Be A Positive Christian!!
Having trouble with your neighbors? The reason may be that you have not developed a positive plan to guide you in living the happy, abundant and exemplary life that God intended.
Enraged at the evangelists, the furious, bloodthirsty mob brought them to the city officials crying, These who have turned the world upside down have come here also" Acts 17:6).
With these words, the angry Jews at Thessalonica accused the apostle Paul and his helpers of the very same thing of which many of you have been accused. Does true Christianity turn the world "upside down," or right side up? Is the Holy Spirit the Spirit of a peculiar mixture of misguided religious zeal, unreasoned superstition, and a rebellious attitude toward custom, society, and other people in general/ Is this the attitude of a good Christian?
Let's face facts! Some Christians have been accused of such wrong attitudes and conduct. Sometimes the accusation is clearly false, but sometimes it is based on fact!
How should Christians live to gain the respect of unconverted neighbors and friends? In spite of persecutions, how can we live the joyous, fruitful kind of lives that we should?
Let's look into God's Word for the answers, and use sound-minded wisdom in applying the principles contained there.
Are You a "Light"?
Jesus told his disciples, "You are the light of the world." And later, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in Heaven" (Matthew 5:14, 16). Jesus taught that we are not to put our light under a bushel, but on a candlestick where all can see. But how do we let our "light" shine before men?
Notice that Jesus said men would see our good works and glorify God (verse 16). He didn't say that they would hear our constant prating about the Bible. our "good works," our kindness and thoughtfulness to others, our willingness to sacrifice, our Christian example in daily living, these things will cause even unconverted men to admire and respect us. Eventually, they will realize that it is God who is helping us live this way. Then they will glorify him.
But arguing, disputing, and trying to "convince" people they are wrong is nowhere referred to as "good works." If friends or relatives aren't interested in God's truth, they will in no way be helped if you constantly plague them with what they regard as "your religion". It is certainly not the religion of Jesus Christ! That is not the kind of example that he set.
Remember that men will glorify God because of your "good works" not because of what you say. What type of good works should you demonstrate in this modern day?
Christian Works
In John 14:11, Jesus said, "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves." He was referring to the miracles which he performed, and said in verse 12 that one who truly believed on him would perform even greater works.
Most of Jesus' miraculous works were acts of kindness to others--healing the sick, feeding the multitudes, casting out unclean spirits. Paul wrote the Corinthian brethren, "Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually" (I Corinthians 12:27).
Today, Jesus is not here to perform good works in person, but we who are God's people comprise his body through which he can and does perform miraculous works. Many times, unconverted friends of our brethren have been moved to glorify God and his power when they have witnessed a genuine, miraculous healing according to God's promise.
God uses converted Christians to preach the true gospel as a witness to all the world, and exercise all the other gifts of God's Spirit. By each of us drawing closer to God in diligent Bible study, earnest prayer, and fasting, we shall receive the power to carry out our mission in a way that other people cannot help but notice.
One of the most beautiful parables of Jesus that we all learned as children, but sometimes seem to forget as adult Christians, is the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). It is the story of one man, a priest, who thought he was too holy or too important to be bothered with helping a poor fellow who had been set upon by thieves, and was lying wounded and suffering by the roadside. It also portrays the splendid, unselfish compassion of the Samaritan. He was not too "good" to help even a wretched fellow in trouble who he had never seen before.
Notice Jesus' instruction: "Go and do likewise."
Just how good a neighbor are you?
This is a vitally important factor in determining your ability to be a "light" to others and, incidentally, in determining your own happiness.
You should realize from the outset that unconverted friends and neighbors naturally tend to have a negative opinion of you--a true Christian trying to keep all of God's commands--against which their own minds rebel. They tend to look upon you as "peculiar" or "fanatic" unless you take positive action to counteract this attitude.
The solution to this problem is to prove by positive action that God's ways are best. Go out of your way to be a really wonderful neighbor. Remember that Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35)
The chief attributes of God's Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, longsuffering (Galatians 5:22). Put the love of God to work in your life. Try to be understanding, patient and always ready to be of service to others. Cultivate the attitude of joy and peace at all times. Try to make others feel happy in your presence.
God is more willing to give you of his Spirit--his live, joy, and peace--then you are to feed your won hungry children. Ask God to help you show more love--to give you his love--and to help you b3e a batter neighbor in every way.
Then, with God's help, make your neighbors like and respect you by your "good works"--your kindness, love, willingness to help in time of need. This will never be accomplished by your words, but by your actions.
