How should Christians engage the world with the Word?
I am often reminded of the importance of being personable with those I meet. Even a friendly smile or “hey, how’s your day going?” will go a long way. Don’t believe me? Try it at Chipotle and see how liberal your scoop of protein is. And I’m not saying to do it for the perks but notice how you taking an extra step really encourages those who you are caring for.
For Christians we have a high calling to make disciples. Now I believe this is a two-part process in which part two cannot begin until part one is finished. Part one being sharing the gospel and inviting that person into a relationship with God, and part two being the lifelong process of sanctification in which we commit ourselves to the Holy Scriptures and their entirety, while also holding others accountable to that same process.
Unfortunately, these two parts seem to be conflated in the minds of many believers, though I don’t believe the intentions of all are born out of a place of ill-will. It is my goal to present to you, very briefly, the difference and importance in the two-part discipleship process. In doing so, my prayer is that we understand that our approach to the world and the Church ought to be different, though both be filled with grace and boldness.
THE WORLD
This is part one. The beginning of the discipleship process is essentially evangelism. Mark 16:15 says “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (ESV). This command is simple, make the gospel known. Real quick, the gospel is the good news of Christ that ALL people are born sinners and in need of a Savior. Christ came and died on the cross to pay the penalty of sin for ALL people who would believe in him. That’s the good news. Now our job is to go and do that. But how?
First off, it probably goes without saying but I’ll say it anyway – in word and deed. We share with our mouth the gospel message, but we also live it out by living as those whom God has “set apart” (holy).
Second, how we say things makes a world of difference. There are plenty of places throughout the Bible that tell us how to talk and engage with the world, but Paul gives some practical advice in Colossians 4:2-6(I encourage you to go, if possible, and read that passage real quick). Here he speaks of: looking for an open door(opportunity) to share this mysterious gospel, walking in wisdom around outsiders, and to let our speech be gracious and seasoned like salt “so that we may know how to answer each person”. Consider this mysterious message of a magnificent Messiah Paul is sharing with them. Nothing else in the Scriptures will make sense to them until they know the Gospel for “18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”(1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV). This is why Paul also says “2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2ESV). Until people have been given the Holy Spirit upon salvation, the Scriptures mean nothing (see 1 Corinthians 2:14).
Because of this, I make the argument that our disposition towards nonbelievers should be different than that of believers. To nonbelievers we should be calling them to a saving faith in Christ. Yes, we don’t hold back our view and we certainly stand on every inch of truth, but we do not hold the world accountable like we do the church (1 Corinthians 5:12).
THE CHURCH
Our dearest family. Those whom God has bought with the blood of our Lord. To them we bear a great responsibility in holding them accountable to the Word of the Lord. Consider the second part of the Great Commission where Christ says, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:20 ESV). When we start there, we know the responsibility is to learn about the Lord, from the Lord, with the Lord’s people. We grow together in knowledge and obedience to God.
Just this past Sunday (from the time I am writing this) we went through Galatians 6:1-10 where Paul hits on biblical accountability. His point through his letter to the church in Galatia was to look to Christ as their salvation, not their works. In chapter 5 he begins to transition to good works from those who are saved and how we have a responsibility as believers to hold one another accountable to the Word we proclaim.
Jesus was very straightforward in Luke 17:3 saying “if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him” (ESV). We know that sin is to go against God, and we know what is against God by his Word and conviction from the Spirit.
Sin is so serious from believers that Jesus explains the church discipline process in Matthew 18:15-20 and Paul also in 1 Corinthians 5. This is so serious that the removal of a brother is possible, though not desired.
The goal in calling brothers and sisters out in their sin is to see the restored and God glorified through that restoration. This is truly a difficult thing to execute in real life because we are afraid of confrontation, we know how most people respond, and we are afraid of losing dear friends; however, the confrontation is in love and should be expressed as such with the standard being the Scriptures, we relate to the offender by acknowledging no one likes being corrected but we are all seeking sanctification in the Truth, and we are to be far more concerned about someone’s soul than simply their friendship.
Refusing to love our brothers and sisters in this way is to allow sin to run rampant in the church. It is for this very reason I believe Jesus flipped tables in the Temple, because the place of God had become a charade of mockery. Let us do our due diligence in walking the Christian walk with our church family, seeking ongoing transformation from his Word.
CONCLUSION
There is much more to be said of this topic, but I hope this was a good foundation to understanding our different approaches to the world and the Church. Let us be gracious in both. Let our words be bold, yet gracious. Let us call the world to surrender to Christ as their Savior and let us call the church to the standard of their Savior.
We know our mission, church, so let’s understand where each person is and help them ‘Put Jesus into Perspective’.