Thursday, August 20, 2020

Followers Of Jesus Are Called To Exemplify Godliness, Not To Police The World

Police officers have power to cite people and cause them to appear before a judge to face their fate from that point.

Disciples of Jesus, on the contrary, are not called to "police" people, but to let them know of the judge they will surely have to face (Jesus), and to show them how even now (before it is time for the judgment that is sure to come) they can walk in that judge's favor.

Christians have no “law enforcement” duties in the world as police forces do. They are only called to shine in the world as the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16). Their light unavoidably represents godliness, which stands for what is approved by God; and that makes a contrast with the darkness of the world whose values are ungodly. That in itself guarantees persecution in the world for the followers of Christ (2 Timothy 3:12). That’s because the light disturbs the darkness by the very fact that it makes a contrast with it. And it can’t be otherwise (Matthew 5:14). It’s only in that sense that the mere presence of a follower of Jesus somewhere can be presumed to constitute some kind of “law enforcement” in the minds of those who don’t want to be judged under any circumstances, and are quite happy to have no reminders that they will reap what they sow for not being diligent to be in agreement with God about what is right and what is wrong. And they will bring charges against God’s servants either openly or in secret. God knows that and his servants also aren’t oblivious to the fact that the world does not love Jesus nor the smell of Jesus in his people (see 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, John 15:18-20).

Jesus thus spoke to his disciples, saying, “These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Those who gladly receive the light that by God’s grace shines their way today will walk in it in doing God’s will (John 3:21). And those who do not gladly receive that light and hate it won’t walk in it (John 3:19-20); they will not have Jesus’ favor with them on the last day either (John 12:48 vs. John 6:40).

2 Timothy 4:1-3
1 I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be diligent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

Original image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay.  
 
 
8/05/2020

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