Being Christ- Like In His Church

                                                            

                                        Being Christ-like in His Church

On a Sunday morning, an old cowboy entered a church just before services were to begin. Although the old man and his clothes were spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt, and boots that were very worn and ragged. In his hand, he carried a worn-out old hat and an equally worn-out Bible. The Church he entered was in a very upscale and exclusive part of the city.

It was the largest and most beautiful Church the old cowboy had ever seen. The people of the congregation were all dressed in expensive clothes and accessories. As the cowboy took a seat, the others moved away from him. No one greeted, spoke to, or welcomed him. They were all appalled by his appearance and did not attempt to hide it.

As the old cowboy was leaving the Church, the preacher approached him and asked the cowboy to do him a favor. "Before you come back in here again, have a talk with God and ask him what he thinks would be appropriate attire for worship." The old cowboy assured the preacher he would. The next Sunday, he showed back up for the services wearing the same ragged jeans, shirt, boots, and hat. Once again, he was completely shunned and ignored.

The preacher approached the man and said, "I thought I asked you to speak to God before you came back to our church." "I did," replied the old cowboy. "If you spoke to God, what did he tell you the proper attire should be for worshiping in here?" asked the preacher. "Well, sir, God told me that He didn't have a clue what I should wear. He said He'd never been in this Church."[1]

            This joke illustrates several points: It exposes our wrong view of the Church and the hypocrisy of our hearts. It teaches us that what you wear to Church doesn't matter, but whether you show up, more importantly, whether God shows up. Today, we will explore the Biblical theology of the Church and how Christians can be Christ-like in His Church. Col 3:12-17.

I. The State of the Western Church.

Before we address what a church is, we will look at the state of the Church in the West. In the World, Christianity is growing faster than the population. If this trend continues, it could reach "3 billion by 2050." That is the Good News! In the USA, according to a new Gallup report, more than half of Americans (56%) say they seldom or never attend religious services. Less than a third (30%) say they attend on a weekly or almost weekly basis."[2]

However, each Sunday, many Christians still gather in local churches. Here is Eugene Peterson's take on the local Church: "St. Paul discussed the foolishness of preaching; I would like to explore the foolishness of congregations, God's chosen venue. Of all the ways in which to carry out the enterprise of Church, this has to be the most absurd—a haphazard collection of people who assembles into pews on Sundays, half-heartedly sing a few songs most of them don't like and tune in and out of a sermon according to the state of their digestion and preacher's decibels awkward in their commitments and jerky in their patterns.

But people in those pews are also people who suffer deeply and find God in their suffering. They make love commitments, are faithful to them through trial and temptation, and bear fruits of righteousness, Spirit-fruits that bless the people around them. Babies, surrounded by hopeful and rejoicing parents and friends, are dedicated in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. The dead are offered up to God in funerals amid tears and grief. Sinners repent and take the body and blood of Jesus and receive new life.

And these two realities are mixed, impossible to separate."[3] This is the typical picture of a local Church. Let's look at what the Bible says about the Church and its mission in the World.

II. The Biblical View of the Church.  

            Sometimes we have a mistaken notion of a local church because we may have started it, and have been a founder and president of it, so we think it is our Church. In reality, the Church never belongs to us; instead, we belong to the Church, or more accurately, we are the Church.

Here are the words of the initial founder, the only rightful owner, and the sustainer of the Church worldwide. Matthew 16:18, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." ^"You are Peter, a stone; and upon this rock I will build my church; and all the powers of hell shall not prevail against it." (TLB)

Contrary to our popular understanding, the Church is not a building. Jesus did not lay a foundation stone for a structural building; instead, he started a worldwide movement of people and inaugurated the Kingdom of God that would endure forever. The word "church" is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia, which is defined as "an assembly" or "called-out ones."

The first Church consisted of twelve called-out ones. It grew and became a Universal Church from all nations, tribes, and languages. The apostle Paul refers to that universality and multicultural, multiethnic, and racial Church when he said, "Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all." Col 3:11. Christ is the foundation, and all those who believe in Him belong to that Church.

