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Post by Admin on Feb 7, 2024 10:21:04 GMT -5
Is Ministry In The Church Only The Duty of The Pastor?
CURTIS C. THOMAS
Is Ministry In The Church Only The Duty of The Pastor?
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13); “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).
One of the most common misunderstandings among church members is that we hire pastors as the professional Christians who will do all of the work among the members and then preach to us on Sundays. Yet, in the Word of God, the pastors are to equip the saints (believing members) for “their works of ministry” (Ephesians 4:11-12).
The two verses above from Hebrews are spoken to Christians—not just pastors. In the Hebrews 3 passage we are told that we are to encourage other believers on a daily basis so their hearts will not be hardened. Note that this encouragement is to be on a daily basis (not just on Sundays).
The Hebrews 10 passage instructs us that we are to consider how we may help others on toward love and good deeds. In order for us to do this, we must know the flock. Again, these words are addressed to believers, not just to pastors.
There are many other verses which instruct us as believers (and members of a local church) to be about the business of ministry among our fellow believers.
We are told that pure religion is to look after orphans and widows (James 1:17),
we are instructed to build up others (1 Thessalonians 5:11);
to comfort others (1 Thessalonians 4:18);
to encourage others (1 Thessalonians 5:11);
to counsel others (Romans 15:14);
to abound in love for others (1 Thessalonians 3:12);
to bear others’ burdens (Galatians 6:2);
to teach and admonish each other (Colossians 3:16);
to speak to each other in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:1);
to submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21) and to pray for each other (James 5:16).
These instructions, addressed to all believers, cannot be carried out on Sunday alone. They must be attended to daily as we serve among the members of our local body. When one uses the term “ministry” we ordinarily think of the work of the pastor. Certainly he has a special obligation to the flock, but the New Testament also calls on each of us to care for our fellow members, looking upon their needs as our responsibilities.
This caring could be carried out in their homes, on the job, at school, in the hospital, at a nursing home, perhaps even in a jail. It involves getting to know our fellow members and their families, learning what spiritual, physical and financial needs they have.
Often we have a tendency to spend time with those members who are popular and with whom we feel most comfortable, but usually they are the ones with the fewest needs. The most lonely and those who are all alone, are the ones who really need us. Perhaps that is why our Lord labeled pure religion as when one cares for orphans and widows, for usually there are no returns or reciprocity.
Here are some practical suggestions and considerations to help us to obey the Lord in the area of visitation:
• Don’t expect the pastor to do it; look upon it as your responsibility.
• Consider it a privilege to serve the Lord and His people in this manner.
• Ask God to help you determine just how you can serve in this capacity.
• Set some reasonable goals or expectations; otherwise you may continually put it off.
• Choose a companion to go with you and to encourage your responsibility in this area.
• Make a list of those people in your congregation whom you do not know and plan to get to know them.
• Make a list of those people in your congregation whom you suspect have spiritual, family, physical, or financial needs.
• Determine the needs with which you feel capable of helping.
• Plan to spend time with these individuals or families. Keep in mind it does not have to be a formal visit. It could be just shopping together, picnicking or enjoying a hobby together.
• Organize others to help you with larger needs.
• Keep your pastors, elders and deacons informed of the needs, especially if you are not capable of helping meet those needs. Ask for their help.
• Certain personal needs will require confidentiality. Don’t violate their trust by talking to others.
• Pray with these members. If exhortation is needed, do so firmly, but lovingly.
• Do not promise them help and then drop the matter. People who have previously suffered disappointment need to have those on whom they can depend.
• Do not promise the impossible. There will be serious problems—such as deep financial troubles, which neither you nor the church has sufficient resources to resolve.
• Always exhibit genuine joy and hope. Through Christ there should always be hope and joy.
As you work among the membership of your local church, you are going to come across a large variety of problems and needs in the body. They will range across the entire spectrum and will vary from individual to individual and from family to family. Here are some of the ones you will meet:
• Depression
• Anger
• Loneliness
• Marital disputes, separations, divorces
• Rebellious children
• Drug, alcohol and sexual abuse
• Immorality
• Financial irresponsibility, debts, credit card abuse
• Spiritual laziness
• Physical illnesses
• Houses and family schedules in disarray
• Unforgiving spirit
• Unemployment and despair
• Disinterest in church attendance
• Illegal activities, tax abuse
• Incorrect theology
• Lack of family prayer and worship
• Weak faith
• Lack of joy
• Grief over the loss of a loved one
• Wrong priorities
Obviously there will be many good things you will discover also, but this list highlights just a few of the various needs you will encounter.
