we’ve been given by our LORD.
May we repent. May we run to Christ to find strength and love and obey His wonderful Word.
Part 2 is here
