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A Living Gospel

by Kelly Crawford

 

“Christ’s love is so powerful it turns the most wretched of sinners into saints whose lives are transformed.

I believe as members of the body of Christ, we are called to minister in different ways. Often I am questioned as to why I “make big deals over issues”, instead of focusing on the basic gospel of Christ for salvation. Some are burdened for the cannibals in the remote villages of the world…and some are burdened for the body.

And I think it came to me, from one of Tozer’s quotes, why I feel especially burdened for believers…

“The popular notion that the first obligation of the church is to spread the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth is false. Her first obligation is to be spiritually worthy of it.”

And then he goes on…

“The church has lost her testimony. She has no longer anything to say to the world. Her once robust shout of assurance has faded away to an apologetic whisper.

It is useless for large companies of believers to spend long hours begging God to send revival. Unless we intend to reform we may as well not pray.”

We are expending so many efforts in adding members to the body, that the body has been sorely neglected, untaught and is sick and dying! How can a wounded body say to the world… “Come…taste and see that the Lord is good!”

It cuts straight to my heart when I am misunderstood and accused of “being judgmental”, “trying to keep women down” or “stirring up dissension.” I feel a cry in my spirit to say…”Oh foolish church, who has bewitched you?”

And I feel the cry unto myself. Crying out to God for forgiveness as I wake up each day fully, painfully aware of my inadequacies–of my blaring sin, but so thankful that I have an Advocate. So thankful, indeed, that every fiber of my being cries out “Show me Thy ways, O Lord, teach me Thy paths”!

No, being a Christian does not mean a perfect life without problems; but it does mean that over the course of time, the world should be able to see the Redeeming Love at work within our hearts, our families and our churches.

What is wrong with us? Why are we sharing so much of the world’s curses of sin? Why are we committing so many of those sins?

Either there are a lot of people walking around calling themselves “Redeemed” who aren’t Christians at all, or Satan has deceived the people of God to the point of wrecking their fruitful testimonies.

On a practical level? It is a given that the fruits of the Spirit will be manifest in the life of a Christian. But those fruits have implications beyond just a fuzzy sentiment:

~Christians ought to be staying married…not desecrating the picture of Christ and His bride.

~Christians ought to be raising sons and daughters who truly honor their parents.

~Christians ought to be content, grateful, joyful, loving and kind.

~Christians ought to be bold and full of conviction.

~Christians ought to look like Christians–modest, in every sense, in a “non-naked” sense, in their characters and in a material sense.

~Christians ought to be raising children who haven’t been living a life of fornication before marriage.

~Christians ought to be passing on a legacy of faithfulness to their children and grandchildren.

~Christians should be showing honor in their marriages–husbands giving honor to their wives as unto the weaker vessels, and wives giving honor to their husbands as the head of the wife.

(Of course I don’t mean that a Christian family should expect to NEVER experience the curse of sin; that’s not the reality of living in a fallen world. But as a general rule, across the span of the “church”, there should be a marked difference in our lives and the rest of the world.)

Our strongest point of evangelism is a life lived out in the principles of Scripture. Not a “hey if you get saved you’ll have everything you ever wanted and sin isn’t really a big deal anymore”, but “hey, Christ’s love is so powerful it turns the most wretched of sinners into saints whose lives are transformed.” “You will know them by their fruits”.

Now that’s a gospel they can sink their teeth into.

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8 comments

Anonymous September 12, 2008 - 10:20 am

I totally agree with 99% of what is on this blog. However, I don’t understand why we are beating up on Sarah Palin. If it were Todd Palin we probably would be so glad that he was conservative and that he embodies alot of the things that we believe: Prolife, family, down-to-earth values ect. We have been praying that God would give us an alternative to the Obama administration and now we have Palin and we are beating her up just because she is woman who is a believer. Come on!!! Have you read up on what Obama is and believes. The Muslims have said they will get America from the inside; how better way to get us than to have one of their men be our President. God gave us the privilege to be born in a free country and with that expects us to use our heads to keep out the evil. We have two choices Obama and whatever he brings, (which by the way, if he gets it we probably won’t have to worry about voting again in 4 years because we probably won’t be around–remember Christians are the big evil.), or McCain(and he is not perfect) but at least we have a fighting chance. But not to vote for McCain is in essence voting for Obama.

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Word Warrior September 12, 2008 - 10:41 am

Anon,

You simply must go back and read all the posts on Sarah Palin, because they will answer all your questions, and correct your erroneous accusations (i.e. “beating up on Palin”)

I have certainly been careful to be respectful of her personhood. Yes, I would be thrilled if it were Todd…as I believe Scripture forbids both women ruling in civil office and leaving small children behind to do so. But I still couldn’t vote for McCain.

No, I don’t believe we have two choices. We were born into a free country that allows us another choice…I cannot, in my conscience, vote for a party I still feel breaks so many principles of God; I answer to a higher authority than the government, and am more afraid of Him than even Obama.

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Word Warrior September 12, 2008 - 11:24 am

Just another quick thought regarding Anon’s comment…

I’m not sure you agree with me 99%…much of my writing is centered around the biblical role of womanhood…my stance on Palin is no different than the thoughts I’ve espoused many times concerning the role of women.

You may find me to be disagreeable, but I pray you find me to be consistent.

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Manda @ Lambs In His Arms September 12, 2008 - 12:35 pm

Thank you for your heartfelt post. I completely agree that the Church should be distinctly different from the world, but sadly our modern Christianity has been heavily influenced by secular sources. It is true that we must focus on making strong disciples within the church before we worry about converting the rest of the world to a half-hearted faith!

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Q September 12, 2008 - 12:39 pm

Reform, reform, reform.

Amen and Amen.

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Phamilyof6 September 12, 2008 - 1:26 pm

I agree completely. However, the Gospel has to also come out of our mouths! We need to be speaking of Jesus and His sacrifice and love ALWAYS!! It is much more than just doing and being “this” way. It has to resignate not only from our lives, but also from our lips. No one is excused from sharing the Gospel of Christ and being a living witness through action, deeds AND words.
Jessica – Missionary to Peru

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edwardianbeauty September 12, 2008 - 8:28 pm

I agree with a lot you have to say on the site. Just because some Christians have lots of problems doesn’t mean they aren’t saved. It means they are carnal Christians that should mature. We should speak about the truth and also examine ourselves. I don’t agree with evrything you said about Obama though. Yes he believes in abortion and gay marriage but when a conservative is elected none of these things have stopped. He wants out of Iraq and other things. Go to http://www.jesus-is-savior.com and lean about 9/11.

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Rebekah September 12, 2008 - 10:35 pm

Thank you for this post. Without a doubt, the church should look very different from the world. Unfortunately, we in our country use the term “church” very loosely. For example, my husband was sharing recently that a poll of evangelical youth showed most were not even sure the resurrection really occured. Hmmm. . . .now why were they considered “evangelical?” A close read of the book of 1 John helps to clarify what believers will look like, and it’s not like the world! We should always be thankful to the Lord for anything good He does in our lives b/c it is He who is the Vine! We are just the branches. But you know what He says about that! 🙂 (John 15)

Thanks again, Kelly!

Love in Christ,
Rebekah H.

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