A CHURCH THAT IS LIKED BY THE WORLD
It is simply the truth that the world and the church of the Bible have always been “at odds.”
However, there is a church that is liked by the world. Let me explain: The world likes a church...
1. ...that has an honorable reputation. “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These
things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that
thou has a name that thou livest, and art dead” (Rev. 3:1). 2. ...untroubled by inward heresy or outward opposition. “and that because of the false bre-
thren privily brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ
Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: to whom we gave place in the way of subjection,
no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you” (Gal. 2:4-5). 3. ...that is well spoken of by outsiders. “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!
for in the same manner did their fathers to the false prophets” (Luke 9:26). 4. ...that winks at moral evils in the community. Such as gambling, drinking, drugs, etc. The
church that “rolls over and plays dead” to the world’s demands is dead in God’s sight (Rev. 3:1). 5. ...that pulls punches in preaching the gospel. “I charge thee in the sight of God, and of
Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all
longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine;
but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn
away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables” (2 Tim. 4:1-4). 6. ...whose members livef4 like those in the world (2 Cor. 6:17). 7. ...that doesn’t practice discipline and withdrawal of fellowship from the disorderly (1
Cor. 5: 1-13). 8. ...that compromises the truth for fear of offending others (Mark 16:15-16; Gal. 3:26-27). Sadly, some folks have the mistaken idea that we must change the church so that it will
please the world. We ought to be doing the exact opposite: We should change the world so that
it is pleasing--not to the church, but to God! Jesus said, “And I also say unto thee, that thou
art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail
against it” (Matt. 16:18). Paul by inspiration wrote, “...The churches of Christ salute you”
(Rom. 16:16). It is a simple fact: The world does not like the church we read about in the New
Testament. Never has. Never will.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Serving is not about me--it is all about God!
Love ya,
Jesse
However, there is a church that is liked by the world. Let me explain: The world likes a church...
1. ...that has an honorable reputation. “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These
things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that
thou has a name that thou livest, and art dead” (Rev. 3:1). 2. ...untroubled by inward heresy or outward opposition. “and that because of the false bre-
thren privily brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ
Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: to whom we gave place in the way of subjection,
no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you” (Gal. 2:4-5). 3. ...that is well spoken of by outsiders. “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!
for in the same manner did their fathers to the false prophets” (Luke 9:26). 4. ...that winks at moral evils in the community. Such as gambling, drinking, drugs, etc. The
church that “rolls over and plays dead” to the world’s demands is dead in God’s sight (Rev. 3:1). 5. ...that pulls punches in preaching the gospel. “I charge thee in the sight of God, and of
Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all
longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine;
but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn
away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables” (2 Tim. 4:1-4). 6. ...whose members livef4 like those in the world (2 Cor. 6:17). 7. ...that doesn’t practice discipline and withdrawal of fellowship from the disorderly (1
Cor. 5: 1-13). 8. ...that compromises the truth for fear of offending others (Mark 16:15-16; Gal. 3:26-27). Sadly, some folks have the mistaken idea that we must change the church so that it will
please the world. We ought to be doing the exact opposite: We should change the world so that
it is pleasing--not to the church, but to God! Jesus said, “And I also say unto thee, that thou
art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail
against it” (Matt. 16:18). Paul by inspiration wrote, “...The churches of Christ salute you”
(Rom. 16:16). It is a simple fact: The world does not like the church we read about in the New
Testament. Never has. Never will.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Serving is not about me--it is all about God!
Love ya,
Jesse
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