Adam’s sin had a tremendous impact upon the human race. He plunged us into sin, ruin and misery, and we are called upon by our Lord to help our fellow members as they struggle in this fallen world. But keep in mind the deep satisfaction you will find when you help others recover, and then get to see them keep the cycle going as they, in turn, help others.
You will not learn of these problems and needs on Sunday mornings. But you will become aware of their existence as you regularly visit among members and really get to know the people of your local church.
This article is an excerpt from Curtis Thomas’ book – Life in the Body of Christ: Privileges and Responsibilities in the Local Church. A new hardcover edition is now available for order for $24.98 at press.founders.org
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Post by Admin on Apr 17, 2024 8:38:27 GMT -5
A Biblical Framework For Personal Bible Study
CURTIS C. THOMAS
A Biblical Framework For Personal Bible Study
“… and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correction, and training in righteousness….” (2 Timothy 3:15–16).
The apostle Paul is now in his final imprisonment in Rome, awaiting his execution. He writes to young Timothy to fan into flame the gift God had given him, to hold firm to the faith, to beware of false teachers and to preach the Word in season and out of season. He reminds Timothy that he had been brought up in the Scriptures by his grandmother, Lois and his mother, Eunice (see 2 Timothy 1:5). As Paul is about to pass off the scene, he passes the torch on to Timothy, the young man whom he describes as one who looks not after his own interests but those of others, knowing that he has a genuine interest in the spiritual welfare of the believers (see Philippians 2:19–23). Paul says he has no one else like Timothy. What a tremendous commendation coming from the great apostle Paul!
How did Timothy achieve such a glowing recommendation from this great apostle? While Paul certainly had much to do with it (as he took Timothy along on his journeys, teaching and modeling Christianity before him), Timothy’s spiritual foundation began in his own home, as his grandmother and mother taught him the Scriptures. They had to have been thoroughly acquainted with the inspired Word of God (the Old Testament), which was able to teach, rebuke, correct and train one in righteousness.
While churches, Bible colleges and seminaries are very useful, the training must begin at home. And that requires those of us who are parents to know the Bible ourselves if we are to pass God’s Word on to our children. We can’t depend solely upon the pastors, Sunday School teachers and others to train our families. That is our responsibility. And we cannot carry out that responsibility unless we, ourselves, are in the Word regularly.
There are many ways to study the Word of God. But here are some rather simple suggestions in case you have not embarked upon a program to thoroughly acquaint yourself with the Bible:
• Make sure that you own both a literal translation and a good paraphrase of the Scriptures.
• Build yourself a basic library of Bible helps
• Plan to read the Bible through, from Genesis to Revelation, at least once a year. There are 1189 chapters in the Bible; covering approximately 3 chapters a day will get you through the Bible in a year. You may have time to go through it more than once a year.
• Choose an Old Testament book and a New Testament book in which to specialize each year. For the first year, I would recommend Genesis and either John or Romans.
• Read those two portions of the Bible over and over during the year. Once you think that you have a good grasp of what is in them, try to make your own outline of the contents.
• After you have gone through them a number of times and have completed your own outline, then begin to use some helps as follows:
√ Read through a Bible survey which summarizes these books.
√ Choose a good commentary to read on each book.
√ Consult language helps on many of the important words the biblical writers use.
√ Use a Bible handbook, a Bible Dictionary, a good Bible Atlas and a Bible encyclopedia to help you further understand names, events, doctrines, etc.
• Write down the general applications you have gleaned from your study of these passages. Then from that list, choose those applications on which you most need to work in your own life.
• Pay close attention to the context of each section or verse, always interpreting and applying a passage based on its context (otherwise, you may be interpreting the passage to teach one thing, whereas it may be teaching something totally different).
• Remember that Scripture is its own best interpreter. Compare other passages of Scripture where the subjects under study are being discussed.
