Rod-West
  • Just Thinking
  • About
    • Beliefs
  • Sermons
  • Good Reads
  • Israel
  • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Biblical Counseling & Coaching
    • Coaching & Pastoral Care

A Foregone Conclusion

1/28/2013

2 Comments

 
Picture
I really abhor being a “foregone conclusion” for those who think they know me so well because of my life and faith. Assumptions are made, and decisions are carried out based upon personal biases, and without proper information being obtained. This happens often with the assumptions non-Christians make concerning believers, especially in regards to the more conservative Christian sect. Many of you know the assumptions I speak of because we've all heard statements attesting to these beliefs.

  • “Christians are hypocrites.”
  • “Christians are ignorant and racist.”
  • “Christians are weak and superstitious.”
  • “Oh, he is ‘one’ of those …” (You fill in the blank)

Secularists routinely use their multiple media outlets to bombard not only America with this type of misinformation but the rest of the world as well. Often their purpose is to minimize you as an individual and your ministry in order to discredit your work for the cause of Christ.

I witnessed this first hand when I was attending Liberty University in the early eighties. Liberal writers and TV personalities would often visit Lynchburg in order to follow up on some story based upon a controversial statement Dr. Falwell made publicly. What often made it into print, or on the telecast, was almost always one-sided placing Dr. Falwell and the University in a negative light. Typically, Liberty in those days was most often portrayed as a small, insignificant liberal arts college that catered to the fringe elements of Christian society. Today Liberty is the largest evangelical university in the world with more than 80,000 students; she is no longer considered small or insignificant.

But I don’t want to mislead you, we as Christians often do the same thing as we make certain assumptions, not only about nonbelievers, but fellow Christians as well. During the last twenty-five years in ministry I've served with Christians who sometimes seek to minimize the ministry of others. Their reasons, although different from secularists, are often rooted in the same soil. The secularist usually minimizes the Christian and his/her faith for political and philosophical reasons. Believers tend to diminish the work and ministry of another because of a lack of respect, or out of fear, and personal insecurities seeking to elevate self. In both cases it always comes back to having an inflated view of one’s importance. Note the words the Apostle Paul spoke to Timothy in his service to the church at Ephesus.

1 Timothy 4:11-16 (ESV) Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Paul’s instruction to Timothy was to let no one “despise” his youth. Some have suggested one was still considered to be a “youth” until he was no longer of the age to serve in the military, which by the way was the age of thirty-nine. The word “despise” is kataphronéō and means to “hold in contempt or to think lightly of.” The Apostle was encouraging Timothy not to be intimidated by others in the Church because of his young age.

The principle here moves beyond the youthfulness of Timothy, and can be applied to every believer and the ministry they have been called to perform. No follower of Christ should be intimidated or made to feel inferior because of age, spiritual gifts, areas of service, or the size of one’s following.

Timothy’s work was vital to the church body in Ephesus. He was to conduct himself in such a manner in order to demonstrate his spiritual maturity as a pattern for others to follow. Every Christian has been blessed with at least one spiritual gift that is to be used for the edification of the Church, and ultimately for the glorification of God. The Apostle Paul addresses this in First Corinthians 12 as he speaks to the variety of gifts given, and the importance of every member in the body of Christ.

My encouragement to you is this, just as we would stand up against those outside the Church who would seek to minimize our service to God, we should also stand up to those inside the Church who attempt to do the same. If God has called you, then He has also equipped you for ministry. Let no one “despise” you for any perceived limitations, or fear-based petty self-centeredness. Serve the Lord with all your might in order that He would be glorified, and then you will have the praise of God.

Blessings,
Rod



2 Comments
Chuck
1/29/2013 01:16:53 am

Well said preacher

Reply
Don
1/29/2013 02:21:26 am

Here, here! Amen!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Christian, husband, father, pastor2pastors, biblical counselor, author, friend, and lover of God & His Word!

    Categories

    All
    Biblical Counseling
    Church
    General
    Israel
    Marriage & Family
    Preaching
    Stories
    Trends


    Interesting Blogs

    Grace to You
    Mere Orthodoxy
    Joey Canady
    Ron Edmondson
    Church and Family Life

    Solid Churches & Ministries

    ​Friendship Baptist Church
    ​
    Hampstead Baptist Church
    Harbour Lake Baptist Church
    New Things Ministries 
    Oak Valley Church
    Peace Haven Baptist Church
    ​Pinecrest Baptist Church
    ​Christ-Centered Solutions
    ​

    Archives

    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    September 2021
    July 2021
    April 2021
    April 2020
    August 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    August 2018
    September 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012


    View my profile on LinkedIn

Subscribe to "Just Thinking"