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| What is our excuse for not having great relationships with unbelievers or fetish people at the workplace... |
The
former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to DO
and TEACH. Acts 1:1
A believer fully understands Lord Jesus’ teachings by juxtaposing how the Lord lived with what He preached. He wouldn't say we do things that Himself didn't practice. He rebuked the Pharisees because they say, and do not. They lay heavy burdens on men’s shoulders that they wouldn’t dare touch with their fingers.A He described them as hypocrites for doing that. How Jesus lived in the circumference of His relationships became His doctrine on relationships. It is important because we are not greater than our master but we are expected to be like Him. We can’t pay a price greater than the Lord’s in our Christian walk. If we neglect this view we would unavoidably misinterpret the Lord's teachings.
Unarguably,
our experiences or exposure to certain teachings shape our interpretation of
scriptures. God knowing this admonishes us, And
be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the RENEWING OF YOUR
MIND, that YE MAY PROVE what is that good, and acceptable, and PERFECT, WILL OF
GOD.B
We
must subject our minds continuously to a renewing process which leads us to
walk in and demonstrate the PERFECT WILL of God. Let me quickly add that Jesus
is the perfect will of God. But if we refuse this continuous renewal of minds,
it suggests that we would probably be stuck with the permissive will of God.
Wouldn't you agree? Knowing and walking in the perfect and acceptable will of
God is what transforms us and make us perfect in love.
[Here is] the High Priest [perfectly
adapted] to our needs, as was fitting–holy, blameless, unstained by sin,
SEPARATED FROM SINNERS, and exalted higher than the heavens. Hebrews
7:26 AMPLIFIED
Does
it not shock you to read that Jesus was separate from sinners? Is there a time
Jesus was physically separated from sinners? If we only read this scripture in
Hebrews you might conclude that Lord Jesus didn't associate with sinners. But considering
how He lived it was reported, And when
the scribes and Pharisees SAW HIM EAT with publicans and SINNERS, they said
unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and
sinners?C
A
false teaching about the Lord could have been postulated from Hebrews 7:26 if the Lord’s way of life
wasn’t recorded in Mark 2:16. This
shows us that we can unintentionally distort the Lord’s teachings if we isolate
them from how He lived. We can also decipher the Lord’s teachings by how the
apostles lived and what they taught.
ADMONISHED
TO KEEP BONDS: A PRINCIPLE
And unto the married I command, yet not
I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she
depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not
the husband put away his wife. But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any
brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him,
let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that
believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife
is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they
holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister
is not under bondage in such cases : but God hath called us to peace. 1
Corinthians 7:10-15
Did
you notice how the Spirit dealt with the case of a believer who is already in a
marriage relationship with an unbeliever before his/her new birth? Paul
admonished such believers to keep the relationship. Not to use their new found
faith as an excuse to dissolve the bond already in existence. The only clause
to the admonition is where the unbeliever initiates the separation/dissolution
of the relationship. But if the unbeliever doesn't, the believer shouldn't
flunk that marriage. We can take this principle and apply it to our
relationships on all fronts.
If
my New Birth upsets parents, family, acquaintance or friends, yet they have not
initiated a break up of their relations with me, I must also treasure their
relationship not allowing it to die. I must not be the one to initiate a
distance except in cases of sexual or immoral relationships. But if my parents,
friends and acquaintances demand I make a choice between them and the Lord, my
relationship with them and with God then such believer can rather accept their
hate and choose to love the Lord more than parents and acquaintances. In such
case is where the Lord's words apply aptly:
Whosoever therefore shall CONFESS ME
BEFORE MEN, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But
WHOSOEVER SHALL DENY ME BEFORE MEN, him will I also deny before my Father which
is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to
send peace, BUT A SWORD. For I am come to set a man at variance against his
father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against
her mother in law. AND A MAN'S FOES SHALL BE THEY OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD. He
that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that
LOVETH SON OR DAUGHTER MORE THAN ME IS NOT WORTHY OF ME. And HE THAT TAKETH NOT
HIS CROSS, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Matthew
10:32-38
This
scripture portrays us suffering persecution from close relations because of our
confession of faith. This scripture isn’t about you initiating a physically
separation from your earthly relatives to prove you love Christ more than them.
