Christian Civility

CHRISTIAN CIVILITY

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” - Matthew 7:12

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going. Looking back, I've often asked people for a shortcut as I've traveled. Most of the time, the “shortcut” seemed longer and took more time than my originally planned route. I've learned that “shortcuts” are to be avoided.

If you want to have strong, healthy relationships, you can't take shortcuts. Taking shortcuts in relationships have led to countless divorces, nasty lawsuits, church splits, corporate turmoil and hard feelings. Scandals and corruption in the business world have cost innocent investors millions of dollars.

Let's be honest about it. Relationships are in a mess right now. We could easily list dozens of issues that plague our nation, many of them stem from relationship problems. How can these problems be resolved?

Obviously, I can't resolve all the problems of the world. Neither can you. Yet I am responsible for the network of relationships God has entrusted to me. The answer to our woes is very simple. God has given us a tried and trusted way to treat other people. We refer to it as the golden rule. Jesus taught this in Matthew 7:12: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”

When I was in the first grade (way back in the last century), our public school teachers taught pupils to obey the golden rule. As adults, we have someone gotten away from the Lord's teaching on this subject. We consider it appropriate to teach children the golden rule in Sunday School, but as adults, we aren't serious about obeying this rule ourselves. We don't treat others the way we want to be treated.

We need to consider a few facts about the golden rule.

IT'S A PRECEPT

First of all, the golden rule is not an option, it is a command. We are commanded by Jesus to treat others the way we want to be treated. Modern day Christianity has become so weak that church members pick and choose the Biblical commands that they intend to obey. That is not Biblical Christianity, instead it is paganism wearing a Christian label. For some reason, we have turned Biblical commands into options to consider. Yet it is a command to forgive others. The Great Commission is a command. The golden rule is a command. If we are serious about our faith, we need to obey the commands of Scripture rather than overlooking them.

IT WAS PERSONIFIED

Secondly, it was personified by Jesus. If we claim to be followers of Jesus, we need to practice the golden rule. If you read your New Testament, Jesus did not treat people the way they deserved. If we received what we deserved, all of humanity would be in hell right now. Instead, Jesus showed compassion. He demonstrated mercy. Yes, at times He was blunt when the situation required it. Yet He was love personified. If we claim to love and follow Jesus, let us learn from His example. Often we need to give people what they need instead of what they deserve. When you are hurt by someone, just remember this old statement: “Hurting people hurt others and are easily hurt themselves.” Rather than hurting someone in an act of revenge, show them mercy and grace instead.

IT IS POWERFUL

Next, the golden rule is powerful. Practicing the golden rule would radically change marriages, homes, businesses, churches, communities and even our nation. The fact is that I can't force others to do what is right. You can't either. However, I can treat people the way I'd want to be treated. You can do the same. Rather than being part of the problem, let's be used of God as part of the solution. In this world of “political correctness,” deep political and social divisions and universal mistrust, we are called to be difference makers. So, treat your spouse the way you want to be treated. Practice the golden rule with your boss and coworkers. Rather than seeking to have your own way at church, do to others as you'd have them do to you. Quit treating your neighbor like an enemy. Instead, be a good neighbor to him.

We need to show the world that our faith is more than mere words. If we claim that Jesus is Lord, it needs to be shown by our loving obedience to Him.

Our treatment of other people is a reflection of the heart. Extend to others the love, mercy and grace you'd want shown to you.

An Upbeat Outlook

AN UPBEAT OUTLOOK

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” - Psalm 118:24

I must confess that I am not a morning person.  I've often accused my alarm clock of bearing false witness.  Waking up in the morning is more like a resurrection.  It takes a long time for me to get the cobwebs out of my brain. 

Since I am not a morning person, it would be easy to get up feeling grouchy.  I can identify with the cartoon I once saw of a person awakening from a long coma, saying, “Give me just 5 more minutes of sleep.”  A few years ago, I had some minor surgery.  My family got rather concerned because I didn't come out of recovery in a timely manner.  You guessed it.  I wanted the extra few minutes of sleep.