There is no one set place or building for Christ's Church. It meets in huge stadiums and small rooms, it meets in prisons, nightclubs, on mountain tops, and in the valleys. The smallest form of the Church is two or three people. Whenever they meet together in His name,  that is where Jesus promised to show up. This universal Church is expressed locally, like in Hope Church in Sharon. A Toyota car that may come in different shapes, sizes, and colors is still a Toyota. Similarly, every local Church must reflect the nature and character of Jesus Christ.

III. Being Christ-Like In His Church

            Can you be a Christian without going to a Church? Yes, you can! But why do you want to miss out on all the blessings of being committed to a local Church? Just as a balanced diet is essential for our physical health, being part of a Church is vital for balancing our Spiritual life.

Whether a mega or small Church, every local Church that honors Jesus must work towards being Christ-like. It doesn't mean we are looking for perfectness but wholeness. A local Church is a better place where we can develop Christ-like rhythms, as Paul noted in this passage.

Being Christ-like in His Church means walking in forgiveness like Christ did. In a small church like ours, as human beings, we are bound to hurt one another either intentionally or unintentionally. But as Christ forgave us, we must also forgive those who have hurt us. The longer we remain unforgiving and harbor bitterness, the longer we stay sick and miserable.

Being Christ-like in His Church means we must walk in love, as Eugene Peterson says, "regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It is your basic all-purpose garment. Never be without it." (Col 3:14, The Message). Those who follow Christ are to be the people of love. It is not our passion that would win people to Christ, but God's compassion and His love through us. Christ loved us enough to die for us. How about us? Can we love people as Christ loved us?

 

Being Christ-like in His Church means developing Christ-like rhythms in our lives. What are the rhythms of Christ? Jesus prayed regularly, read the Holy scriptures, attended Sabbath services, fellowshipped with sinners, served, healed the sick, fed the hungry, preached the Good News, and taught His disciples. The early Church followed the same pattern as Christ did.

Acts 2:42-47, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and fellowship, to the breaking of bread, to prayer, and meeting one another's needs. Hope Church is a safe environment to cultivate and grow in these rhythms, and in doing so, we will become Christ-like.

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[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/id22n6/old_man_goes_to_church/

[2] https://religionnews.com/2024/03/25/gallup-poll-more-than-half-of-americans-rarely-go-to-church/#:~:text=More%20than%20half%20of%20Americans%20(56%25)%20say%20they%20seldom,seldom%20or%20never%20attend%20services.

[3] Eugene Peterson in, “The Jonah Syndrome,” in Leadership Journal, Summer 1990, 43.

Being Christ-Like

                                                                BEING CHRIST-LIKE

In a world where you can be anything, an advertisement for Pandora Jewelry suggests what one can be: "Be the one thing that can change everything, be bold, be authentic, be brilliant, be the unexpected, be the beauty, be an open heart a first step, a comfort, a force, be true, be nurturing, be open-minded, be understanding, be connected to what matters, selfless, be Limitless, be the laughter. In a world where you can be anything, Be Love, Be Love![1]

This advertisement has a subtle message: If you buy and own Pandora Jewelry, you can embody all that, and in doing so, fulfill the longing to love and be loved. How deceptive it can be? It made me think! How about you, as a follower of Christ in a world where you can be anything, what would you like to be? In our In Him series, we will explore what the Apostle Paul wanted the Colossian believers to be and how that impacts us today. Colossians 3:10-17

I. Christ is The Firm foundation For New Life

The scriptures repeatedly express that when a sinner surrenders their life to Jesus, something new happens within them. The old is gone, and the new has come. They become a new Creation in Christ. Our old sinful life has been replaced with a new life. We are to move away from the way we used to live and rebuild our lives anew on Christ, our firm foundation.

To convey this new and transformed life, Paul uses several metaphors in his letters to various churches. To the Church in Ephesus, he uses the metaphor of clothing. Ephesians 4:22-24, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Why must we put off our old life? Because it is corrupted like a computer infected with malicious software.

