SERVING GOD THE WORLD’S WAY? PARADOX OR FACT: LOGOS

Hello there!

Welcome to Logos, a segment of the blog where we discuss faith-based issues using the word of God as the standard.

Today I had an encounter that had me in deep thoughts, I spent over an hour pondering on this issue and searching my spirit on what the word of God says about it.

It’s interesting how so many Christians want to show forth the light but using the world’s methods….. Let me explain;

I find it common practice that these days brothers and sisters in the body of Christ like to ‘purify’ what isn’t expedient in the guise of giving glory to God.

So for example, We would rather remix an unspiritual/ungodly song with ‘gospel’ Lyrics for praise rather than spend time releasing holy spirit inspired tracks from scratch.

Or

We love to dance “styles/steps” that are identified/synonymous with ungodly musicians during praise and worship sessions and say “we are truly praising God so it doesn’t really matter who invented or who is identified with it” 

These are just a few examples to elaborate the topic……..

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I’m absolutely passionate about excellence, leadership and counsel amongst the children of God and the church at large, hence when something doesn’t sit right with my spirit i.e. in the church (body of Christ), I search the word to see if I’m being too ‘zealous’ or it’s just the discerning spirit of God at work.

In my walk with God, I’ve learnt the first witness of a believer is not to look like the world. i.e. Not to be carnal or identify with the world (I John 2:15-17, Romans 12:2).

What does it mean to be carnally minded? It simply means you’re not dead to self and still desire the enjoyments or pleasures of the world.

I’ve also realised this statement “God sees my heart so that’s all that matters” is often used when one is doing something inexpedient. I first hand have said this numerously in the past when I wasn’t living consecrated. I wanted to wear what I liked, use words I wished and  play the songs I choose, using my human standards as a measure, though I thought I loved God and that’s all that mattered…

“When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things” 1 Corinthians 13:11.

By his grace I’ve learnt that so much more matters, your true conviction must match the state of your heart, which must match lifestyle, decisions, words, and actions. It is important to my salvation and my overall witness.

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Do you know God actually wants us to be perfect. Strange right? take a look at these verses

1 Peter 1:15 “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do “

 Matthew 5:48 “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Genesis 17:1 “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect“

When I found these verses I was a bit stunned, is perfection to God’s standard obtainable? But then holy spirit ministered these to me….

” God will never call you to an unachievable journey, He honours his word above everything else, so if it is written it is not just possible it is expected”.

Then I remembered all the blameless men of God in the bible who didn’t even have the bible, the ministry of Jesus nor the holy spirit dwelling in them and they were blameless. I remembered Noah (Genesis 6:9) Enoch (Hebrew 11:5) and Job (Job 1:8) amongst others. ….

Our job as believers is to set the standard, We are the light of the world(Matthew 5:14-16) so we should be the ones envied, our lifestyles ought to be copied and emulated.We are to expose the cunning works of darkness and call out the abominations of this age NOT the other way round. We ought to be so excellent that people will see our good deeds and give glory to the Father.

Our job is not to change perverse things into acceptable things 1 Corinthians 10:23. In fact, if we put that much creative effort into filling the world with the word of God, and setting these standards as we have been called to, I’m certain the body of Christ would be more edified and our gospel of Christ would have more efficacy.

Our goal is to do things righteously  without taking cues from the world.  Truthfully, the act in itself may not be “sin” but then is it expedient?  If glorifying God means borrowing wisdom (however little) from Satan and then using it as we wish (because our intents maybe “pure”) what then is our witness. This is an example of what “maybe permissible but not expedient” means, as in 1 Corinthians 6: 12.

Remember we are aiming for perfection. 

The more you grow in God the more you become oblivious to  worldly things, this is because you are enlisted to please the one above and your focus is different. See Titus 2: 11-12 and 2 Timothy 2:4

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” Titus 2: 11-12

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Our journey with Christ has a two phased outcome:

On earth: Joy unspeakable, Fulfilling purpose, dominion and of course unescapable Persecution – 1 timothy 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”

After earth: Glorious eternity with the king and saints.  John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”

Lets look at persecution for a bit, Following Christ unashamedly would cost you, its absolute death to self – carnal nature and worldly desires. The world would never accept or love a righteously radical nature that’s why Christians of this age try to water down the truth of the gospel in order to appeal to the ‘lost’. This in itself is the tragedy.

Why would we want to ruin or even taint our witness in order to look “cool, vast but also saved”..

We forget that no matter how much we try, we are simply vessels. We don’t change people, it’s the spirit of God that brings a sinner to repentance not being cool or making the gospel look cool.

“As real as the mercy and love of God is so is the judgement and wrath of God”.

The word of Gods says the things of God will seem like foolishness to the ones without the spirit 1 Corinthians 2:14, so lets stop with the jamboree and focus on living righteously, being excellent, making expedient choices while working out our salvation with fear and trembling as our lives and fruits are the bibles unbelievers of this age read.
I encourage us all to go out there and plant ourselves in all industries. Lets set the standard for business, politics, education, leadership, fashion, entertainment-music, dance, spoken words, and other creative arts. We serve a creator and we were made in his image hence we have the capacity to create.

We are creative entities so we can think to produce amazing, godly content and activities that will edify, give all glory to God, and also entertain where need be.

We absolutely do not need to look like the world to teach the world or Praise God.

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For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in us will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Lots of love,

Tosin.