Praise & Pray

When I was much younger, debates were civilized affairs. One person would express their ideas while the person on the opposing side would wait patiently to share their thoughts. Nowadays, civilized debate is all but non-existent. People argue for sport, screaming at each other on television, social media, and in person. The latter situation tends to involve course language and in some cases, physical violence. Also, nowadays, no topic is out of bounds.

The Body of Christ has sadly not escaped the changing times. Christians readily argue over all manner of topics and the resulting 'discussions' aren't always Christ-like. They run the gamut from the debate on who is an Israelite to whether churches should play secular music during service. Then some argue women should not wear pants or makeup. Others staunchly disagree on whether Jesus was white or black, ignoring that He was born in the Middle East and likely had the physical characteristics common to that region. The list of potential divisions and debatable issues is endless.

However, Christians are to focus on advancing God's kingdom here on earth. We are His ambassadors, after all. The Bible instructs us to advance God's work through faith, not arguments about myths, genealogies, and other controversial speculations (1 Timothy 1:4). We cannot forget that believers have been cautioned against "meaningless talk" (1 Timothy 1:6). Plus, we are told in 2 Timothy 2:23, "Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels".

​The Lord wants us to trust Him to guide us in our interactions with both believers and unbelievers. He wants us to submit to Him so His Holy Spirit can work through us to achieve His purposes. This could, at some point, involve a robust discussion where a Christian faces questions that challenge their worldview. If that believer is led by the Spirit, they will do so with a dose of love and peace, avoiding sharp disagreements. Faith, not the ability to argue and win, is what God desires from His ambassadors as they walk in their Kingdom Identity.

Think about it, when God called Moses to serve Him, the man worried that others wouldn't believe him (Exodus 4:1). The Lord responded by teaching him to have faith, showing him that the very shepherd's staff in his hand could be transformed through His power. Moses went forth and did God's work in the land of Egypt and elsewhere. Similarly, when Jeremiah was called to serve, he worried he was too young and nobody would listen to Him. God told Him that He'd placed His words in his mouth (Jeremiah 1:9). Therefore, all that was required from Jeremiah was faith that God would see him through. And that was exactly what happened as the prophet spoke God's word, advancing the kingdom, in the midst of stubborn people who eventually witnessed his prophecies come to pass.

God's approach was no different in the time of Jesus Christ. God's Son spoke about the kingdom to everyone who would listen. Though firm in His stance, he showed love to people and led them back to the Lord. He had faith that God would use Him as a vessel. He healed many, raised the dead, and miraculously fed thousands. These acts transformed lives for the Lord's glory and increased people's faith. They continue to have that impact today.

As we interact with others. we must remember to put our faith to work believing that the Lord will help us advance His good works on the earth. There is no need to rely upon our intelligence because God will show us how to behave and speak in a way that reflects well on His kingdom. The Royal Law also serves as a guide to treat others as we want to be treated and the more we study the word, the more we will learn how to carry ourselves. The good Lord will help us to advance His works and His kingdom through the faith we have, as we grow in Him, IJMN, Amen.