Because it is tough to wake up each morning, it is challenging for me to start the day with the right attitude.  Yet I need to begin with a positive outlook and embrace the blessing of a new day. 

Personally, I don't enjoy being around pessimists.  You know the people I am referring to.  These individuals can find a cloud for every silver lining.  They complain about thorns rather than enjoying the roses.  For them, the glass is always half empty, plus they want a better glass.  Since I don't enjoy the company of pessimists, it is important for me not to be a pessimist myself. 

If you're like me, it can be difficult to have an upbeat outlook each day.  As I get older, I have new aches and pains.  It is more challenging to accomplish basic tasks.  My hair is getting gray and thinner.  Yes, it is often tough to have an upbeat outlook.  Yet this is my daily goal.

It is hard to make a positive difference when you spread negativity along the way.  Most people gravitate to positive people.  In fact, God seems to use positive people to make a positive impact. 

So how can we embrace an upbeat outlook each day?

GRACE

First of all, we need to recognize that we are recipients of grace.  If we got what we deserved, we'd be in hell right now.  Each morning we wake up, we receive a new gift from God that we refer to as a new day.  We don't deserve this gift.  It is a love gift from the Lord.  We need to recognize each day as being a gift.  What we do with this gift is up to us.

 

GRATITUDE

Secondly, we need to count our blessings.  If you're like me, there's a lot of things I can't do as well as I did when I was younger.  Rather than focusing on this, I need to focus on the things I am still able to do.  To be rather honest, some of the things we complain about are the very things others are praying for.    When you get up on Monday morning and head back to work, be grateful for the job you have.  Many people would love to have your job.  Be grateful for the portion of health you have.  Some yearn for the degree of health you enjoy.  When there are little household problems that arise, remember that there are homeless people who would love to have the problems you complain about.  Gratitude has a way of improving our attitude. 

GLADNESS

In Psalm 51, David prayed, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.”  One reason some Christians seem sour is that they have lost their joy.  Sin has a way of robbing us of our joy.  Yet this joy can be restored with genuine repentance.  In Luke 10:20, Jesus told His disciples, “... rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”  There is joy in knowing that your sins are forgiven and you now belong to the Lord.  Furthermore, there is joy in our continued fellowship with Jesus.  Psalm 16:11 states, “... in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”  As we cultivate personal time with Jesus, our joy grows deeper and sweeter.

The Psalmist wrote, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”  We can't relive yesterday.  Tomorrow may never come.  Yet we do have today.  Let's live it fully for God's glory. 

Even though there are difficult days here on the earth, there is a better day coming.  A day that will never end.  A day of gladness for all of God's people.  We'll spend eternity in the presence of our loving Lord.  There will be joy in heaven.  The future is looking brighter for us.  To paraphrase an old quote, if you look around, you'll be distressed.  If you look within, you'll get depressed.  If you look up, you'll be blessed. 

Look up.  The best is yet to come.

Intentional Living

 INTENTIONAL LIVING

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” - John 9:4

Most people take life as it comes. They live reactionary lives. There is little planning involved. If they were honest, they'd admit that there are important things they need to do “someday.” The problem is that “someday” never comes.

When it comes to the most important things in life, we must be intentional. We must be intentional about cultivating healthy relationships. We must be intentional about our walk with God. We can't be haphazard about the critical issues of life. Rather than living reactionary lives, we need to live intentionally.

I have found that there are certain things that I must be intentional about or they simply don't get done. If I am not intentional about exercise, I will live a sedentary lifestyle. If I am not intentional about giving, I will be stingy. If I am not intentional about reading my Bible, it will easily go unread.

Many people “fly by the seat of their pants,” when it comes to life. They don't invest in life insurance, make out a last will and testament or plan for their burial. Worst of all, they have not planned for the afterlife. They are not prepared to die and they're certainly not prepared for Judgment Day.

We must be intentional about the vital things of life. Jesus is our model for all things. He lived an intentional lifestyle. In John 9:4, He said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” Note three things about Jesus and His future:

HE LIVED WITH PASSION

First of all, Jesus lived with passion. He said, “I MUST work the works …” (emphasis added). Jesus didn't say, “I should do the works,” or “I ought to do the works,” instead, He said, “I must do the works.” He had a work to do and was very passionate about getting it done.

