Due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus and ongoing lockdown restrictions, we live in a world where fear and anxiety dominates. Mike Omoniyi shares some advice to ensure that we don’t simply survive, but that we thrive during these odd and frightening times.
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On this week’s episode of #OnTheTable, we tackle the issue of mental health. Mental illness can still be a highly stigmatized topic in the church. Those diagnosed with mental illness face unique challenges and in attempts to help those struggling with their mental health, many Christians end up doing more damage. Our four guests share some encouraging biblical truths which have helped them in their struggles with mental health.
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Guests: M.T Omoniyi, Famous Dekeri, Deborah Suen, Lois Komolafe
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How do we hold leaders accountable? This can be a difficult topic to navigate especially when we are called to hold our leaders in high esteem. It becomes harder still when there is a history of leaders abusing the biblical command to honour them. Whilst leaders have a vital role within the body of Christ, this role is not a superior one. Leaders, like the rest of the body of Christ, must submit to the Lordship of Jesus. Moreover, they must mutually submit to all those who name the name of Christ. Leaders are for our benefit and we should want them to do well in their roles, thus holding them accountable is necessary to the maintenance of the holy standards God requires of them. So, how do we hold leaders accountable?
Whilst this is not an article on the importance of leadership, it is vital to understand what leadership is and why it’s necessary, so we can accurately define how we ought to hold leaders accountable. For the purposes of this article, I’ll define leadership as ‘any person(s) appointed by an organisation to preside over a people‘ and it will be primarily focused on Christian leaders. In the Bible, there are different kinds of Christian leaders: from prophets and judges to kings and pastors, whilst each role occurred at various times during human history, each had the same focus – to lead the people of God in the ways of God.
All leaders are appointed by God (Romans 13:1). Since they are appointed by God, to rebel against leaders is to rebel against God (Romans 13:2). These appointed leaders are commanded by God to care for those they lead (Romans 13:4-6), whilst those within the local church are additionally required to equip the saints for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-15). Consequently, the definition for a leader we receive from scripture is one of servitude, not of domination. However, leaders, like the rest of us, are fallible and are susceptible to temptation that can lead to sin. Whilst sin can happen in isolation, its effects never remain such. Sin is pervasive and its effects are extremely damaging, the effects appear grander when a leader falls. Sin can occur when there is a lack of accountability, and when accountability lacks, especially amongst leaders, the results are detrimental. Accountability protects and serves both the leader and those in their care.
In the new testament, we consistently see a plurality of leaders being employed when leadership is required. Whether it is the formation of 12 apostles (Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:13-19, Luke 6:12-16), or of deacons (Acts 6), or reference to elders (1 Peter 5:1-2), we continuously see leaders established in groups. Furthermore, these elders that are employed in their roles have particular qualifications that they must meet. This acts as a safeguard for those who would be leaders and those who would be under them, what should be expected and what to expect.
In 1 Peter 5, the Apostle Peter begins the chapter by exhorting elders to take care of the flock of Christ with all joy and humility and not under compulsion (1 Peter 5:1-2). Verse 3 illuminates that the responsibility of leaders is to be ‘examples to the flock’. The qualifications outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 & Titus 1:5-9 are the qualities that leaders are supposed to exemplify. This is how the flock are able to hold their leaders to account. Leaders aren’t called to act rogue or create such a separation from the rest of the body of Christ that no one is aware of their actions. Rather, the role of the leader is to serve their Lord (Jesus) and the sheep. Since God selects those who would be a leader, and what such leaders should be, how can we, as the flock, ensure that our leaders lead as they should?
Accountability is not the flock policing every single action that the leader makes nor is it fellow elders devising a plan to ensure a more senior leader follows their purposes. Instead, accountability acts as a spiritual guardrail for leaders and flock alike, to ensure that they are not hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13). Thus here are some suggestions to how we can hold our leaders accountable:
1) Leaders are for you. I think this is the primary place to begin. Now, this can be viewed from a selfish position. Guard against that. Leaders are not erected by God to answer to every beck and call of the flock, instead God sovereignly chooses leaders to serve the flock that they may treasure Christ. It is our business that they do a good job.