Writing to the Corinthian Church, he uses a metaphor of a foundation. I Cor 3:11, "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. Writing to the Colossian Church, he uses a metaphor of a building. Col 2:6-7, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

Our old life before giving our lives to Jesus was built on a shaky foundation of our family traditions, religious beliefs, and cultural norms and values. We thought those were the right ways of living. When we come to Jesus, we must recognize that ungodly systems of the World need to be torn down, and we start rebuilding our lives anew, having Jesus as our firm foundation. In our passage, the Apostle Paul breaks down how to live this New Life in Him into three categories. 

II. We Are Saved and Changed To Be A Blessing

In the scriptures, we often see God saving and changing individuals and giving them a mission to become a blessing to others. We see this in the lives of Abraham, the prophets, kings, the early disciples, and later on Saul, who became the Apostle Paul after God changed his life.

After a divine encounter on the Road to Damascus, the persecutor of the Church, Saul, 's life dramatically changed. God testified of Saul, saying, "This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." Acts 9:15.

Being faithful to that calling, Paul became a blessing to thousands of people, planted several churches, wrote thirteen letters to the Churches, and one of them was the letter to the believers in Colossae. God changed your life so that you can be a blessing. Christ would say to each of us, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear Fruit—Fruit that will last. Jn 15:16. Paul affirmed that high calling in Col 3:12.

III. Being Christ-Like In This World.

Colossians 3:9-12, "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here, there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."

Coming back to my initial question in the introduction, as a follower of Christ in a world where you can be anything, what would you like to be? I don't know about you, but I want to be Christ-like in this World. In Christ, there is no differentiation and discrimination; we are all equal. In our New Life, Christ is all that matters, and Christ is the one who lives in all of us.

For that reason, Paul addresses all of us as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved. Then he commands us to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." In other words, "Be Christ Like! The Bible contains various types of teachings: advice, promises, clauses, doctrines, judgments, challenges, and negotiations.

What Paul urges believers to consider falls into the category of commands from God. Before we become anything for Christ, we must consider who we are in Christ. Because God chose us, made us holy, and we are dearly loved, we are to become compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Generally, people lack compassion, are unkind, proud, harsh, and impatient. We, too, were like that once, but as Paul commands, we must exhibit Christ-like virtues.

In a world marked by so much hurt and brokenness, it is a breath of fresh air to meet people who embody these five Christ-like virtues: Compassion, Kindness, Humility, Gentleness, and Patience. Out of five virtues, three of them: Kindness, Gentleness, and Patience, are part of the fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in the life of a believer. Let's look at the other two virtues.

IV. Compassion and Humility.

As we yield ourselves and are led by the Holy Spirit, we become kind, gentle, and patient people. The other two virtues of Compassion and Humility are what we need to work on, as we strive to be more Christ-like. Over the years, I have met some wonderful people both in and outside the Church who exhibit these qualities of compassion and humility. I also met people who call themselves Christians but lack compassion and are very proud.

How can you find out whether you may be lacking in compassion and moving in pride? According to a web article, People who lack compassion often display these 10 behaviors (without realizing it): You struggle to feel others' pain. 2. You find it hard to show sympathy. 3. You tend to judge others. 4. You struggle to express affection. 5) You often neglect emotional needs – yours and others' 6. You find it hard to forgive and let go. 7. You struggle with patience. 8. You are often focused on the practical. 9. You struggle with vulnerability. 10. You often neglect self-compassion."[2] If you identify with these behaviors, you are lacking in compassion.