Notice in the scripture above that your children can rise against you. Do we
then choose to cut of ties with them to prove we love God more? Of course
certainly not! But if they don’t rise against you, draw nearer to them and
cherish your relationship with them more. You are right where you should be. But
if you are thrown out of the house by parents, it is fine. If your children
choose to hate you for accepting and loving the Lord, it is alright. You’ll
simply choose to embrace their hate without denying the Lord. The sword and
cross Christ talked about is the sacrifice of loving those who made you the
subject of their hate because of your faith. In this regard Jesus carried His cross
without a physical separation from His earthly relatives.
After this he went down to Capernaum, he,
and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there
not many days. John 2:12
His brethren therefore said unto him,
Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works
that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he
himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to
the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him. John
7:3-5
THE
PARABLE
Neither do men light a candle, and put it
under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and IT GIVETH LIGHT UNTO ALL THAT ARE IN
THE HOUSE. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew
5:15-16
The
believer is the candle that is lit. The believer must give the light in the
house where he is. Only then can the men of the household see his light and
glorify God. If the light (believer) goes out of the home, how can they see his
light?
Over
the years I have helped young and persecuted believers apply this scripture
same way I did myself. Many I led to Christ were persecuted by their nuclear
families because they couldn't understand their new found faith. But since
these nuclear families didn't drive them out of the house or disowned them, I encouraged
them to shine the light of the Love of Christ in their homes. In all cases as I
recall, it worked out just as the Lord said, men glorify our Father in Heaven.
MAINTAIN
A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH UNBELIEVERS
Let all who are under the yoke as bond
servants esteem their own [personal] masters worthy of honor and fullest
respect, so that the name of God and the teaching [about Him] may not be
brought into disrepute and blasphemed. Let those who have
believing masters not be disrespectful or scornful [to them] on the grounds
that they are brothers [in Christ]; rather, they should serve [them all the
better] because those who benefit by their kindly service are believers and
beloved. Teach and urge these duties. But if anyone teaches otherwise and
does not assent to the sound and wholesome messages of our Lord Jesus Christ
(the Messiah) and the teaching which is in agreement with godliness (piety
toward God). 1Timothy 6:1-3
What
was being addressed here is the modern day equivalent of a workplace
relationship. The believer is admonished to honour and highly regard those in
the chain of command that the gospel may not be brought to disrepute. Even if
they are unbelievers (i.e. idolaters) the believer must ensure a healthy relationship
with them.
There
are cases believers as employees become hostile against their boss and
colleagues because they are unbelievers and fetish. They disregard them and
soil the relationship built before because of their new faith. This act
gradually deems the light of God’s love that ought to be seen and harden the
hearts of men to the gospel.
While
many Christians would irk to work with unbelievers, particularly one who is
fetish, Daniel and the three Hebrew men worked among magicians and astrologers
under an idolatrous king. Joseph managed the estates of Egyptian priests and
sorcerers. What is our excuse for not having great relationships with
unbelievers or fetish people at the workplace, neighbourhood or anywhere for
that matter. According to Paul, this doctrine and teaching is of the Lord and
it aligns with godliness. It is Ironic that unbelievers seek relationship with
believers who abscond from them.
I
have seen Christians who believe it is best to avoid people of pagan worships. Some
believers will not even visit or eat with a Muslim. I find this possible because
we barely understand the teachings of the Lord. God is not in the business of
placing a wedge between us and people of other faiths. The light needs to be in
close proximity of darkness to dispel it. Does it not amaze you that one of the
most vital requirements for appointing a Pastor is that he must have a great
relationship with unbelievers?
This is a true saying, If a man desire
the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be
blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given
to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of
filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well
his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a
man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of
God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the
condemnation of the devil. MOREOVER HE MUST HAVE A GOOD REPORT OF THEM
WHICH ARE WITHOUT (the unbelieving); lest he fall into reproach and the snare
of the devil. 1 Timothy 3:1-7
All
these point us to the fact that New Testament separation does not equal bodily
migration. Just as Lord Jesus was separate from the same sinners He hanged out
with daily. Separation is not to forget your unbelieving parents or not to visit
them. It is not to avoid socialising with unbelievers. It is not to have a low
regard of a prostitute or run away from a hemp smoker. It is not to appear as
being so pure that having a healthy relationship with unbelievers can defile
us, all that is a carryover of religion. Religion always separates and dent relationships.
Grace gives the worst the gift of relationships they don't deserve.