• After you have completed your study of these two portions of Scripture, talk with others about what you have learned, to help ensure you have not gone astray on some issue.
• Then, next year start the cycle all over again, reading through the Bible verse by verse and then choosing another Old Testament and a New Testament book to study.
• Try to select a time of each day, when you are least distracted and most fresh, and commit yourself to a regular program of study.
• Do not attempt to go so fast that you skip right over important sections of the Bible.
You will be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you will become familiar with the Bible. While it will be tempting to initially choose a book like Revelation or Daniel, that is probably not a good place to start, especially if you are a new student in God’s Word.
The Bible is a divinely inspired, inerrant and authoritative book and is truly useful and profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training ourselves in righteousness. If we want sound, God-honoring churches we, the members, must be acquainted with the Scriptures. We cannot pass on the responsibility to our church leadership. Just as they must shepherd us so that we can carry out our individual ministries, we have an obligation to make certain that our churches and their leaders teach the Word of God accurately, requiring us to properly obey that Word.
Our most serious obligation is to our families, to bring them up in the fear and instruction of the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4–9; Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:16). We cannot do that if we, ourselves, are not in the Word regularly.
Application
For Individuals:
1. Do you have a regular Bible study plan? Is it working?
2. Make an inventory of the helps you currently have and those which you need.
3. You may want to ask your spouse, or another person, to consider staying on the same track with you so that you will have another person with whom to talk regularly as you study portions of the Word.
4. Keep in mind that the purpose of your study is not just to fill your head with knowledge, but rather to train yourself in obedience.
5. God is His own interpreter. Pray regularly for His help in arriving at His truth.
For Groups:
1. Discuss the methods of Bible study which each of you has found helpful.
2. Which translations do you use and why?
3. Which Bible study tools have you found to be particularly useful?
Meditation
Prayerfully think through the meaning and implications of 1 Timothy 4:1-5 and Revelation 22:18-20.
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Post by Admin on Apr 25, 2024 12:33:22 GMT -5
The Church: Universal and Local
CURTIS C. THOMAS
The Church: Universal and Local
The Universal Church: “… and on this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18); “… because I persecuted the church of God” (1 Corinthians 15:9); “… just as Christ loved the church… to present her to himself as a radiant church” (Ephesians 5:25–27); “… for the sake of his body, which is the church” (Colossians 1:24); “to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven” (Hebrews 12:23).
The Local Church: “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church” (Matthew 18:17); “In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers” (Acts 13:1); “From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church” (Acts 20:13); “I commend to you our sister, Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchreae” (Romans 16:1); “Greet also the church that meets at their house” (Romans 16:5); “To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write” (Revelation 2:1).
It is clear from the Scripture references above that the New Testament speaks of both the church universal (which comprises all of the true believers throughout history, from every kindred, tribe and tongue) and also speaks of local churches (which consist of all of those separate bodies of Christ who meet together for worship, study, prayer and communion, in local congregations).
The Universal Church has in it only true believers, ones who have been called by the Spirit to trust in the saving work of Christ, who are kept eternally by the love of God and who will be presented to Christ without spot or blemish.
Local Churches have in their membership people who are professing believers, some of whom are genuinely saved, while others are unsaved and are still lost in their sins. Sometimes it is impossible to clearly distinguish between the two, because often unbelieving members exhibit many of the outward characteristics of believers. But the Lord knows who are His.
