The road to being a strong Christian is not easy. We can’t go to the gym to build up our spiritual strength, running a marathon will give us great muscle tone, and stamina, but do little for our eternal well-being.
We live
in an age that admires physical stature and beauty, yet inner strength and
character appears to be of little value. We might be considered a strong and
faithful Christian if we attend all of the services at our church, and weak or
unreliable if we attend less often.
How then
should we measure our standing as men and women of God?
When
Samuel was sent to anoint the new king of Israel; he learned that God's measure
of a person was different from mans –
And it happened as they came in, he saw
Eliab and said, Surely Jehovah's anointed is before Jehovah. But Jehovah said
to Samuel, Do not look on his face, nor on his height, because I have refused
him. For He does not see as man sees. For man looks on the outward appearance,
but Jehovah looks on the heart.
1 Samuel 16: 6-7
The same
is true today...God’s measure of a Christian is usually very different than
that applied by many people.
Men are often considered strong Christians if
they:
Lead worship,
preach well, lead prayers, help serve the Lord’s Supper, teach classes, do the
practical work around the building etc.
Women are considered strong Christians if they:
Teach
Bible classes, lead Sunday school, participate in ladies’ activities, prepare
the communion, clean the building, etc.
All are generally “judged” by their
participation in church-related activities….
a. If they participate in all the
activities...
Such as
Bible classes, or evangelism outreaches, visitation programs, etc.
-- Then they truly must be “strong
brethren”
b. But if for ANY reason they do not
participate in all that the church offers, their “commitment” is certainly
suspect!
This form
of “measure” of a person is problematic, it’s based upon outward works, people
can do all these things, and still be spiritually destitute on the inside.
A.
Believers can (and usually do) remain “spiritually immature” if this is
the only measure applied to them.
B.
Hypocrites and even non-believing
church members can exist very comfortably with such a measure.
Such a measure also tends to
neglect the many-sided nature of the body of Christ
a. Especially if emphasis is on
the public functions of the church
b. And if emphasis is placed on
one function over another (e.g., teaching over service) - .
For I say, through the grace given to me, to every one who is among
you, not to think of himself
more highly than he ought to think. But set your mind to be right-minded, even
as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. For even as we have many
members in one body, and all members do not have the same function, so we the
many are one body in Christ, and each one members of one another.
Then having gifts differing according to the grace that is given to
us, if prophecy, according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, in the
ministry; or he who teaches, in
the teaching; or he who exhorts, in the encouragement; or he who shares, in
simplicity; or he who takes the lead, in diligence; or he who shows mercy, in
cheerfulness. Romans 12:3-8
This way of assessing the “strength” and worth
of any believer is likely to lead to condemnation and separation, rather than
unity.
Do not speak against one another,
brothers. He who speaks against his
brother, and who judges his brother, speaks against the Law and judges the Law.
But if you judge the Law, you are not a doer of the Law, but a judge. There is
one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you who judges
another? James 4:11-12
The scriptural measure of a strong Christian is found in the
following verses.
But the fruit of the Spirit is: love,
joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control;
against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Here are the qualities of a person who is truly SPIRITUAL
This is evidence that such a person is truly led by the Spirit of
God. Such a person will certainly be involved in various “activities” of the
church - e.g.,
Brothers, if a man is
overtaken in a fault, you the spiritual ones restore such a one in the spirit
of meekness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's
burdens, and so you will fulfill the Law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2
But this measure requires that the “inner person” be changed first!
Read Colossians 3:12-17
Again, this measure begins with the “inner person” but it carries
over to our relationship with one another in such activities as Bible study and
singing
We should consider other “measure
of maturity” passages, such as those given to:
Preachers
One may preach a great sermon, but what of his/her personal life?
But you, O man of God,
flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love,
patience, and meekness. 1 Timothy 6:11
But flee youthful lusts,
and follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord
out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22
A preacher may be willing to contend for the faith, but in the right
spirit?
Fight the good fight of
faith. Lay hold on eternal life, to which you are also called and have
professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12
But avoid foolish and unlearned questions, knowing that they give
birth to strifes.
But the servant of the Lord must not strive, but to be gentle to
all, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those who oppose, if
perhaps God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. 2 Timothy
2:23-25
What of elders, and other leaders…
They may be married and have children who believe -
For this cause I left you
in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking and ordain
elders in every city, as I had appointed you, if anyone is blameless, husband
of one wife, having believing children, not accused of loose behavior, or
disobedient. Titus 1:5-6
But are they quick to anger, unable to teach others?
For an overseer must be blameless, as a steward of God, not
self-willed, not full of passion, not given to wine, not quarrelsome, not
greedy for ill gain; but hospitable, a lover of good, discreet, just, holy,
temperate, holding fast the faithful Word according to the doctrine, that he
may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and to convict the gainsayers. Titus
1:7-9
Members, young and old
1) They may be attending the services faithfully….
2) But is their conduct becoming their stage in life?
But you speak the things which become sound
doctrine: aged men to be temperate, sensible, discreet, sound in faith, in
love, in patience. Let the aged women likewise be in reverent behavior, not slanderers, not enslaved by much
wine, teachers of good; that they may train the young women to love their
husbands, to love their children, to
be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, subject to their own husbands, that the Word of
God may not be blasphemed.
Likewise exhort the young
men to be discreet; In all things having shown yourself a pattern of good
works: in the doctrine, purity, sensibleness, without corruption, in sound speech that cannot be
condemned, that he who is opposed may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say
of you. Titus 2:1-8
The Challenges Of Such A Measure...
It emphasizes an often radical reformation of the INSIDE of a person
first, trusting that reformation to the outside will naturally follow
a. i.e., it requires “transformation” when conformation would be a
lot easier
b. Transformation takes more time than simply conforming…..
1) Time some may not wish,
or be willing to take
2) Either for themselves
or for those whom they want to quickly conform to their ideas and programs
3) E.g., trying to get
involved in teaching before one is ready; just to make oneself look good –
My brothers, do not be
many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we all offend. If anyone does not offend in word, the
same is a full-grown man, able
also to bridle the whole body. James
3:1-2
2. This measure of a “strong Christian is one that often only the
LORD sees
a. We usually see each other
only for a short time each week
1) It is easy to “put on
a front” or wear a mask, to pretend to be something we are not
2) But the Lord sees us
as we really are!
b. On the other hand, brethren who may seem “passive” when we are
together may be extremely “active” when apart
They are often active in
their warfare against personal sin and active in their daily service to others
in the name of Christ
-- Activity which
we may never see but the Lord knows!
Conclusion:
1. The purpose in discussing the true measure of a Christian...
a. Has NOT been so we can
go around and judge others
b. But to suggest caution
in how we measure others!
c. And to make sure that we
are properly measuring our own selves!
2. The statement of the Lord to Samuel still applies today:
"Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature,
because I have refused him. For the
Lord does not see as man sees; for man
looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Sa
16:7)
Let's be sure the “measure” by which we examine ourselves is the
same one used by the Lord!
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