I get inspired when I encounter people of passion. I guess one reason I get so inspired is because there are so few who have such passion. Of all people, shouldn't Christians be excited to be alive and serving God? Shouldn't we have a passion for God and the things of God?

Live intentionally. Like Jesus, live with passion.

HE LIVED WITH PURPOSE

Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me.” Jesus had a mission to fulfill. He came on a divine mission. Jesus came to do the will of His Father. He lived with purpose.

Generally speaking, all Christians share the same purpose. Our purpose is to glorify God by knowing Him and making Him known. The specific accomplishment of this may vary from person to person. For one man, it may be accomplished through preaching. For another man, it may be expressed in the business community. For a housewife, this purpose may be fulfilled by teaching her children about Jesus and sharing the Gospel with her neighbors and friends. Another person may be uniquely called and gifted to write or sing. Regardless, every Christian has a God-ordained work to accomplish.

Don't belittle the harvest field God has given you. Perhaps you'll never conduct an evangelistic campaign in a football stadium, but you may introduce a co-worker to Jesus. Maybe you'll never be a professional singer. Yet God may use your talents at your local church and bless many. You may never pastor a mega-church, yet you may lead a Bible study during the lunch break at work. When God gives you a job to do, it is a great work. Be faithful in that work.

Live intentionally. Live with purpose.

HE LIVED WITH PERSPECTIVE

Finally, Jesus lived with perspective. He said, ““I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” Jesus knew that His time was limited. So do we. We don't have time to waste. Moments are passing. Eternity is at hand. If we intend to get anything done for the Lord, we need to be doing it now.

Unlike Jesus, we don't know how much time we have left on earth. We just know that our time is running out. The wise person lives with this perspective. Jesus did. We must be intentional about the things we need to get accomplished before our death. Be intentional about expressing your love to your family. Be intentional about attending church. Be intentional about prayer. Be intentional about sharing the Gospel. Be intentional about making a positive difference.

Time is running out. Live intentionally in the time you have left.

Live Like He's Risen

 LIVE LIKE HE'S RISEN

“Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” - John 20:20

When I was growing up, my favorite holiday was Christmas. Thanksgiving Day was my second favorite holiday. These two days were special because of the memories surrounding them. As a child, I looked forward to receiving Christmas gifts. At Thanksgiving, I enjoyed a huge meal with the Lane Family on Belcher Mountain. I still have fond memories of those days.

As an adult, my focus has shifted. Now I've come to realize that the most important holiday is the one we call Easter. Actually, the proper title for the day should be Resurrection Day. In fact, if you properly place Good Friday along with Easter, you will find that the greatest event in human history occurred in this three-day span. On Good Friday, Jesus Christ went to the cross and there He shed His blood to pay for our sins. His sacrificial death upon the cross is the means by which we have eternal life. On the third day, He arose, proving that His sacrifice was accepted by the Father and is sufficient for our sin debt. His resurrection also guarantees our future resurrection.

Think of the implications of His resurrection. The impact of that event should consume us. What greater miracle could ever be than for a dead man to come back to life? During His ministry, Jesus had performed this miracle more than once on others, yet now He is the One who has risen. This risen Savior has now returned to glory and is sitting beside His Father. Yet this same Jesus has promised to indwell every believer. As Paul once wrote, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

What is impossible for God? He is able to do all things. Yet the risen Redeemer indwells us! This miracle-working Savior resides in each one of us!

Yet this brings up a puzzling question. If the risen redeemer lives within us, why do we live such lukewarm, apathetic and dreary lives? Why aren't we excited to live each day? Why do we look upon life with awful gloom?

The fact is that most church members only give verbal assent to Jesus' resurrection. We aren't living like He's really alive. When the disciples finally realized that Jesus was alive, they were never the same. Their gloom turned to glee. Their horror turned to happiness. Their faith was renewed. They were glad when they saw the Lord.