By far most of the commands in the New Testament are given to believers in the context of local churches. Christians (and church leaders) are told:
• To guard the flock (Acts 20:28, 31)
• To use their spiritual gifts for each other (Romans 12:3–13; 1 Corinthians 12:1–30; Ephesians 4:7–16; 1 Peter 4:7–11)
• To rejoice with those who rejoice and to mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15)
• For the strong and the weak brothers to accept one another (Romans 14:1–15:13)
• Not to fellowship with a brother who is living in unrepentant sin (1 Corinthians 5:1–13)
• To make judgments regarding disputes (1 Corinthians 6:1–11)
• To support those who preach and teach (1 Corinthians 9:1–27)
• To take communion together in a worthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:17–34)
• To collect a relief offering on the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:1–4)
• To greet one another with a holy kiss (1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Corinthians 13:12)
• To forgive a repentant sinner (2 Corinthians 2:5–11)
• To restore a brother (Galatians 6:1)
• To carry each others’ burdens (Galatians 6:2)
• To look after the interests of others (Philippians 2:4)
• To help solve member problems (Philippians 4:3)
• To keep away from those who are idle (2 Thessalonians 3:6–15)
• To choose qualified elders and deacons (1 Timothy 3:1–13; Titus 1:5-9)
• To honor spiritual leaders (1 Timothy 5:17–19)
• To warn those who are false teachers and those who are quarrelsome (2 Timothy 2:14–26)
• To teach one another (Titus 2:1–10)
• To remind the members to be obedient to authority (Titus 3:1–2)
• To warn a divisive person (Titus 3:9–11)
• To encourage one another daily (Hebrews 3:12–15)
• Not to forsake assembling themselves together in the local church (Hebrews 10:25)
• To look after orphans and widows (James 1:27)
• Not to show favoritism (James 2:1–4)
• To confess their sins to each other and to pray for each other (James 5:13–16)
• To serve as examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:1–4)
• To be submissive to elders (1 Peter 5:5)
• To repent (Revelation 2:1–3:22)
This is not a complete list, but merely a sampling of the many commands given to and for the local churches in the New Testament—and to our churches today.
There are many professing Christians who do not attend a local church, saying that they “can be a Christian without going to church.” However, it is clear from the many examples given above that such people cannot be obedient Christians, for these commands must be obeyed in the context of a local church.
Trying to be a “lone ranger” Christian, outside of a church body, causes one to also miss the many joys one can have in the local church, such as fellowshipping with brothers and sisters of like mind, rejoicing with those who rejoice, jointly promoting the gospel, caring for each other spiritually, physically and financially, praying for each other, restoring one another, even weeping with those who weep. To cut ourselves off from these wonderful opportunities is to rob ourselves of many of the blessings Christ provided for us through the local church. It is also to disobey the Head of the church. Church involvement should be He–centered rather than me–centered.
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Post by Admin on Apr 25, 2024 12:36:07 GMT -5
Just How Important Is the Church?
CURTIS C. THOMAS
Just How Important Is the Church?
“… I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:14–15).
I became a Christian in the spring of my senior year in high school. That fall I went away to college and worked part-time in an insurance office to pay for my college education. Though it was difficult to both work and take a full college load, I was nevertheless excited about my new life in Christ. I was going to church regularly, studying the Bible daily, reading good books, meeting new Christian friends, learning to pray and growing in Christ. Those were very joyful and exciting times.
Toward the end of my freshman year I realized I was going to need more money than the seventy-five cents per hour I was making on my job (that was in 1955). I heard of a job on a large company farm near Chicago where college boys could make good money. So I loaded my belongings in a small black trunk, boarded a train and headed to Mendota, Illinois, really not knowing for sure what I was getting into. Shortly after my arrival, the canning company, for which I worked, assigned me and several other young men from across the nation to a pea farm, where they housed us in some rather plain barracks, fed us three meals a day and worked us seven days a week, often as much as sixteen to twenty hours per day. It was hard, dirty, dangerous work, but where else in 1955 could a college student earn up to $200 per week, with no living expenses?
When we began that summer there were a few believers among the crew and we had some rich fellowship on that farm. But soon the hard work, long hours and homesickness began to take their toll. Serious attrition began. Within a few weeks I was the only college student left on that particular farm. In order to complete the crops that summer, the company began to pick up men off skid row in Chicago and bring them to live and work on the farm. The result was that I was the only Christian there, with no one else left to provide me with spiritual fellowship. Many of the men were alcoholics and were foul-mouthed derelicts. Thus began some very lonesome days. I was starving for spiritual conversation. Yet I needed the money if I hoped to return to college that fall.
Finally, late in the summer we received a Sunday off in order to rest. That morning I hitched a ride into town and made my way to a small, white frame building, which housed the local Baptist church. But much to my dismay a sign was stapled to the door, which read: “Closed for the summer.”
The remainder of my time there that summer was spent with no Christian fellowship. My only spiritual stimulation was my Bible and the few Christian books I had with me.