Be Positive
One of the most striking mistakes of some is their failure to show a positive attitude toward life. Because they have come to realize that much of this world is wrong, they assume a negative attitude toward life in general. They don't take a real interest in their family, their friends, or their community. Is this the way to be a "light"--the kind of example others will admire?
No, Instead of being against everything, strive to be for something. Have a positive program of developing your personality, your capabilities, your ability to help and influence other people for good.
James tells us, "Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith...?" (James 2:5). Many are poor, humble people when God calls them. Some have not had many educational opportunities, and are handicapped in speech and writing, their knowledge of the world around them, and in many of the social graces.
Does God wish them to remain that way?
First of all, most true Christians have to confess that if they had all been highly successful in this world, they would have been too proud to accept God's truth and be converted. They would have had too much self confidence to recognize their need for God. But now that should all be changed. Now their confidence should rest in God and what he can do through them if they yield to his Spirit. Now that their confidence about any abilities rests in God--not self--wouldn't he want them to develop their abilities?
Jesus said, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). We are to strive to become like God in every way! Through God's help, we will finally achieve this goal when we are born of God in the resurrection.
Jesus was God in the flesh-- setting a perfect example for us to follow. Did Jesus use sloppy speech or dress? Did he appear "back woodsy" or uncouth to others?
In Luke 4:22, we find that when Jesus spoke in the synagogue, "So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth." They were forced to admire Jesus; ability in speech even though they later condemned what he said and tried to throw him off the brow of a hill (verse 29).
In reading the gospels, it is easy to discern that Jesus was a natural leader of men. He was a person forced to admire--even though some hated what he taught so much that they crucified him.
Are you developing the qualities of personality, of leadership? Are you able to deal with and influence people of all classes? The apostle Paul said, "I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some" (I Corinthians 9:22).
You should try to do your work the best way possible, to keep your home and yard looking as neat and clean as possible, to dress as well as possible within your means. you should study and use well whatever language you speak, to broaden your interests and your personality and abilities in every way. God says to develop your talents--to be like him in every way! if you do these things, your neighbors will notice the change for good in your life and will respect you more.
Show them a positive life of overcoming selfishness, of growing in grace and knowledge, of being an example of love and service to those about you.
With these new interests and abilities, with the joy that comes from actively helping others, your life should be more exciting, more full and abundant, than ever before. And you can go ahead in full faith that God has promised to help you grow more like him by guiding you, blessing and protecting you, through his Spirit.
Show Common Sense
Some fail to realize that, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (II Timothy1:7). Instead of demonstrating these qualities in their lives, they proceed in a hesitant, apologetic, or sometimes a belligerent attitude to try to "talk people into' some of their beliefs.
Humanly, we all tend to do these things, and it may not be easy to overcome them. But God has given us the spirit of power to do so!
From no on, instead of being "down on the world" in your talk and actions, try to show the world by action that you have found something better. Show your neighbors by doing good to them that your faith works for good.
Through God's Spirit within you, live up to what you believe and set a shining example before others. They may not agree with all your doctrine, but they will respect the results you achieve in your life.
Make an exciting game out of life--out of overcoming yourself and all the obstacles in the world. Accept yourself as a collection of possibilities--the soft, pliable clay out of which God, the Supreme Potter can fashion a character and personality ready to receive eternal life in his kingdom.
Try hard not to give others the impression that you are "peculiar." Your job is to show them the Spirit of a sound mind in everything you do. If people do ask you questions concerning your belief--which they will if you are living it--be prepared by diligent study to give them the answer in a non-argumentative, clear, and common sense way. Show them that God's way makes sense--and is based on a law of love which would prevent war, murder and most of humanity's troubles, if it were only taught and obeyed. But only tell people what they ask you about. Don't try to force new truth upon them. Just show them by your words and actions that God's way is based on common sense and a sound mind.
Continually ask God for the love, faith and wisdom to be a positive Christian. Put a smile on your face. Pull back your shoulders and hold your head high as you stop forward to meet the world with God's love in your heart. Show others a positive example of the blessing that comes from a life of love and service. Demonstrate by your actions that God's way is best and could bring happiness to everyone.
Even though you may still be persecuted by some, this positive attitude in Christian living will gain you new respect in your community. you may then be a positive influence for good. More important, this way of living faith and action will give your own life more meaning, interests, and joy, and will prepare you to better serve as a King and Priest under Christ throughout life eternal.
Roderick C. Meridith
Tomorrow's World
P.O. Box 3810
Charlotte, NC 28227-8010
Phone: (704) 844-1970