2) Sin is pervasive. I fear that the issue we see in 1 Corinthians 5, occurs in our current Christian climate. Sin is not just an individualistic issue. Paul says ‘do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump’ (1 Corinthians 5:6). Sin shouldn’t be ignored, lest it should spread throughout the body. If you see sin either present or with the potential to appear, it is your responsibility to alert the elders to the potential or current sin in the leader.
3) Church discipline. This point elaborates on the previous one. Find out whether your church or Christian organisation has a disciplined structure and if they don’t, ask why not? One of the clearest descriptions of church discipline is found in Matthew 18:15-17. We see here the step-by-step instructions given by Jesus on how to manage the discipline of a person caught in sin.
4) God’s glory. It is for God’s glory that God’s leaders shepherd God’s sheep well. Christ is the great shepherd (Hebrews 13:20). Jesus tells Peter, “if you love me feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17) and this is what He expects of leaders. When leaders to look after the sheep well, it will help the flock see how the great Shepherd ultimately looks after them well. This is why we need good leaders, God’s glory is at stake.
Holding leaders accountable can be intimidating. Accountability is not a work to do alone, instead it is a corporate work that primarily occurs in a local setting for the benefit of both the local and the global body. Having good leaders is for our good and God’s glory. We should desire that our leaders live holy lives both publicly and privately so that God’s name or His body would not be under reproach. Holding our leaders to account is not moderating their behaviour by some subjective standard but by lovingly ensuring that they remain within the guardrails Christ has given for their good.
Leaders we need you to be good at what you do, not just in competence but also in character. Therefore receive the accountability that is made available to you, because at the end, God promises that there is an ‘unfading crown of glory’ that awaits (1 Peter 5:4).
*(Read more here https://www.ourgodgivenmission.com/the-lost-art-of-honour-in-the-21st-century-how-do-we-display-honour-today)
The revelations about Ravi Zacharias have no doubt left a bitter taste in many mouths. A man of his spiritual stature, intellect and humble demeanour- no one could have ever suspected what was taking place in his heart nor in his private life. What most find difficult to stomach is how could a man deemed to be one of the greatest defenders of the Faith, be found to have actively and carefully crafted such troubling, abusive and deep-rooted perversion against women for so many years?
It would not be a stretch to say these revelations have left a number of saints shaken and afraid of what could be taking place behind the closed doors of church offices, conference hotels and pastoral homes. Personally, I was left baffled at my dismissal of those who initially blew the whistle. I felt betrayed by my heart which had made an idol of Ravi, a man who had encouraged my faith and had given me a fresh zeal for the Gospel which I had started to passively embrace. I saw the gravity of how presumptuous actions rooted in sin can get, if left unaccounted for and undisciplined by the living word and the church. But mostly, I saw how much I need God daily, lest I fall. However, God uses these disturbing events to teach us some hard-hitting lessons.
God’s glory can never be stolen from Him. The evil actions of men and women, whom we consider to be modern-day heroes of the faith, cannot undo what God has already accomplished through them. Throughout the Scriptures we see God deliver His people by the hands of those who are considered to be evildoers. We see narcissistic kings who encourage sex trafficking (King Xerxes- Esther); brothers controlled by raging envy selling their own into slavery(Joseph’s brothers); thieves driven by greed and Satanic influence trading out their innocent friend for money (Judas-Jesus) – be the very people that God instrumentally uses to bring about salvation.
God did not cause these people to sin, but He never let the results of their actions end in sorrow or condemnation. Instead, He uses those instances of sin, to bring about a glorious display of His grace and mercy- by saving sinners, through sinners, by the work of His Holy Spirit. He uses dirtied hands to save.
The exposure of those we consider to be our modern-day “giants” of the faith can unroot a nasty seed of toxic loyalty. A loyalty that is so far removed from logic that once we hear truthful, coherent accusations of the leaders in question, we are quick to put our fingers in our ears, shut our eyes and forcefully silence the victim(s). This is idolatrous behaviour and in no way does it reflect the heart of God that commanded us to “not have other gods before Me”(Ex 20:3), and the very same God who commanded us to “love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).