I now believe that this episode in my life was used by God to show me the vital importance of the local church. All one has to do to recognize this is to be without one. I am glad the Lord taught me this lesson early in my Christian life. Several times later while on mission trips, the need of a local church was made much clearer to me. In some of those areas of the world, there have been many villages where there were no Christian churches whatsoever. My heart bled for those individual believers who were forced to live and grow spiritually all on their own.
In America, particularly in the southern Bible belt, we are very spoiled. Churches abound. In some of these areas churches are on almost every corner. This is not true in many parts of the globe. To be without a local family of God is to miss some of God’s richest blessings. Just how important is your church? Consider the following:
• It provides you with daily and weekly fellowship.
• It warns and encourages you.
• It helps hold you accountable.
• It provides communion for you.
• It challenges you to use your spiritual gifts.
• It provides a place for those gifts to be exercised.
• It helps protect you from heresy.
• It guides you to godly living.
• It spiritually ministers to your family.
• It collectively supports Christian causes and missions around the world.
• It often means the salvation of souls (perhaps even your own).
• It helps you when you are spiritually, emotionally, physically or financially in need.
• It is the pillar and ground of the truth in your area.
• It disciplines you when you develop a sinful lifestyle.
• It helps bring down racial barriers.
These are just a few of the benefits of belonging to a good local church. Try to imagine where else you could receive such benefits and direction. Indeed, our Lord manifested His wisdom when He established both the universal and the local bodies of Christ. And we are the primary beneficiaries. Today, thank God for the grace shown to you in placing you in a sound, local church body. If you are not in one, either find one to join, or help start an evangelical church in your area. It will be an important key to your spiritual growth and service.
This article is an excerpt from Curtis Thomas’ book – Life in the Body of Christ: Privileges and Responsibilities in the Local Church. A new hardcover edition is now available for pre-order for $19.98 at press.founders.org
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Post by Admin on Apr 25, 2024 12:46:28 GMT -5
Our Work Matters To God
CURTIS C. THOMAS
Our Work Matters To God
“Slaves, obey your masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:22–24).
Sometimes in their zeal to encourage spiritual vocations, pastors can unintentionally leave the impression among church members that unless one is in some form of full-time gospel work (such as a pastor, missionary or evangelist) that other forms of vocation are less spiritual, or of less importance to God. As a result many Christians do not seem to grasp how important it is for them to serve their employers with submission and excellence, as a way to bring glory to God. This misunderstanding is further highlighted by the use of the terms religious and secular vocations. The biblical position is that all work matters to God, whether one serves as a pastor, or sits at a computer eight hours per day, or engages as an evangelist, or works as a diesel mechanic.
In the passage above Paul reminded the slaves in Colossae that their service to God was bound up in the manner in which they served their earthly masters. They were to work hard, serving with all of their hearts, rendering excellent service because ultimately that was their way of being obedient to their heavenly Master. Peter, in his first letter (2:18–19), tells slaves that they are to be obedient to their earthly masters, even those who are “harsh” (lit., morally crooked, perverse). In our culture, the slaves are equivalent to employees, and the masters are the employers or bosses—so these biblical commands are totally relevant in our age.
Whether we work as a convenience store clerk, a supervisor of hundreds of employees, or repair flat tires as our vocation, our attitude and performance on our jobs are critical ways to serve the Lord and often determine how effective we are in our witness to the lost world around us. Realizing that all work is holy to God is a key ingredient in our being pleasing to the Lord. God is equally as concerned with our attitude and example whether we repair broken plumbing pipes, trade stock on a brokerage floor, lead a Bible class at church, or evangelize a native on some foreign mission field. All work is judged by God, and the manner and attitude with which we work can please or dishonor our Lord.
As we carry out our responsibilities on our jobs, here are some questions we would do well to ask ourselves:
• Do I regularly thank God for my job—whether it is as a president of a Fortune 500 company or as a garbage collector?
• Do I properly respect those at work in authority over me, even those whose religious, political or moral convictions are different from mine?
• Do I work heartily in whatever vocation I am placed—knowing that my service is to the Lord?
• Do I work hard even when the boss is not watching?
• Do I strive to have as good a reputation with my coworkers as I have with my fellow church members?
