Grant Ewing 30 January 2011 Words: 325

Meditation Commentary Persuasiveness vs. Contentiousness

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written. The just shall live by faith.Romans 1:16-17 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.I Peter 2:11-12
The great preacher Martyn Lloyd Jones once said: People seem to think that the masses are outside the Christian church because our evangelistic methods are not what they ought to be. That is not the answer. People are outside the church because looking at us they say, "What is the point of being Christians? - look at them!" They are judging Christ by you and me. And you cannot stop them and you cannot blame them. Dr. Jones was absolutely right when he said the reason why people reject Christianity is because looking at us they say What is the point of being Christians? - look at them!. Of course Dr. Jones is speaking about the half-hearted and hypocritical Christians, but it is all too easy to forget we are being watched. Even if an observer in unaware of ones faith, a Christians conduct and manner should be different. Not simply obscure or strange for the sake of rebelling against conformity, but to uphold oneself up In Godly character and virtue. It this concept of mirroring the essence of who Christ is which is so importantly vital, but often neglected in the evangelical ministries of so many Christians. Why should a Christian preach about the necessity of redemption and a new life of love,

hope, faith and all the wonderful things Christ brings, then as if to contradict his words live a hypocritical, worldly lifestyle? It says in Matthew 5:16 to: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. If we cannot back up our words with our actions, and behavior, we are seriously disillusioning those who do and do not know Christ of what it is to be a Christian. We will become like the salt that has lost its flavor which Jesus describes in Matthew 5:13, which is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

Work Cited New King James Version Study Bible. Nashville TN. Thomas Nelson. 1997, 2007. Print.