NEW
TESTAMENT TEACHING OF SEPARATION IN ITS SIMPLICITY
Under the Old covenant the Jews were required to separate
physically from all pagan nations as our father Abraham. They couldn’t go visit
in their homes. But in the New Testament Peter had to unlearn and relearn as He
said:
And as [Peter] spoke with him, he entered
the house and found a large group of persons assembled; And he said to them,
You yourselves are aware how it is not lawful or permissible for a Jew to keep
company with or to visit or [even] to come near or to speak first to anyone of
another nationality, but God has shown and taught me by words that I should
not call any human being common or unhallowed or [ceremonially] unclean. Therefore
when I was sent for, I came without hesitation or objection or misgivings. So
now I ask for what reason you sent for me. Acts 10:27-29 AMP
Be ye not unequally yoked together with
unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and
what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with
Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement
hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as
God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive
you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters,
saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let
us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians
6:14-18 - 7:1
This scripture is what is used
most of the time to preach believer's non association with unbelievers. As I earlier
said, we misinterpret scriptures if we refuse to note the life of our Saviour Jesus
Christ. If this scripture is advocating a clampdown on Christian relationship
with unbelievers we see Christ doing the contrary. Also, Paul would be in
contradiction of his earlier advice to the same church that, if a nonbeliever invites you to dinner
and you feel like going, go ahead and enjoy yourself; eat everything placed
before you. It would be both bad manners and bad spirituality to
cross-examine your host on the ethical purity of each course as it is served.D
So just what was being addressed in 2 Corinthians six?
In preceding verses of
2Corithians six Paul had said, We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from
you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange — I speak as to
my children — open wide your hearts also.E before he began contrasting
and marking out the sharp distinction between believers and unbelievers in
proceeding verses. It was the Corinthian’s cold response to the apostle’s
affections that Paul sought a life of separation. An unloving believer is not
separate or distinct from an unbeliever though he disassociates himself.
Therefore Paul called on the
Corinthians to love in such a unique way that they evidently appear distinct
from unbelievers. That they reciprocate love in a way unbelievers are incapable
of loving. What Paul was requesting is better understood considering the Lord's
teaching:
For if ye love them which love you, what
reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your
brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye
therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew
5:46-48
In
1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul told the Corinthians who envied themselves and fought
within themselves as behaving as mere men: men without regenerated hearts
(unbelievers). Therefore what totally separates a believer from an unbeliever
is perfection in loving. Love that weather out and conquer the storm of hate in
others.
I wrote unto you in an epistle not to
company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this
world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with IDOLATERS; for then must
ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep
company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or
an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no
not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without
(unbelievers)? do not ye judge them that are within? 1
Corinthians 5:9-12
The
cross carried by Jesus is the world’s weight of sin, our hostility and our
wickedness. When He died on that cross it was a price of sustaining
relationships. We hated our Saviour but He loved us in return. He never refused
the relationship with us in our former state as sinners and Isaiah noted this, He was numbered with transgressors.F
When Jesus said we should carry our cross, He speaks in respect of what we too
have to endure (hate, persecution and criticism) to forge relationships.
Perhaps this is understandable in the words of Jesus, I send you out as sheep among wolves.G For without the
cross there can’t be relationship with our fellow man.
The
world can hate us but we carry God's love for them. They can push us out of
their lives but we shouldn't push anyone out of ours. Look unto Jesus. Decipher
what He taught on the basis of how He lived. He did what He preached. Thank God
that He is constant forever. The New Testament believer should not only be a
great Church member but a great neighbour, friend, partner, Son, daughter,
brother, sister, parent and colleague. Grace is to build relationships and
until we realise this, we'll chase the shadows of religion. The Gospel of the
kingdom preached by Jesus in Matthew 5, 6 and 7 revolves around relationships.
Ye have heard that it hath been said,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love
your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and
pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the
children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on
the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew
5:43-45
When we see the Lord’s hand, we would know that no
coincidence at all brought lives placed on our paths. Then may we learn to
treasure relationships with the cross that comes with it. The voice of the
prophets echoes to us today, where relationship has been strained in our
pursuit of a fervent devotion to God. As the prophets and apostles revealed, it
isn’t ordinances that Elohim requires but righteousness from relationships as He
forewarned thus:
Is this
the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it
only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is
that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the kind
of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords
of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share
your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when
you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away (hide) from your own
flesh and blood (relatives)? Then your light will break forth like the
dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; THEN YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL GO
BEFORE YOU, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:5-8
Owe no man any thing, but to love one
another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. Romans
13:8
References
A Matthew 23:3-4, B Romans 12:2, C Mark
2:16, D 1 Corinthians 10:27, E 2 Corinthians 6:11-13, F Isaiah 53:12, G Matthew 10:16
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