Remember, compassion is not something we are born with. It is a skill that must be cultivated. We grow in compassion by studying the life of Jesus, who moved out of compassion for others. By doing so slowly, we can start expressing care for others, showing interest in what they are going through, and stop being judgmental. We will also see people as precious souls rather than objects to achieve our selfish goals. We become humble by imitating Jesus, the Son of God, who humbled himself by taking the very nature of a servant (Phil 2:1-11). When all Christian aspire to be more Christ-like, the World will be a better place to live.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvQbxiyGxoQ

[2] https://geediting.com/people-who-lack-compassion-often-display-these-behaviors-without-realizing it/#:~:text=1)%20You%20struggle%20to%20feel,of%20their%20suffering%20or%20distress.

 

New Life In Him

                                            NEW LIFE IN HIM  Colossians 3:1-11

 

Here is a turnaround story of a Lesbian who despised Christians, then she became one of them. "Professor Rosaria Butterfield hated and pitied Christians. She thought Christians and their God, Jesus, were stupid and pointless. As a professor of English and women's studies, she used her post to advance the allegiances of a leftist lesbian professor. She and her partner shared many interests: AIDS activism, children's health and literacy, and the Unitarian Universalist church.

She began researching the Religious Right and their politics of hatred against queers like her. To do this, she would need to read the Bible. She began her attack by writing an article in the local newspaper about Promise Keepers. The article generated many rejoinders, including some hate mail and others that were fan mail. But one letter I received defied this filing system.

It was from the pastor of the Syracuse Reformed Presbyterian Church. It was a kind and inquiring letter. Pastor Ken Smith encouraged me to explore questions such as, "How did you arrive at your interpretations?" How do you know you are right? Do you believe in God? Ken didn't argue; instead, he asked me to defend the presuppositions that undergirded it. I didn't know how to respond, so I threw it away.

Later that night, I retrieved it from the recycling bin and placed it on my desk. With the letter, Ken initiated two years of bringing the Church to a heathen. Oh, I had seen my share of Bible verses on placards at Gay Pride marches and Christians who mocked me on Gay Pride Day. That is not what Ken did. He did not mock. He engaged. So, when his letter invited me to get together for dinner, I accepted. This will surely be beneficial for my research. Ken and his wife, Floy, and I became friends. They entered my World. They met my friends. We talked openly about sexuality and politics. They did not act as if such conversations were polluting them. When we ate together, Ken prayed in a way I had never heard before.

I started reading the Bible, the way a glutton devours. At a dinner gathering, my transgender friend J cornered me in the kitchen. She warned, "This Bible reading is changing you, Rosaria." With tremors, I whispered, "J, what if it is true? What if Jesus is a real and risen Lord? What if we are all in trouble?" One Sunday morning, I sat in a pew at Church. Conspicuous with my butch haircut, I reminded myself that I came to meet God, not fit in.

The image that came in like waves, of me and everyone I loved suffering in hell. Then, one ordinary day, I came to Jesus. Jesus triumphed. And I was a broken mess. Conversion was a train wreck. I did not want to lose everything that I loved. I weakly believed that if Jesus could conquer death, he could make right my World. I rested in private peace, then community, and today in the shelter of a covenant family, where one calls me "wife" and many call me "mother."[1] Rosaria Butterfield resides with her family in Durham, North Carolina, where her husband serves as pastor of the First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Durham.

What a powerful testimony from a former lesbian whose life was transformed by Christ's love and the love shown by a pastor couple and the church community. Her New Life in Christ is now touching and changing many lives around the World, especially those who are struggling with sexual sins. In our "In Him" series, we will explore how the Apostle Paul encouraged the Colossian believers to stop returning to their former sinful lifestyle and instead live out their New Life in Christ boldly and unashamedly to the fullest. Colossians 3:1-11

The twin experiences of being born again and getting baptized by immersion are unique and precious personal spiritual encounters. Only those who have experienced it can explain the unlimited joy and enormous freedom that come from knowing the Savior of their lives. At that moment of conversion, God forgives all our sins and makes us Holy.

At that very moment, if we had died, we would straight away go into His presence to live with Him forever. However, that is not always the case; we continue to live and face the challenges of navigating our New Life in Christ in this broken World. The Apostle Paul offered some guidance for seasoned and newly baptized believers in the Church of Colossae. 

