CHRISTIANITY IN CRISIS!
I wish to conclude on this topic and humbly urge you to read through and be blessed. As Christians, be it a leader, or pastors or lay people we are completely responsible to bring relevance and coherence to Christianity and justify the message of the Cross. As we continue to understand the crisis let us find how Paul strives to bring relevance in his ministry.
Paul was relevant to all categories of people: Paul was in his defense before the king when king Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You’re out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad.” Acts 26:24 CSB. Paul was continually reading the books and the parchment (word) and remained inspired, qualified and updated in the subject of the present. (2 Timothy 4:13). I want to narrate an incident about a pastor and head of a mission in my earlier organization who was selected to go to USA for representing his genuine mission work, for he was working in a high tensed area. He visited the American Embassy to face the interview for Visa. He was asked about the purpose of his visit to which he said, “He is honest before God and want to remain an effective witness to Jesus alone” He was further asked who he considers as his leader if there were any, to this again very boldly he exclaimed none other than Jesus. The visa was sadly rejected and he had to miss the opportunity. The pastor thought he should not read any books other than Bible, not to admire and be influenced by any, other than Jesus.
D L Moody puts beautifully in his short quote “Some Christians are so heavenly minded, they are no earthly good.”. I understand some due to ignorance and limited to their understanding at a broader sense. Paul says in Romans 1:14 “I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.”. Paul was compatible to all groups. He can relate and give a discourse with someone who is from an illiterate background and at the same time to a learned man, who come under the intelligent category. Today there are missionaries and pastors who are in rural set up may not be well acquainted in a broader subject if they have to encounter the other groups, they sadly become non-relevant.
I wish to conclude on this topic and humbly urge you to read through and be blessed. As Christians, be it a leader, or pastors or lay people we are completely responsible to bring relevance and coherence to Christianity and justify the message of the Cross. As we continue to understand the crisis let us find how Paul strives to bring relevance in his ministry.
D L Moody puts beautifully in his short quote “Some Christians are so heavenly minded, they are no earthly good.”. I understand some due to ignorance and limited to their understanding at a broader sense. Paul says in Romans 1:14 “I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.”. Paul was compatible to all groups. He can relate and give a discourse with someone who is from an illiterate background and at the same time to a learned man, who come under the intelligent category. Today there are missionaries and pastors who are in rural set up may not be well acquainted in a broader subject if they have to encounter the other groups, they sadly become non-relevant.
Paul was relevant in His message too: Paul message was rich and sublime and persuasive too. When Paul presented his case before king Agrippa, the King replied, "In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian." Acts 26:28 NASB and then further tried to release him being convinced (Acts 26:32). Is our message convincing, rich and sublime or it is merely ranting of words, jokes and subjects which are so common and repetitive. In many cases we have become people friendly message unfriendly. This was not the case with Paul. He was honest and truthful at every sense. We learn while he was in a sail with other prisoners, the winds were contrary and furious and people almost lost all hope. Paul immediately admonished them yet was honest when he said, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives." Acts 27:10 NASB. C.S Lewis in his book Screwtape letters brilliantly writes about the conversation between the senior demon screwtape, instructing his nephew demon wormwood and it goes like this ". We do want … to make men treat Christianity as a means; preferably, of course, as a means to their own advancement.."
Can we make a commitment prayerfully to be relevant in our existence, in our subject and in the message of Christ and impact others? (1 Cor 9:27).
Blessings
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