Introduction
The Bible reveals the Lord’s concern of the world’s view of His church and saints. When the church and individual saint walks contrary to God’s revealed standards they pave the way for the world’s blasphemy against the Lord and His doctrine. The Christian ought to be concerned about what people of the world think. God’s people can do one of three things in the public’s eye. First, they may make manifest the true church and individual Christian’s identity in all areas of life as they are guided by nothing but the truth. Secondly, they may make manifest a hypocritical approach to Christianity through unauthorized works. Thirdly, the saint of God may show the world a spirit of indifference due to their fear of appearing different. The church and individual saint will have much to do with where those of the world spend their eternity.
We are the World’s Bible
We often sing the 1934 song “The World’s Bible” by J. E. Hamilton. The song is based on 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 where Paul writes, “Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men; being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh.” As the song goes, “We are the only Bible the careless world will read… what if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?… What if our feet are walking where sin’s allurement is? What if our tongues are speaking of things His life would spurn. How can we hope to help Him and welcome His return?” God’s people are to appear as a literal mirror image of Jesus Christ and the revealed church of the New Testament (Rom. 8:29).
Christians are to be very concerned about the public’s perception of the church and what being a saint is all about. Jesus said,
“Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shines unto all that are in the house. Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).
When the Christian is careless with God’s laws and the public’s perception they can cause the name of the Lord to be blasphemed. Unfortunately the world often sees or hears Christians doing or saying sinful things and they conclude, “They are all hypocrites…” or “That is why I don’t go to church.” Our actions and language among those of the world may determine whether or not that lost soul will one day be saved.
Public Perception of the Church
When the world sees the church at work and worship it ought to see the true “pillar and ground of truth” (1 Timothy 3:14-15). Churches that practice unauthorized acts, such as supporting institutions to do its God ordained work, cause the Lord’s name and His doctrine to be blasphemed. Many churches sponsor “Christian” rock concerts, theatrical plays, singles groups, softball teams, conduct community services, and food fest for a “spiritual experience.” When these unauthorized acts are conducted they leave the wrong impression within the minds of the lost and so they will remain lost. The Lord has thereby ordained that the church withdraw from individuals who do not obey His authorized will. When the church does so the world will know that the church does not condone the unlawful actions of individuals (see 1 Corinthians 5:1ff; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15).
Confusion and faulty expectations of the church reigns supreme in the world. Jesus spoke of the world’s confused expectations of his kingdom, the church, while teaching in the flesh (Matthew 11:11-19; 18:1). Those who look for things from the church that God does not authorize will only be disappointed and further confused. False teachers do nothing but muddy the waters of understanding to the world when they spew out their contaminated words of error on the subject. Divine revelation plainly outlines the identity, organization, work, and worship of the church. God forbid that you or I would give any more fuel to the engine of error that brings about confusion and faulty expectations of the Lord’s church.
Public Perception of the Individual Christian
When the world sees the Christian at work or play they ought to see one who makes it apparent that they are holy (1 Peter 1:15-16) and perfect (Matthew 5:48) as the Lord is holy and perfect. The Christian’s language ought to show forth a heart of purity (see Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6). The Christian’s attire should show a since of shame, modesty, and propriety (Exodus 28:42; Isaiah 20:4; 1 Timothy 2:9-10).
Christian women ought to be concerned about what the world sees them doing. Those who are do nothing gossips are condemned and apt to do grave damage to the name of God (see 1 Timothy 5:14; Titus 2:4-5). Christian women ought to emulate divine revelation’s model woman of Proverbs 31:10-31. Women ought to examine 1 Timothy 5 and Titus 2 for God’s New Testament model woman. Women, and men too for that matter, who refuse to work are not to eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12).
The Christian’s marriage ought to exemplify the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Those who divorce their mates for reasons other than adultery or those who marry individuals who have no right to marry commit adultery and cause the name of Jehovah God to be blasphemed (see 2 Samuel 12:14). During Jesus’ day mass confusion reigned over marriage, divorce, and remarriage due to faulty expectations and preconceived ideas of marriage (see Matthew 19:1ff). When the Christian is out of line with God’s word they give the wrong impression to the world as to what God’s laws are. The Christian is not to give an occasion of stumbling to those in the world in any area of life (see 2 Corinthians 6:3).