In operating out of idolatry, we fail to look towards the Scriptures’ guidance on these matters (2 Tim 3:16), but instead choose to twist it to the leaders’ favour, enabling their sin and furthering their abuse (2 Tim 3:1-5). We fail to reflect God’s heart in seeking justice for the victims; in loving kindness as we seek reconciliation; and walking humbly beside Him acknowledging our own failings (Mic 6:8).
We must be wary of the vicious forms of idolatry that can so easily form in our hearts and pray for God to deliver us from the worship of man instead of the Creator. We must make it our responsibility to let our love be sincere (Rom 12:9) for the victims who bore the brunt of our leaders’ sin, strengthening them in the truths of Romans 8. Showing that God’s love has neither changed towards them, nor is it partial, and in fact, He promises to be an avenger to those who hurt his sheep, big name or not (Rom 12:9).
The public demise of leaders should alert us to the urgency there is in fighting our hidden sins, confessing them to our brothers and sisters, and seeking help in gaining victory over them. “What was in the darkness shall come to light” (Luke 8:17)- God makes no jokes, a lie has a short life.
The more loyal we are to our secret sins, the more we become deceptive and manipulative to those around us in order to hide away from being exposed or even being suspected. That is why when news breaks out, shockwaves rip through the community and most saints are left crying out in denial, “But that’s not the man we knew!” But God knows, and the words, “I never knew you”, may be uttered to those who are more loyal to feeding their sin, when they face the Great Judge. Let us not be found in the same predicament.
When we hide our sin, we overload on doing good in order to shy our consciences away from the bad we love so dearly. We bear the same markers that David had when he connived to kill Uriah in order to bury the fruit of his secret sin. However, we can also follow David’s example in the fact that he did not stay concealing his sin, when confronted by God, he repents (Psalm 51).
Bearing the Lord’s name as His child means living out a righteous life, and in order to achieve such, we must start with the truth. The truth is, if it wasn’t for God’s restraining grace at work in us all, to keep us from realising and manifesting the full extent of our depravity, we would have committed heinous acts.
Sin should never be left alone. Do not keep silent about your struggles/dark urges, lest you waste away (Psalm 32:3). Confess your sins to each other and pray for one another that you may be healed (James 5:16). He is faithful and just to forgive us and purify us, because of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross and His current intercession for us (1 John 1:9).
Think of a leader you look up to in the faith. It may be your pastor or your giant of the faith. We as a church and the body of Christ, should not take part in allowing any institutional failings when our leaders fall. We must confront how we view our leaders. Ask yourself:
The gifts that our leaders hold are not by works, they don’t come out of their efforts in reading lengthy texts, their likeability, their seminary degrees, or in their use of clever analogies when teaching. Yes, these attributes can aid our knowledge of God and so on and so forth but ultimately, they are under grace. It is God who imparts the gift and it is God who saves the lost.
Consider the power of the Gospel, it is powerful enough to save the unsavable by human standards. It is God’s lifeline rope, given out of love, to save unholy creatures from impending judgement. Judgement enacted to those who refuse to acknowledge His authority and turn away from their sins and receive His free gift of salvation. Judgement in a place where there is never-ending anguish, where soul and body will be destroyed, where there is utter darkness and unquenchable fire. A place where there is no way out.
The Gospel does not stop there. God does not just stop at saving us from eternal judgement, but He brings us close to Himself for eternity. His Holy Spirit makes His dwelling place within us and allows us to see God in many wonderful arrays. He becomes the Love that will not let us go, the Light that illuminates the dark terrains of the valley, the Joy that seeks us through pain, and the One who lifts up our weary heads to the hope set before us (Matheson Hymn).
May we be humbled by this Gospel. That though we did not deserve to even taste a scintilla of this grace or mercy, God STILL CHOOSES to rain it down on us morning by morning, in full inexhaustible abundance. Dear Christian, take time to consider the Gospel today and let your heart sing for joy in how great His faithfulness is.
You don’t need me to tell you that alcohol is a huge part of our increasingly secular culture, especially among young people. For millions of university students, regularly drinking alcohol and getting drunk while socialising has become the norm.
From experience, it can be tricky to navigate this issue – especially given that there is a variation of opinions among Christians on the topic. In the past I have sinned in this area, so please read this piece in the context of knowing that I am exploring the topic alongside you, rather than preaching down at you.