It is time for each of us to ask the sobering question: do I REALLY believe that Jesus has risen? Think about that question seriously. If our answer is a resounding yes, then we need to take the issue further. If we truly believe He has risen, what are we facing today, or will ever face, that can erode the impact of our Lord's resurrection? If we face problems, we do so with this risen Lord helping us. If we face pain, the One who was pierced for us will sustain us. When we face our own mortality, we do so with the comfort of the One who died willingly for us. As we approach the end of earthly life, we know that because of His resurrection, we are assured of a resurrection ourselves.

Every day, we should live like He has risen. We should live with excitement, serving the living King. As Adrian Rogers once said, “We ought to be living as if Jesus died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back this afternoon.”

Do not let the world distract you from the cross and the empty tomb. Because of His resurrection, we face a grand and glorious future. In the meanwhile, we walk in victory and assurance because this living Lord actually lives in us.

Do you believe that Jesus is alive today? If so, live like it!

Get Over Yourself

 GET OVER YOURSELF

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” - John 3:30

Pride is a deceitful sin. It is part of the human condition, a sin brought on by Adam's fall in the Garden of Eden. Even the most sanctified saint has to deal with this sin on a daily basis. Left alone, pride quickly mushrooms into an ugly monster that wants to take over a person's life. The book of Proverbs teaches us that a proud look is among the seven things that God hates.

Sadly, pride is not addressed in the church these days. An evangelist can be arrogant. A TV minister can be overbearing. A wealthy deacon can exert undue authority. A musician or singer can get addicted to the applause received. Yet such behavior is not only tolerated, it is considered “normal” by many professing Christians.

The most important lessons in life are often the most painful to receive. Here's a lesson we need to learn: we need to get over ourselves. The world does not revolve around us. If we die during the night, the world will continue its normal trajectory. Businesses will not shut down because we are gone. The President will not order flags to fly at half-mast out of national grief. We're not nearly as important as we think we are.

More to the point, God doesn't need us either, but we desperately need Him. While He loves us and desires to use us in His work, our pride, sin or disobedience will not stop His campaign. If we aren't usable, He'll find someone else to accomplish His plan. No, we're not as important as we think we are. We need to get over ourselves.

When Jesus' ministry experienced dynamic growth, others came to John the Baptist to ask about the Lord's incredible ministry. They probably expected John to respond with words of envy, anger or jealously. Instead, John said of Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” This should be the motto for every person that wants to be used by God.

As I write this, Palm Sunday is upon us. Palm Sunday is the day our Lord made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, marking the beginning of the Passion Week. In Matthew chapter 21, Jesus told His disciples to go to a specific location and retrieve a donkey for Him to ride upon. The disciples put their clothes on the donkey and then Jesus sat on the donkey. The large crowd cut tree limbs and threw them in the pathway. They cried out, “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.”

I have a question for you. When the donkey saw the tree limbs and heard the loud praise, did he think all the praise was for him? Did he think they were applauding him? Obviously, the praise was given for the One sitting on the donkey, not for the donkey himself. The donkey was simply carrying the Eternal Word. The donkey had been chosen for the task, and even though he accomplished his task, the praise was not for him.

In a similar fashion, you and I are compelled to carry the Word to the nations. When sinners repent, the celebration in heaven is not given out of praise to us. When God uses us in some way, great or small, to help others, we shouldn't expect applause.

The fact is that we can never be too small for God to use us, however He may refuse to use us if we are too great in our own eyes. We were not placed on earth to do our will, but His. We are not serving Him for our glory, but His. We should be seeking the pleasure of God rather than the praise of men. 

If anything good is ever done in my life or through my life, God is responsible for it. Who am I to take credit for His work? Who am I to get any applause for the things He does? Who am I to steal the spotlight from Jesus? I should never be offended when I am not recognized for some good deed. Like John the Baptist, my attitude should be, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

We need to get over ourselves. But we should never, EVER get over Jesus. We should never get over being saved. We should never forget God's blessings. We should never forget what He did for us upon the cross. We should never get over the many times He has heard our prayers and met our needs. Yes, we need to get over ourselves. But never get over Him.

He must increase, but I must decrease.