BLOG 6/13/17. WHO ARE YOU GONNA BELIEVE?

There is no problem getting confused when trying to make sense of all the news coming across the media these days, … claims and counter-claims, significant national figures accusing each other of lying, persons calling themselves ‘evangelicals’ espousing hateful and prejudicial behavior, …  it certainly can become bewildering and discouraging. Who are you going to believe?

That is why I love the scriptures, those Biblical documents, which are the Christian’s final authority, and in which the ultimate purpose is to make plain the word of Christ in our human lives. You know that nothing is in there just to be ‘filler’ because all those documents were painfully recorded by inspired authors, by hand and by primitive writing instruments, and on expensive paper or parchments. And, hey! It’s also easy to trivialize its teachings by overfamiliarity, or to render them unimportant by reading them mindlessly.

Let me, then, call up Hebrews 10:24 as a rich and provocative word: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, …” That could sound ‘platitudinous’ (is that a word?) enough, until you unpack it. For starts, it is not platitudinous at all. There are two things that Jesus taught his follows that would give them ‘street cred’ and those were:

• “A new commandment I give to you that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
• “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) And: “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles (the non-believers) honorable, so that when they speak against you as evil-doers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” (I Peter 2:12)

Visible New Creation behavior and lifestyle: ‘Street cred,’ the unimpeachable evidence of the new life of Christ inhabiting God’s sons and daughters. That’s not ditty-bop do-goodism. That’s costly. Loving others as Christ loved us requires that we love our enemies, because when we were still enemies, Christ died for us. Feeding the hungry, welcoming strangers and offering hospitality, healing the sick, clothing the naked, … has a price-tag attached to it. But it’s visible to those watching, and is precisely what makes Christ’s followers to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth.

When persons profess to be followers of Christ and reject human need, and espouse racism, and prejudice against other religions, or reject those not of their social class, … then they are walking contradictions. And such contradictions are not countered by argument, but by the street cred of love and good works. So be stirring one another up to love and good works. Such love and good works are also what constitute “the breastplate of righteousness” which is an essential part of the Christian’s whole armor.

“Walk as children of the light” … and we will become believable. Peace!