"Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world… " Philippians 2:14-15
Evangelical Christians are great champions of the inspiration and authority of scripture. Is it not a strange thing, then, that we so often disregard it when it comes to particular texts or truths?
Here is a simple, unequivocal directive that seems too often to be ignored in our churches, to our shame. "Do all things without murmurings and disputings." How different the atmosphere would be in many a church if this single text were taken as a directive from God Himself, and assiduously applied by every believer in the congregation!
In fact, this is a word from God. And there is a counterpoint in I Cor. 10:31, where, in a somewhat different context, we are instructed "… whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." If we are indifferent to it, we are guilty of rebellion, and God is not glorified. In fact, not only is God not glorified, but we are susceptible to Paul's charge to the disobedient Jews, "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles [i.e., unbelievers] through you… [Rom. 2:24]."
Believers are here identified as "sons of God," which means that His reputation is linked to ours in the eyes of the world. It is the divine intention that there should be a radical contrast between the believer and the world. Believers are to be "blameless and harmless," in contrast to the world of the unsaved which is described as "crooked and perverse;" a condition that does not prevail if there is strife and contention among us.
The question has been often asked, "Why does God not take us to heaven as soon as we are converted?" While there are many aspects to the answer, here is one of them. We are left here to "shine as lights" in this sin benighted world. Along the Maine coast, where we used to live, there are a number of lighthouses. They are there to warn mariners of dangers to navigation along the coastline and to assist their journey to a safe harbor. Should the light fail, the traveler's danger in an already hazardous environment is greatly enhanced.
We are here to give warning to the world of the hazards of sin and the dangers of careless living. We are here to mark the way to safe haven for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. To that end, our lives both individually and collectively are to be lived in a contrast to the world as radical as that of light to darkness. When we fail to implement the principles of the inspired Word of God, we obscure the Light and increase the peril of the ungodly. Then the need for change is self evident.
There is an additional inference here. When the Spirit of God says, "that ye may be the sons of God without rebuke," there is the suggestion that if we fail to respond to the word, because we are "sons of God," we may expect His rebuke. It may come in different ways, but it will come. He may lay His hand heavy upon us (cf. Heb. 12:5-7), or He may withdraw His hand from us and let us "learn the hard way" the folly of disobedience (cf. Ps. 51:11-12). It is an option wisdom would avoid!
To paraphrase the words of another, "Churches don't change. Only individuals do." If you are in an assembly where "murmurings and disputings" prevail, you may not be able to change the church, but YOU can change. That will make a difference, and by the grace of God, it may be contagious.
Yours for HIS glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
Evangelical Christians are great champions of the inspiration and authority of scripture. Is it not a strange thing, then, that we so often disregard it when it comes to particular texts or truths?
Here is a simple, unequivocal directive that seems too often to be ignored in our churches, to our shame. "Do all things without murmurings and disputings." How different the atmosphere would be in many a church if this single text were taken as a directive from God Himself, and assiduously applied by every believer in the congregation!
In fact, this is a word from God. And there is a counterpoint in I Cor. 10:31, where, in a somewhat different context, we are instructed "… whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." If we are indifferent to it, we are guilty of rebellion, and God is not glorified. In fact, not only is God not glorified, but we are susceptible to Paul's charge to the disobedient Jews, "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles [i.e., unbelievers] through you… [Rom. 2:24]."
Believers are here identified as "sons of God," which means that His reputation is linked to ours in the eyes of the world. It is the divine intention that there should be a radical contrast between the believer and the world. Believers are to be "blameless and harmless," in contrast to the world of the unsaved which is described as "crooked and perverse;" a condition that does not prevail if there is strife and contention among us.
The question has been often asked, "Why does God not take us to heaven as soon as we are converted?" While there are many aspects to the answer, here is one of them. We are left here to "shine as lights" in this sin benighted world. Along the Maine coast, where we used to live, there are a number of lighthouses. They are there to warn mariners of dangers to navigation along the coastline and to assist their journey to a safe harbor. Should the light fail, the traveler's danger in an already hazardous environment is greatly enhanced.
We are here to give warning to the world of the hazards of sin and the dangers of careless living. We are here to mark the way to safe haven for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. To that end, our lives both individually and collectively are to be lived in a contrast to the world as radical as that of light to darkness. When we fail to implement the principles of the inspired Word of God, we obscure the Light and increase the peril of the ungodly. Then the need for change is self evident.
There is an additional inference here. When the Spirit of God says, "that ye may be the sons of God without rebuke," there is the suggestion that if we fail to respond to the word, because we are "sons of God," we may expect His rebuke. It may come in different ways, but it will come. He may lay His hand heavy upon us (cf. Heb. 12:5-7), or He may withdraw His hand from us and let us "learn the hard way" the folly of disobedience (cf. Ps. 51:11-12). It is an option wisdom would avoid!
To paraphrase the words of another, "Churches don't change. Only individuals do." If you are in an assembly where "murmurings and disputings" prevail, you may not be able to change the church, but YOU can change. That will make a difference, and by the grace of God, it may be contagious.
Yours for HIS glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
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