God's Way
The apostle Paul writes,
“I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:2-4.
Here is something many Christians forget. Although we live in the world. We do not wage war the way the world does. Our warfare is spiritual not physical.
I look at the society around me here in North America and I see people demonstrating against everything they disagree with. Now there is nothing wrong with a peaceful demonstration. It tells people in power especially, there are those out there that have another point of view.
Certainly in my lifetime demonstrations have become the norm. I can remember the protests against the Viet Nam war. Against American Nuclear weapons in England. Of late there have been demonstrations against the top 1%. Against same sex marriage, abortion, against political candidates. The list goes on and on.
How effective these demonstrations are is subjective. Some do work some don’t. Most allow at the very least freedom of expression.
Demonstrating for or against something is the way of the world. Sadly however Christians have adopted this method to try and change things.
I think Christians should evaluate things however especially if they demonstrate against things. The apostle Paul states,
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”
Picture this if you can. Imagine a group of people living in a world that has teachings and beliefs that are quite the opposite to what they believe. A world that has practices that are morally reprehensible to what they believe. With a government that allows these practices to continue without regulation.
This is the world Jesus and the Apostles lived in. In Corinth alone there were supposedly hundreds of temple prostitutes. Pagan teachings and ceremonies were every where.
When the apostle Paul entered Athens there were temples to dozens of gods. Things were being going on that Paul, a Jew would have found very much in conflict to what he believed. Yet Paul said nothing about them.
Paul didn’t protest to the Roman Emperor. Nero wouldn’t have listened anyway. In fact Nero later on had Paul put to death along with Peter.
Yet Paul said,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.” Billy Graham.
The men and women who followed Christ knew what the Apostle Paul was saying was right when he said,
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:4.
We have the power to change society. To change the way people think it is the power of Love and the Grace of God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We as Christians need to stop using the weapons of the world and fight our battles using God’s word.
The temple prostitutes in Corinth are no longer practising. The temple they served in is in ruins. The temples to all those Greek Gods Paul seen in Athens are now ruins. Their priest long dead. The power that was the Roman Empire with it’s emperor worship and worship of idols are but notes in history.
Christianity on the other had is in every country in the world today. Even in countries that violently oppress Christians it survives.
Christianity survives because true men and women of God do not fight with the weapons of the world. They fight with prayer, and The Word of God. Weapons that demolish strongholds that the weapons of this world cannot defeat.
True Christians stick to the script. They obey what the writer of Hebrews states,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
In doing so the lives will be changed and the world will be a better place.
The apostle Paul writes,
“I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:2-4.
Here is something many Christians forget. Although we live in the world. We do not wage war the way the world does. Our warfare is spiritual not physical.
I look at the society around me here in North America and I see people demonstrating against everything they disagree with. Now there is nothing wrong with a peaceful demonstration. It tells people in power especially, there are those out there that have another point of view.
Certainly in my lifetime demonstrations have become the norm. I can remember the protests against the Viet Nam war. Against American Nuclear weapons in England. Of late there have been demonstrations against the top 1%. Against same sex marriage, abortion, against political candidates. The list goes on and on.
How effective these demonstrations are is subjective. Some do work some don’t. Most allow at the very least freedom of expression.
Demonstrating for or against something is the way of the world. Sadly however Christians have adopted this method to try and change things.
I think Christians should evaluate things however especially if they demonstrate against things. The apostle Paul states,
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”
Picture this if you can. Imagine a group of people living in a world that has teachings and beliefs that are quite the opposite to what they believe. A world that has practices that are morally reprehensible to what they believe. With a government that allows these practices to continue without regulation.
This is the world Jesus and the Apostles lived in. In Corinth alone there were supposedly hundreds of temple prostitutes. Pagan teachings and ceremonies were every where.
When the apostle Paul entered Athens there were temples to dozens of gods. Things were being going on that Paul, a Jew would have found very much in conflict to what he believed. Yet Paul said nothing about them.
Paul didn’t protest to the Roman Emperor. Nero wouldn’t have listened anyway. In fact Nero later on had Paul put to death along with Peter.
Yet Paul said,
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:9-18.
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities,
for there is no authority except that which God has established.
The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
Romans 13:1
Billy Graham the American evangelist, speaking about the Apostles of Christ said,“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.” Billy Graham.
The men and women who followed Christ knew what the Apostle Paul was saying was right when he said,
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:4.
We have the power to change society. To change the way people think it is the power of Love and the Grace of God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We as Christians need to stop using the weapons of the world and fight our battles using God’s word.
The temple prostitutes in Corinth are no longer practising. The temple they served in is in ruins. The temples to all those Greek Gods Paul seen in Athens are now ruins. Their priest long dead. The power that was the Roman Empire with it’s emperor worship and worship of idols are but notes in history.
Christianity on the other had is in every country in the world today. Even in countries that violently oppress Christians it survives.
Christianity survives because true men and women of God do not fight with the weapons of the world. They fight with prayer, and The Word of God. Weapons that demolish strongholds that the weapons of this world cannot defeat.
True Christians stick to the script. They obey what the writer of Hebrews states,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men
and to be holy;
without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14.
True Christian follow the command of Christ who said,“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
In doing so the lives will be changed and the world will be a better place.
Please think about it.