• Do I work as efficiently as possible so as to make my company profitable?
• Do I refrain from cutting any moral corners on the job?
• Do I make suggestions on how to improve job performance and morale?
• Do I refrain from conversations in which the boss or supervisor is criticized?
• Do I refrain from taking small items from my employee—paper clips, copy paper, pencils, etc.—even though “everyone else does it?”
• Do I make personal copies on the company copier?
• Do I use the company’s Internet connection for my personal use?
• Do I fudge on my expense account or time card?
• Am I the same person on the job as I am when away from the job?
• Do I encourage employer respect, rather than helping create employee dissatisfaction?
• Are my work habits sloppy, or do I attempt to always produce work of excellence?
• Am I on time, or am I often tardy at work?
• Do I misuse sick leave or personal leave days?
• Do I abuse workers’ compensation benefits?
• Do I use company time to witness to my lost co-workers, or do I wait until break time or lunch time?
• Do I remind myself regularly that my job performance and general attitude can bring either glory, or dishonor, to my Lord?
Our work does matter to God! Normally the majority of our waking hours are spent at our jobs. And how we conduct ourselves is vitally important to the cause of Christ, whether we serve as a seamstress in a factory, a politician, a preacher, a homemaker, an engineer a janitor or serve in any other area. All work should be viewed as a gift from God and as a venue of responsibility to Him. It pleases Him when we:
• Thank Him for the ability to work
• Work with all of our might
• Work as efficiently as possible
• Exhibit absolute honesty and reliability
• Realize that we are witnessing by our attitude and job performance
• Honor our bosses
• Respect our co-workers
• Pray for those with whom we work
• Set the best example we can in all respects
• Seek legitimate times and ways that we can verbally witness to those with whom we work
• Trust God, even during those times when our jobs can put us in very difficult circumstances
If you have not been practicing those things listed above, it is not too late to begin now. God is a God of second, third and fourth chances with His children. Your attitude about your job can make a world of difference to you, your family, your co-workers, your boss and ultimately will affect your relationship with the Lord.
This article is an excerpt from Curtis Thomas’ book – Life in the Body of Christ: Privileges and Responsibilities in the Local Church. A new hardcover edition is now available for pre-order for $19.98 at press.founders.org
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Post by Admin on Apr 25, 2024 12:49:25 GMT -5
Your Christian Attitude: A Most Important Ingredient
CURTIS C. THOMAS
Your Christian Attitude: A Most Important Ingredient
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25).
It has been said that the way a person looks at a rose bush determines whether he is an optimist or a pessimist. A pessimist is sad that rose bushes have thorns. An optimist is delighted that thorn bushes have roses. Our attitudes, or perspectives, are extremely important and often will determine how effectively we can witness.
The context surrounding the verse quoted above from Acts 16 contains Paul’s and Silas’ witness in Philippi. After Paul and Silas had cast out an evil spirit from a slave girl, the owners of the girl dragged Paul and Silas before the authorities with trumped-up charges. The crowds joined in the attack against these two godly men, after which the authorities had them stripped, beaten and severely flogged. Then, without any medical attention to their severe wounds, and though they were Roman citizens, they were thrown into the jail where they were placed in the inner cell. Their feet were placed in the stocks—a device that caused severe pain.
Our attitudes, or perspectives, are extremely important and often will determine how effectively we can witness.
Even though they were publicly humiliated and were in intense pain, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns. The other prisoners were listening. No doubt they were wide-eyed as Paul and Silas, rather than complaining and threatening to retaliate against their accusers or the authorities, were praising God through their prayers and hymn-singing. Suddenly, God miraculously delivered them by an earthquake. In the process the jailer, his family and possibly even some of the fellow prisoners were saved through the gospel testimony of Paul and Silas.
Paul’s and Silas’ attitudes (or perspectives) were an important ingredient in their testimony. Had they been grumbling, complaining, even cursing their situation, nobody would have listened to them. But instead, they were doing what Peter urged his readers to do when he wrote: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have suffered grief in all kinds of trials” (1 Peter 1:6). Peter’s readers had been dispersed because of persecution and had lost all things—their homes, their jobs, their worldly possessions and, in many cases, their families. Like them, we are also called to rejoice even when we are suffering.
