Christ first

 Christ First

The apostle Peter writes,

"Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:11,12.

The great evangelist Charles Spurgeon wrote,

"O Christian people, be holy, for Christ is holy. Do not pollute that holy Name wherewith you are named. Let your family life, your personal life, your business life, be as holy as Christ your Lord would have it to be."  Charles H. Spurgeon.

Sadly I see many calling themselves Christians here in North America not listening to either the apostle Peter or Charles Spurgeon.

When people from outside the church look at many who call themselves Christians they see everything from judgemental bigots, to charlatans, to hypocrites, to thieves, to oppressors, and all other kinds of evil.

Someone has said “if you want a good scandal just look in the church” sadly many times they are right. The church is not good at policing itself.  

The apostle Paul wrote,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

Unfortunately this is another scripture those within the church do not follow. Even when false teachers are cast out of the church here in North America many simply start their own church.

That being said I believe irrespective of whether false teachers are tossed out of the church or not. I think it is incumbent on the individual believer to see that they are truly following God in spirit and in truth. As the American evangelist Billy Graham put it,

"Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and seek to follow Him every day. Don't be swayed by the false values and goals of this world, but put Christ and His will first in everything you do." Billy Graham.

Please think about it.