Christians at the work place ought to be concerned about what their coworkers think of them. The Christian who steals from his employer (Titus 2:10) or will not work (Colossians 22-25) give cause to the name of Jehovah being blasphemed by the unbelievers. The Apostle Paul writes, “Let as many as are servants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine be not blasphemed” (1 Timothy 6:1). Lazy do nothing Christians ought to go to the ant for observation and a learning experience regarding a work ethic (see Proverbs 6:6). Employees who complain or will not work are not exemplifying the conduct and life of God’s elect.
Christians should also direct respect and honor toward those that divine revelation commands us to. Christians who mock, sneer, make fun of, show disdain, are disobedient, and show an overall spirit of disrespect toward government officials (Romans 13:7; 1 Peter 2:17), parents (Ephesians 6:2), employers (1 Timothy 6:1-2), elders in the church (Hebrews 13:17), and all others who hold positions of authority are rebellious. Moses concluded that the man who knows of God and His commands and does them not is a part of an “evil generation.” The evil is in the form of “rebellion” (cf. Deuteronomy 1:26, 43). To rebel is to “refuse allegiance to… to resist or defy an authority… to feel or express strong unwillingness … an act or show of defiance…” (American Heritage Dictionary pp. 1031). The Christian who refuses allegiance, resists, or acts in defiance against those in authority give way to the name of Jehovah God being blasphemed among those in the world.
The Public’s Expectation
There are areas in the Christian’s life where we cannot be concerned with what the world thinks about us. Those areas are our lives of obedience to God’s authoritative will (Acts 5:29). The public’s expectation of God, His church and people is skewed from divine revelation. The world views the church as a benevolent and entertainment society. Spend a few moments talking to your neighbors about “church.” Church is where their children are in leadership training, theatrical events, and learning to play a musical instrument. Spend a few hours at your church building and you will experience what most preachers do. People walk or drive up to the building expecting the church to take care of all their financial woes.
The Elect’s Perception of each Other
The individual Christian’s concern over perception should reach even further than the world. Yes, we are to be concerned with what the Lord thinks of us. We also ought to be concerned about our brethren’s view of us. Some brethren are “weak in faith” (Romans 14:1; 15:1; 1 Corinthians 8:1ff). Where God permits liberties the weak in faith do not view as a liberty. Paul said, “Howbeit there is not in all men that knowledge…” (1 Corinthians 8:7). The true Christian is to be ready and willing to drop a liberty if it is offensive to one that is weak (1 Corinthians 9:22). If the strong are unwilling to do so or they push a liberty upon the weak they, “Walk no longer in love” (Romans 14:15).
The individual Christian cannot; however, be bullied by the conscientious and convicted weak brother. Those who would demand that we abstain or participate in liberties have gone beyond God’s laws. To bind where God has not bound is to be a false teacher and no saint shall be silent in such areas (see Galatians 2:3ff).
Concluding Thoughts
The elect of God are in the world yet they are not of the world (John 17:14-16). The world separated from God in sin has faulty expectations and preconceived ideas of God’s people and His church. Christians should be concerned not only with the public’s perception of our worship but also with our everyday lives. Let us unashamedly live a sanctified and holy life that the world may know what divine revelation authorizes and does not authorize (Romans 1:16). If we, through a spirit of fear, change our lives we will cause many in the world to have a faulty view of Christianity (see Matthew 26:70-75; Philippians 1:28). Mankind will be judged by the standard of divine revelation rather than man’s preconceived ideas, faulty expectations, and personal conscience (John 12:48). The Apostle Paul said, “Do all things without murmurings and questionings: that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15). Let every true saint of God make their lives of godliness evident and the rest will take care of itself (please read 1 Timothy 5:24-25).
