Protecting the Family Name

Someone I met claimed, as I understood it, that God does not need us to perform good works because he already knows what is in our heart. That was the essence of the position, but it went deeper. Personally, I chafed at the idea. How can God see what is in our hearts if we do nothing. Action is what demonstrates who we truly are, what we really believe. Recently, I commented on Proverbs 27:11 as foundational for my conviction. The one proving to be a real son to his father would naturally want to act in a way that doesn’t discredit the family name, his father, or his own reputation.

The principle would extend to the “spiritual” level (the ultimate principled level of obedience to God) in that believers would identify with being considered God’s “sons.” So they would understand the scripture as speaking to them. I personally view that scripture that way. God is telling me to ponder / consider my course in life, my life choices, my actions, my thoughts, in a way that demonstrates wisdom (insight into effects, consequences, etc.). This is truly because it is a matter of protecting the family name. Just as a slanderer may level wild charges at a family member, Satan the devil does the same. It is Satan who “taunts” God. How? He claims that God is hiding something from mankind – man’s ability to “be like God, knowing good and bad.” Then, on the other side, he taunts God that mankind is in reality nothing more than selfish beings that are only loyal to God because he bribes them. So it is up to each individual to prove, through actions, that they are defending the name of their father and family.

But Proverbs 27:11 is not the only scripture that conveys action as a mandatory requirement for those truly loyal to God. Consider for a moment: Would a person who is kind, generous, patient, empathetic, be a person who is a Christian? Could be. But it could also describe an atheistic philanthropist. So what differentiates Christians from an atheistic philanthropist? Jesus commanded real Christians to “preach the word” of God. The apostle Paul showed how we should all consider this a personal commission. Further, in Paul’s letter to Timothy, he exhorted Timothy to be at the preaching work “urgently.” Also, there is Paul’s account of faithful pre-Christian individuals at Hebrews chapters 11 and 12 – how they took ACTION. In chapter 12 Paul concludes what Christians should do with this knowledge. In verse one he urges: “let us run with endurance….” Undeniably, demonstrating action is required. Then, there is the whole book of Acts that recounts numerous “acts” (actions) on the part of early Christians. Clearly, true worship, both pre-Christian and Christian, requires action. Any arguments to the contrary are merely efforts to confuse a very clear, consistent (throughout scripture), and easy to understand directive.

About

Not Mere Hearers

There is not a business or field of activity that I can think of where merely listening, even eagerly and attentively, is enough to curry the favor of those promoting the activity. Everything from little league to salesmen to corporate leaders are required to act on what they hear. Consider the salesman that gets very excited about the product when he hears the features of the product, the easy sales pitch, the support system, and the money he will make. But then, immediately after leaving the meeting, does nothing with that. If he were to expect any compensation for producing nothing, generating no sales, would the company show him anything but “the front door” (firing him)?

That is thrust of Jesus words at Luke 13:26,27. By illustration, Jesus said that people would feel they should be rewarded for merely listening to Jesus. In our time, what sort of people are these? One group that comes to mind are those stating that they “go to church.” Even if they listen attentively, is that all that is expected? The blunt answer is found at James 1:22-25.

What then is expected; what is does it mean to be “a doer”? Read these citations and see if you can get the sense of what a true Christian should do.

Mark 5:18-20. In this account, it was a man Jesus cured that turned around and started to declare his faith--he was not a trained preacher. Is this not the way each of us should feel about publically declaring our faith?

Luke 9:60. Consider: The ones spoken to here were those being invited to follow Jesus. These were not one of the twelve apostles.

Acts 8:4. In the surrounding verses, it is mentioned that a persecution arose against the congregation. It was the members of the congregation that were scattered. All of them were declaring the Good News.

Romans 10:9,10. Consider: Is this only directed to preachers, ordained ministers, priests?

It is my conclusion that each of us are required to declare our faith. What is your conclusion?

Related Articles:

Pigeonholing God (or, God-In-The-Box)

Matthew 7:21, "Not Everyone Saying To Me"

What Is Entailed in "Believing On (or In) The Lord Jesus"?

True Christianity-Defining Characteristics

Matthew 7:21, "Not Everyone Saying To Me"

I was recently asked, “Are you a believer?” I answered affirmatively and then asked what church the gentleman I was speaking with attends. He said something to the effect that all religions are just different paths leading to the same place, although his words were much more poetic and picturesque. I then asked what he thought of Jesus’ words recorded at Matthew 7:21-23. I told him that, in essence, Jesus disagreed with what he just stated.

After reflecting on that conversation, I felt the scripture in Matthew 7 would be a good subject for my blog. So here it is, word for word: 21 "Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. 22 Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!"

When we consider that Jesus prophesied, expelled demons, performed miracles and other powerful works, it is really an eye-opening and sobering thought that he would actually reject and condemn others for doing it. Why was that? Jesus himself answers that question in verse 21. The only thing that would get his approval is that true Christians would be “doing the will of my Father.” Put another way, since doing the will of the Father does NOT necessarily include or feature prophesying, expelling demons and other amazing outward acts, what else did Jesus do that gave us an example of true Christian actions? 

The answer is Jesus’ public ministry. (Matthew 4:17,23;9:35; Luke 4:43,44; 8:1) He also taught his followers the art of public preaching as noted in these two instances recorded in Luke. Then, just before Jesus left the earthly scene, he gave them a grand commission to fulfill a worldwide preaching campaign before his return. The apostle Paul recognized the vital importance of this work--without it lives could be lost forever. (You may have noted in some of the scriptures linked in this paragraph that Jesus actually told his first followers to perform some miracles. Yet that was not to be the main feature of their ministry. Those miracles served to demonstrate who had God’s approval but their effect was short-lived. Even Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, eventually died again. So the bigger benefit of the preaching work is that it would have everlasting benefits.)

In short then, the will of God is that mankind come back into a good relationship with him and have the opportunity to live forever. But who today are doing that will? What united brotherhood can be found today preaching the good news of God’s Kingdom in 239 lands? There is only one that fits that description.

More info

Note: Some may feel that Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:21-23 are referring to individuals who falsely claim to be Christian, not whole religions. While his words would definitely apply to individuals, they would also apply to religious organizations as well. While some TV evangelizers may fit into the "individuals" category, even these are usually backed by an organization. Although the Catholic church  is not alone in various moral issues, it comes to mind not only because of the abuse cases that have surfaced, but also because of its being involved in questionable financial practices. It also comes to mind because it claims to be capable of exorcisms (casting out demons). I cite this as just one example of how a whole organization is culpable before God for claiming to represent him and his son while being guilty of wrongdoing on so many fronts. Lumping together all those whom Jesus condemns in Matthew 7, Revelation 18 speaks of these false religions as a figurative prostitute who has made herself wealthy by involvement with the “kings of the earth” that is to say, worldwide governments.)