Good News Sense

In I Samuel 15:22-23, we read these this pronouncement by God’s prophet Samuel to Saul, “But Samuel replied: ‘Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.’ ”

In American Christendom, we have some distinctive ways of twisting God’s Word to suit our personal preferences. Undoubtedly, every culture learns to do so in order to keep familiar traditions and practices. For example, decision by popular vote is almost synonymous with American, but the majority is not necessary right, in fact, it is more often wrong than right, and it cannot be trusted to assure God’s will. Many issues rising in importance in secular America cannot be reconciled with God’s commands, most obviously the unbridled sexual behavior that has become prevalent in the last half century.

Even within the community of faith, ideas that have become popular seem at odds with the message revealed in the Bible. Does God guarantee prosperity as a reward for faith? Will a truly faithful believer avoid suffering? If a person somehow perfectly follows God, will his life always enjoy success? These are just a few of the principles some teach that seem contrary to the plain sense of the Scriptures.

Samuel confronted King Saul who thought to justify his choice to keep the spoils of his victory over Amalekites, after God had plainly told him to destroy everything. He thought the pretense of act of worship would fix it; if he was generous with the riches, then God would disregard his previous command. Saul was sorely mistaken. For his wanton disregard of God’s clear command, Saul lost his throne for himself and his heirs.

Many Christians think that church attendance, participation in worship services, or perhaps a generous monetary gift excuse disobedience. Worse, many mistakenly assume that doing these things is the essence of faithful Christian practice, as if what happens in a church facility is where the real business of faith occurs. “Make disciples of all the nations” does not happen within a building. “Whatever you do, do heartily as unto the Lord” is not limited to Sunday morning. “By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” pretty much applies to everything but a typical worship service, since people are rarely engaged with each other then.

Paul wrote, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds in order to demonstrate God’s perfect will.” This is a forward-looking command, not the backward-focused insistence on tradition that typifies much of the Christian community. I found it ironic, during the last election cycle, how much people responded favorably to the promise of “change,” since people usually resist change, even many younger people. God doesn’t ask us to change for change’s sake; his promise that He does not change recognizes the human need for stability and predictability. However, He demands corrective change.

Repentance is change from doing wrong to doing right. Discipleship is change from following false teachers or our own willful preferences to following Jesus. Becoming holy requires us to change to walking in the spirit rather than living in our own carnal desires. All of this is based on the most profound change of all from those who were dead in trespasses and sin to the reborn who are alive, freed from bondage, cleansed from evil, and adopted into the family of God.

Regrettably, many Christians resist these changes to remain in the comfortable familiarity of worldly pleasures and pious traditions. They live lives that are static and sterile, unfruitful and unsatisfying. God offers dynamic, exciting, fruitful lives that bring contentment and joy as well as the satisfaction of productive relationships where we see other come to Christ, enjoy the love of the community of believers, and grow in grace. Now that is change we can believe in!

To be honest, I get a bit tired of people, especially politicians and talking heads, attacking Christians.  Either we’re pushing to take over everything and have a theocracy, or we incredibly stupid for believing what we believe.  The sad reality is that most of us believers are neither dangerous or ignorant.  Sometimes we get off the track, but mostly we just want to serve God and enjoy the blessings he has promised, not the least, eternal life.

How do people recognize an authentic Christian? For that matter, what is a genuine Christian? Are believers political?  Are they supposed to be?  Who’s right and who’s wrong among the many different groups?  Is it only a matter of belief, allegiance to a set of ideas, or even just claiming the name?

Jesus himself was actually pretty clear. He said:

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Here Jesus plainly promises that those who truly stick with the teaching he gave are legitimate disciples, and the benefits are knowing the truth and being free. The Jews argued that they were not slaves, but he disagreed, saying they weren’t free but enslaved to sin, as are many today. Even worse, he accuses them of being children of Satan, not true sons of Abraham.

Many today argue their legitimacy comes from having correct doctrine. Yet, this promise is for the disciples own encouragement, not to use as proof. Indeed, truth claims only produce arguments, and therefore they fail as a way of verifying authentic faith. Jesus provided a different way of providing credentials and credibility:  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The reality is simple. Most people are not looking for correct doctrine; most have no idea that it might even be important. In this age of advertising and sales, those who argue that they have the truth sound like cheap hucksters selling a product. Most people recognize a pitch, when they hear one, and they will listen only if they’re in the mood to “buy.” This kind of often poor salesmanship satisfies the pride of the seller more than filling any God-given purpose, much of the time.

People have needs and will listen to a credible person who offers a way for those needs to be met. One of the most compelling needs is for love, to be loved, and to be accepted despite the sin that most people recognize makes them unlovable. Our love for each other, if genuine and apparent, announces that we have what they want…not only love, but more:  “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” This familiar Beatitude reveals another mark of the genuine Christian, being recognized because of being peacemakers.

Is it any surprise then, today, that so few regard Christians favorably? Christians fight with other Christians far more than they love them. Where are the peacemakers? Every believer should be a peacemaker, a reconciler, and person inspired by love to break down the barriers that divide, but few are. As a result, we don’t live up to Jesus’ prayer in John 17, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” Love, peace, and unity should indelibly mark every believer and every assembly of believers. Then people will know we are the genuine article, the authentic disciple, and the one true Church of Jesus Christ.

More importantly, people will listen to us. They will be curious to know why we act that way—not fighting, enjoying relationships that last, and comfortably part of what we call the family of God. We can then fulfill the suggestion in I Peter 3:15-16, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

Political activism is a separate issue for another time, but few believers want anyone but Christ himself to rule.  When he does, all arguments will end.  Until then, however, those who follow Christ must be careful to be what he has called us to be, not arrogant sellers of a religious product, but loving representatives of a loving Savior.  Before we can convey truth, we must show love, seek peace, and live in unity.  Then we will be disciple who are both genuine and believable.