Our attitudes (or perspectives) are very important ingredients in our Christian walk. They not only affect our own outlook but also those of our families, our co-workers, our friends and neighbors, our fellow church members and the lost whom we hope to evangelize. If our outlook is pessimistic or dismal, people simply do not want to be around us, much less listen to us. If we exhibit a genuine optimism and a joyful spirit, people will be attracted to our testimony.
A number of years ago I learned a phrase from a young man who was an energetic witness of the gospel. When people nonchalantly asked him, “How are you?” he would always answer, “Much better than I deserve,” meaning that he was living joyfully under God’s grace. I now answer people who ask me that question the same way. It has led to a number of brief discussions about the Lord’s wonderful grace and mercy. When one answers that question with, “OK, considering the circumstances,” or “I could be better,” or “Alright, I guess,” an opportunity is missed. An answer with a genuine, Christ-honoring statement of some sort can generate both a rich testimony and a setting in which to discuss God’s wonderful gift of grace.
However, it is not just the response to a greeting with which we are concerned—it is our overall attitude. If we are truly children of God, we have so much about which to be thankful and to rejoice. Our sins have been eternally forgiven. Our home is heaven. Someday we will share God’s glory. Our trials and difficulties in this life will soon end. Sin will be totally eradicated when we get to heaven. God is our loving Father. His grace will sustain us. His arms of protection are surrounding us. He has given us loving brothers and sisters in the Lord. Even our sufferings are here to develop character and, subsequently, hope—and we know that in the end we will win with Christ.
If we are truly children of God, we have so much about which to be thankful and to rejoice.
There is no end to God’s graciousness toward us. How can we help but rejoice? Paul reminds us of this throughout the letter to the Philippians. He summarizes his thoughts by a command in chapter 4, verse 4, where he says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
How can we make this joy apparent in our lives and, especially, in our local church bodies? Here are some practical suggestions:
• Make a habit of verbally expressing your gratitude to the Lord for His choosing you to be one of His children.
• Express your optimism that God has all things in control and that He is working all things together for the spiritual good of His children.
• Be willing to optimistically accept your responsibilities in your local church. If you are needed on the construction crew, volunteer willingly. If you are needed on the clean-up crew, or needed in the nursery, or needed as a teacher, express your joy at being able to serve Christ in that way.
• If problems occur in your church body, rather than complaining, seek to help in a God-honoring way to bring about a solution or resolution.
• Never complain about others. Use your tongue to build up others, rather than tearing them down.
• Pass along to others your gratitude and joy when good things are happening. Good attitudes are helped along by positive enthusiasm. (Remember that bad attitudes are also passed along to others.)
• Let people know that you are praying for them. The church staff especially needs this. Often they receive more criticism than verbal support. A word or note of positive encouragement can mean much to them.
• As you are around the lost, be especially mindful of the ways you express your attitudes. Many of them live in a dismal, dog-eat-dog world where there is little hope or joy. Brighten their days with a genuine, helpful, positive outlook. That may help attract them to your Lord. Paul instructs us to make the doctrines of our Lord attractive (Titus 2:10).
Our perspectives matter. In our church for many years we held an annual Christmas banquet during which we had a fun time, usually including some Christian entertainment. It was an occasion when the congregation expressed gratitude to the staff and a time of joyful fellowship. At one year’s banquet, a church member had invited a lost friend. After the banquet, that lost friend went back to his home where, unable to sleep, he pondered and mulled over what he had witnessed. Finally, at 2:00 AM, he awakened his Christian friend with a phone call, in which he said “I don’t know what you folks have, but whatever it is, I want it.” Our member explained to him that it came through a personal commitment and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. As the member witnessed to him, the Holy Spirit opened the man’s heart and he was gloriously saved.
This wonderful story began with the members of our church collectively expressing joy as they fellowshipped together. This man knew that his life was empty and joyless and he finally saw something much better.
We, Christians, have the best of the best—the good news of a gospel that works! Let’s express it everywhere and always—by our words and by our perspectives.
This article is an excerpt from Curtis Thomas’ book – Life in the Body of Christ: Privileges and Responsibilities in the Local Church. A new hardcover edition is now available for pre-order for $19.98 at press.founders.org
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