I. Our old life has died and was buried with Christ in Baptism.

            This is how Paul reminded the Colossian believers, in Col 2:12, "For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him, you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God who raised Christ from the dead." (NLT). In Vs 20, we read that they also died with Christ and were set free from the spiritual forces and rules of this World.

            What do these scriptures mean to us today? When we went under the water in baptism, our old life with its sinful nature was dead and buried. Coming up out of the water was a resurrection; God raised us from the dead, just as He raised Christ from the dead, into new life with Him. Our sinful, fleshly self, with all its lustful passions and desires, has died and been buried with Christ. Now our old life cannot dictate to us how we should live our New Life.

I recall how my life was gradually, yet radically, changed after I was baptized. It is not to say that I have never sinned since then or will never sin again. However, I do say this: Jesus lives in me, and He will forgive and cleanse me from all unrighteousness each time I confess my sins (I John 1:9). Knowing that our old life is dead and buried is crucial for us to move forward. To do that, we will have to cut ties with sinful friendships and cultivate God-honoring relationships.

II. The Impact Of Our New Life In Him

The Apostle Paul lays out specific guidelines for the believers to live out their New Life in Christ. If you are truly a born-again believer, how does your New Life in Christ impact you?

Whenever God does something, He does a comprehensive work that includes the salvation of individual sinners. In your New Life in Christ, your heart, mind, and body are impacted by God.

I. A New Heart

Colossians 3:1, "Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." We can only live our New Lives to the fullest by keeping our eyes on Jesus Christ, who is currently seated at the right hand of God.

In the Bible, when a King puts anyone on his right hand, he gives them equal honor and dignity. I Kgs 2:19. That was what God did when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at His right hand. He gave Jesus the same honor, dignity, and power He had by placing all things under Him. As New Believers, we now entrust our hearts to Christ, who reigns supremely.

Paul writing to the Corinthians noted, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; the old has gone, the new is here. II Cor 5:17. This newness includes a New Heart, according to the promise of God, who said, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

What does this new heart represent in the Bible? In the scriptures, the heart is that spiritual part of us where our emotions and desires dwell. As born-again Christians, we desire Christ more than anything else, and to do His will. And also, we express Christ's emotions of Joy, love, forgiveness, and compassion. How does this practically work out? We seek His Kingdom and His righteousness first. We love God with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love our neighbor as ourselves. We forgive people and do not hold bitterness in our hearts.

II A Renewed Mind

            In the life of a New believer, along with a new heart, a renewal of mind takes place. After setting our hearts on God, we are encouraged in verse 2 to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. What is the mind, biblically speaking? In the New Testament, the Greek word phroneo is often translated as “mind” and most commonly refers to a person’s thoughts, understanding, views, opinions, affections, or moral considerations.

            Before we were born again, we used to think, form opinions, and set our affections on the earthly and immaterial things. But in our New Life, Christ renews our minds, and now we retrain our minds to think the thoughts that would glorify Christ and advance His mission on earth. Failure to do so may put us in a place like Peter, who Jesus rebuked, saying, “Get behind me, Satan!’ he said. ‘You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (Mark 8:33). Are you focusing only on the temporary and immaterial things or the things above?

III. A Self-Controlled Body

            A new heart and a renewed mind enable a new believer to live a self-controlled life, where they bring their body under their control in all aspects of living. A self-controlled person will exercise control or restraint in their bodies, managing their physical and sexual appetites.

People who do not know Christ are led by their instincts like animals and try to satisfy their appetites for food, sex, and wealth. Whereas Paul urges believers to put to death: Sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.

A self-controlled body also includes our tongue, with which we speak. As new believers, we must rid ourselves of anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language, as well as speaking lies. New Life in Christ consists of setting our hearts and minds on Christ and controlling our bodies. May the Holy Spirit empower us to live our New Life to the fullest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Source: Rosaria Champagne Butterfield, “My Train Wreck Conversion,” CT magazine (Jan/Feb, 2013), pp. 111-112