WHAT WORLD EXPECTS???

WHAT DOES THE WORLD EXPECT FROM CHRISTIANS TODAY?

• Have you ever read the poem by Linda Ellis – The Dash? In it Linda describes what many wonder about between the two dates written on many tombstones; Birth, …… and Death! What is the value of this ‘Dash’? Especially if one is considered by many to be a ‘CHRISTIAN’?

• Many people I have talked with about what is expected of a good Christian today have listed off a few things that impress them of what they think ‘Good’ people should do and be in this life; but is this what ‘God’ wants or expects from us? 

• Does he expect or want ‘MORE’?  or  ‘LESS’?

• In This Blog I will list a few things typically ‘people’ in general expect from ‘Good’ Christians,  what people expect from the ‘average Joe Blow or Plain Jane’ good citizen, and what people would like to see from exceptionally ‘Good’ persons!

• I will then look at what God wants from His people!  What is His ‘Minimum requirements to ‘scrape’ in, as it were, and what would He like us to be, both in our ‘Inward lives,’ or ‘day to day living’ for ourselves, and our ‘Outward lives’ or Actions, and Interactions with ‘Others’ in society as ‘Christians, representing God and Salvation!!!

• What does man expect of His fellow-man in ‘most’ societies?

• Short, Shallow pleasure from Everyday Living!

Ecclesiastes  9:5      For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 

 9:6     Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any [thing] that is done under the sun. 

 9:7     Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. 

 9:8     Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. 

 9:9     Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that [is] thy portion in [this] life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. 

 9:10   Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do [it] with thy might; for [there is] no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. 

 9:11   I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race [is] not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

• Getting away with Minor (and many times major) Law infringements when possible?

8:11    Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 

 8:12   Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his [days] be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: 

 8:13   But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong [his] days, [which are] as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. 

 8:14   There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just [men], unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked [men], to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also [is] vanity. 

• Humour and Comedy to try and satisfy the empty heart?

 8:15   Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

• Living by Man’s laws and standards while ignoring, many times, God’s laws and standards?

Romans  2:11           For there is no respect of persons with God. 

 2:12   For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 

 2:13   (For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 

• Where do these ‘standards’ generally come from?

Romans  2:11           For there is no respect of persons with God. 

 2:12   For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 

 2:13   (For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 

 2:14   For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 

 2:15   Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 

• The ‘Light’ of ‘Conscience’ comes ultimately from God!

John  1:6       There was a man sent from God, whose name [was] John. 

 1:7     The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all [men] through him might believe. 

 1:8     He was not that Light, but [was sent] to bear witness of that Light. 

 1:9     [That] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 

 1:10   He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

• Why do these ‘standards’ vary from culture to culture?

• The Culture of ‘Egypt’?

Genesis  15:13         And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land [that is] not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 

 15:14            And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 

 15:15            And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. 

• The Culture of Caanan and the Amorites?

 15:16            But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites [is] not yet full.

• The Culture of Sodom?

Genesis 13:10          And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it [was] well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, [even] as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 

13:13 But the men of Sodom [were] wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

• The Culture of ‘Capernaum’, a corrupt city of Judaea?

Matthew  11:23      And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 

 11:24            But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. 

• The Culture of the Nature Worshiping People groups?

Romans  1:20           For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 

 1:21   Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 

 1:22   Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 

 1:23   And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 

 1:24   Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 

 1:25   Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 

• Is there a ‘True God’ with ‘Ultimate Standards of Behaviour and Conduct?

Psalms  14:1 To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David. The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth good. 

53:1    To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David. The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: [there is] none that doeth good. 

John  1:1       In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

John  1:9       [That] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 

 1:10   He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 

Romans  2:14           For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 

 2:15   Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 

 2:16   In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. 

Ecclesiastes  12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man. 

 12:14            For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil. 

• What are His expectations for His Intelligent and Free thinking Creatures?

1 Timothy  2:3         For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 

 2:4     Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 

Deuteronomy  30:19          I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 

 30:20            That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, [and] that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he [is] thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. 

Joshua  24:14           Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 

 24:15            And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. 

Job  34:2       Hear my words, O ye wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. 

 34:3   For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. 

 34:4   Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what [is] good. 

Isaiah 7:15    Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 

Ezekiel  18:30           Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn [yourselves] from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 

 18:31            Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 

 18:32            For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn [yourselves], and live ye. 

John  14:15   If ye love me, keep my commandments.

• How does He want us to Share these ‘Standards’?

John  15:9     As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 

 15:10            If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 

 15:11            These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your joy might be full. 

 15:12            This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 

1 John  5:3    For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

• Does He ‘Force’ them onto others with ‘Threats’?  or does He give them ‘Choice’?

Luke  14:23   And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel [them] to come in, that my house may be filled.

• Compel??

• With Love , Reason and Persuasion !!!

Isaiah  1:18   Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 

Acts  17:2      And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 

Acts  18:4      And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 

Acts  24:24   And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 

 24:25            And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. 

Acts  26:28   Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. 

 26:29            And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. 

• Is His manner of Invitation to adopt His standards ‘Gentle’, or ‘Aggressive’?

2 Samuel  22:36      Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. 

Psalms  18:35          Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.  

Galatians  5:22        But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 

 5:23   Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

• It may come across as Gentle, but ‘also’ BOLD!  Unashamed!

Acts  4:13      Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 

Romans 1:16            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. 

• How does He expect those who accept His standards to ‘Keep’ these standards?

Joshua  24:17           For the LORD our God, he [it is] that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed: 

 24:18            And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: [therefore] will we also serve the LORD; for he [is] our God. 

 24:19            And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he [is] an holy God; he [is] a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. 

 24:20            If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. 

 24:21            And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD. 

Hebrews  8:8            For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 

 8:9     Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 

 8:10   For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 

Philippians  4:13      I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 

• Are these standards only for ‘Inward living’ for a ‘comfortable lifestyle’?  or are they also for ‘Outward living’ in order to ‘share with ‘’Others’’???

Matthew  23:13      But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 

23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 

Matthew  9:10        And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 

 9:11   And when the Pharisees saw [it], they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 

 9:12   But when Jesus heard [that], he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 

 9:13   But go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 

Matthew  15:22      And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 

 15:23            But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 

 15:24            But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 

 15:25            Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 

 15:26            But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and cast [it] to dogs. 

 15:27            And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 

 15:28            Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great [is] thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. 

Galatians  3:28        There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 

 3:29   And if ye [be] Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. 

John  15:12   This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 

1. What is the Secret of ‘Ultimate, Exceptionally Good Inward and Outward Living?

Matthew 5:46         For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 

 5:47   And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so? 

 5:48   Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. 

Philippians  3:12      Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 

 3:13   Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 

 3:14   I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

 3:15   Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 

1 Corinthians 15:31            I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 

2 Corinthians  5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 

 5:15   And [that] he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 

Psalms  34:8 O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him. 

• Taste and See,  God is More than just Good!  He is the Answer to our Greatest Inner Desires!  The More we Share Him, the Greater the Joy and Happiness He wants us to Experience, both Here, and Into the Future Heavenly Life!