WHEN NON-CHRISTIANS BEHAVE
BETTER THAN CHRISTIANS

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

(Matthew 5: 13-16 NKJV)

Misinterpreting the Bible
This is a sad truth that sometimes we see non-Christians behaving better then Christians. Today, we read of Christians suing one another in the law court, or a church and Christian organisation fighting it out in the civil court. What kind of image are these people portraying to a secular, non-Christian world? I know that there are Christians who justify themselves to bring another Christian to court. They say they are appealing to Caesar as Paul appealed to Caesar. Is that the correct interpretation of God's Word? How can they reconcile with 1 Corinthians 6: 1-6 (NKJV)?

"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!"

Don't Go to Court
God's Word is very explicit that we should not bring one another to the civil court. The issues and problems ought to be settled in the church by the leaders. Paul said that church leaders ought to "avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will" (2 Tim. 2:23-26 NKJV).

The Political World
Have you read the Straits Times of 9 September, 2009? There was a write-up of the old guards in the PAP and the opposition party's members who came together for the launch of the new book "Men in White". They were once enemies but now they assembled together, perhaps for the last time, as "friends". Why can't the Christians emulate their example? We may have differences, but why do we "kill" the opponents? In secular politics, it may be worst. They may be ruthless to their opponents by jailing them or banishing them from the country, etc. Yet from what I saw in the Straits Times, both parties did a noble thing by attending the function and taking photos together.

Be Gracious and Kind
Should Christians treat their fellow Christian opponents like non-Christians? Sad to say that this is so when it comes to issues like Bible versions, for example.

I bought a book recently entitled "MacArthur's Millennial Manifesto: A Friendly Response" by Samuel E. Waldron as he responded in a friendly way to a message John MacArthur delivered about two years ago. Samuel Waldron responded in such a loving way that one of his friends, Dr James M. Renihan wrote: "Thank you, Dr Waldron, for showing us how a theological refutation may be done with grace and kindness." Wow, isn't that the way we should treat one another when there is disagreement over doctrinal issues etc.?

Don't Be Tricked by the Devil
The world is looking at us and they love to see us fight and tear ourselves into pieces. They also enjoy seeing us fighting one another in the civil court. This provides fodder for the press. Beloved, if we do that, we fall into the hands of the devil and his tricks. Didn't the apostle Peter warn us in 1 Peter 5: 8 to "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (NKJV). It is foolish for Christians to fall into the wiles of the devil and let the world laugh at them.
When there is any doctrinal disagreement, or property dispute, etc., the church must settle it. This is not for the civil courts to handle.

The B-P Church Problem
The B-P Church today is going through this problem. Pray for our denomination. We don't want the name of Jesus to be shamed. We are a denomination reputed to be Bible-believing. We hold the Bible highly. We believe in the inspired and inerrant Word of God, and yet when it comes to living it out, we fall badly short of it. God forbid that we should be such people. I pray that such issues can be settled out of court and some good sense will prevail for the sake of the church and the name of our Saviour.

A Stumbling Block
When Christians fight each other in the civil court they become a stumbling block. Christians will be stumbled by their action and lack of love. They will not comprehend why the church should battle one another in such a way. Isn't there a solution to the problem which the church can look to other than the world's court?

It is a frightening thing to stumble fellow believers. The church has a solemn responsibility to build up and encourage the believers, and not to stumble them.

Beloved, pray for the B-P Church. Pray that the devil's work will be hindered. He is out to destroy the Church and the believers.

Pastor