Friends,
It happened one Saturday night after dark.
A freakish accident. No one else was hurt.
But the church man was killed instantly. People who unfortunately witnessed the death as it happened were appalled and stunned into silence. And there was much much mourning in the community.
This man was an avid church goer, and considered an evangelical by all modern standards. He was a prominent member of the community, well known in both business and civic circles. He was fairly young and left a wife and, as I remember, several children.
He and I had met at a business and community function for lunch where they always seem to serve chicken and green beans. I slipped over to him afterwards and thanked him for his service to our community and courage in standing up for right and wrong.
I took the opportunity and spoke about the Lord Jesus first to him in order to feel him out a bit on the faith.
He responded positively but in a way that left me unsettled and also unsure of his commitment.
For I had met many people over the years who were supposedly “of the faith” but were never vocal and openly zealous, and even a bit put off that you would bring Jesus into the conversation.
And they were good people as the world counts good. Several of them were described as “everybody likes him (or her).”
When I heard the now deceased man speak to me that day years ago, he was as many say today ‘so sweet,’ and very pleasant. He was very winsome, and agreeable. Probably many in the faith would describe him as “nice.”
Watching for his obituary in the local paper, I read it a few days later with eagerness since I had known him a bit from afar. But the account of his life had a couple of direct references to the effect “everyone liked him” and he “didn’t have an enemy in the world.”
Oh no!
That’s not good.
Can I explain first? Thanks for inquiring….
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was never one to mince words, I’m afraid. His approach and demeanor to adults might be described as radically different, and downright unacceptable at times.
In the Gospel of the Kingdom according to our brother Luke, Jesus is recorded in the 6th chapter as saying to the general public and His disciples (not the religious leaders) the following passage that closely parallels part of Mathew’s account in chapter 5-7:
Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.
What is a “woe” in this case? Well, that term appears 41 times in New Testament, so it’s not a stray idea. It has inertia as a spiritual theme from God.
It’s the theme of judgment, warning, and sorrow.
It’s what we call a “curse.”
God does not delight in pronouncing “woe” on His creation.
Then why does He? What are your thoughts on this ‘biblical’ action?
And in the unpopular and untaught passage above we see the contrasts of God with the wisdom of the world.
Well fed now? Laugh now? All men speak well of you now?
Laughter, for one, indicates contentment and satisfaction with one’s lot now. But God’s word states that sort of contentment is impossible for the true disciple, for he will be mistreated.
Scorned. Rejected. A man of sorrows. Acquainted with grief. Just like Jesus Christ.
Let me quote The Complete Biblical Library so one doesn’t think I wrote this next sentence or two.
The implication is that anyone rich or content could not possibly be a disciple. Such a one compromised the Faith for the sake of avoiding persecution. Being spoke well of by all men indicated complicity with those who persecuted the prophets.
They go on here, but it doesn’t get any rosier, or more “positive.”
Such a concept seems foreign to our ears. We constantly strive to have a good reputation in the community around us – and we should.
But is that really, really possible while being an aroma of death to those pagans around us, as Paul describes our normal Christian life. Wasn’t he always on the run, or in hiding, or in prison, or being beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, etc, etc, etc.
God prefers pleasure, and that much is clear I think we can all agree. But Jesus, as God’s viceroy, must be just. And humans have a charge, a royal kingly commandment to learn to love God. It’s the only way to prove our love, and by grace indeed we’re able in full measure.
But how do we love? Look at these passages out of Matthew as our Lord Christ speaks more woe. Why, again, does He pronounce this on these subjects below?
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” Matthew 11:21 (NASB)
“Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!” Matthew 18:7 (NASB)
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” Matthew 23:13 (NASB)
So, when all men think well of you, like the deceased man in the obituary, are we walking like Jesus?
”For you have been called(to suffer), since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps…” 1 Peter 2:21 (NASB)
“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” John 15:19 (NASB)
..and A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.” Matthew 10:36 (NASB)
Only God knows about the spiritual condition of the man killed by surprise that Saturday night. But it’s safe to proclaim, that popularity with the pagans and the world is anathema to God.
I’m afraid in trying to lean over and appease the world for Christ, we’ve fallen over into it.
Isaac Watts, the great English hymn writer from the 1600’s, wrote in his classic work Am I A Soldier of The Cross? these words of great wisdom, “Is this vile world a friend to grace to help me on to God?”
We, praise the Lord, still have this moment. And maybe this hour. And maybe this day. Let us please God and Him only, and become wholly His!
And that means, definitely, being very unpopular. Just like Jesus, Paul, and all the apostles. They, to a man, history tells us, were killed for their faith in the Holy One.
The Lord Jesus and His Spirit help us all to use all our God ordained talents for His kingdom. And to faithfully endure to the end!
Luke 6:20-26 And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.
But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.”
If you’re like me, you intensely desire a great reward in heaven, no? So, then, preach the Word, the whole truth, be prepared to be ostracized…then be filled with joy and leap with thanksgiving!
Certainly a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit…
Certainly the will of God.
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,
Marc
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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!
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Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Marc White, Director, Walk Worthy Ministries, www.WalkWorthy.org
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