In this short piece, I want to make a few simple points based on scripture, to help us think about how we should handle alcohol in a drinking culture.
“You cause the grass to grow for the livestock
and plants for man to cultivate,
that he may bring forth food from the earth
and wine to gladden the heart of man,
oil to make his face shine
and bread to strengthen man’s heart.”
Psalm 104:14-15
Firstly, I think it’s helpful to make it clear that alcohol per se is not a bad thing. In several places throughout scripture, wine is portrayed as a good gift from God, to be enjoyed responsibly. The verses above are taken from a wonderful Psalm in which the writer is joyfully exalting God, and listing many of the ways in which he has shown his kindness to us. He lists wine as one of these good gifts.
Think also about one of Jesus’ most well-known miracles, which you can read about in John 2. At the wedding at Cana, he turned water into wine, twenty to thirty gallons we’re told. There are numerous other references to wine throughout scripture, and examples of it being considered a gift, a good thing (Ecclesiastes 9:7, Luke 7:33-35, 1 Timothy 5:23 are a few), however for the sake of keeping this piece short I won’t go into them all.
But with a clear conscience, it is safe to conclude that alcohol is not sinful, however the problem is that sinful people abuse what is not inherently sinful.
“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”
Ephesians 5:18
Scripture makes it explicitly clear, that getting drunk is sinful. This is a case of black and white, there is no Biblical justification for being drunk.
Along with the above verse in his letter to the church at Ephesus, the Apostle Paul also writes in Romans 13:13 “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.”
The question may arise in your mind, what about being a little “tipsy” but not out of control? That seems to be a gray area in this discussion. Let me direct your attention to 1 Peter, where in verse 13 Peter writes “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Now to be clear, Peter isn’t using “sober-minded” in this verse the same way we use it when referring to alcohol. In scripture, “sober” means calm and collected, to have good sense and good judgement. So let me ask, does being tipsy (which is still allowing alcohol to impair your feelings and judgement) align with this command to be sober-minded, to show good sense and judgement as we set our hope on Christ? I believe that the answer is a clear “no”.
“In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalm 16:11
Getting drunk may provide you with temporary happiness, an exciting sensation, an “escape from reality” – but like any sin, it is deceiving, and the pleasure is momentary. Reality will hit you again like a tonne of bricks.
We are offered something which is the opposite of this. It is joyful, genuine and permanent. As David writes in Psalm 16, quoted above, in the Lord are pleasures forevermore. When you see the momentary thrill of being intoxicated, in comparison with the glorious, lasting satisfaction of being in Christ, it makes you realise how worthless, cheap and dirty the experience of drunkenness is.
I’ll conclude with a quote that sums up my final point, by one of my favourite writers, C. S. Lewis.
“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
(C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, 1949)
The recent news articles stating that the death toll had surpassed 100,000, the highest number of deaths in the pandemic, was both shocking and distressing. Over one hundred thousand people have lost their lives as a result of the Covid-19 virus in the UK. As I read through the news article, I thought about a loved one in hospital and how this number applied to them. I am not the type of person to admit feelings aloud especially ones that bring sadness. Therefore, I did not want to admit to my fear of losing them. But with numbers that high, I started to feel an internal panic that I might not see them again.
This pandemic has brought to the surface unimaginable fears that were once fleeting thoughts. The possibility of losing a loved one is now proportionately higher than usual as a result of the coronavirus epidemic. As daily reports announce how many people have died, with numbers in the thousands, it is normal to become numb to the values on our screen, if we are not directly affected, ‘another death,’ ‘another daily tally’, ‘another statistic’. On the other hand, if we have a loved one suffering, these numbers can spark and ignite fear in us; the fear of death.
The fear of death is a prominent reality in our lives today. The worry, panic, dread that you may not speak to your loved one the next day, hear their voice or see their face. It’s a daunting experience. One that many are experiencing right now. As I write this article, my father is in hospital. I don’t think I have ever thought about losing my parents. A little passing thought but nothing tangible to cause the kind of fear I feel now. Death is very real, and for the first time, it is at the door of my family and I was not prepared for it.
Many, thousands, millions of people have lost family members and friends over the last year. And there are millions of others who have family members in a similar situation to my own. The waiting and praying for good news. Holding tightly to the last ounce of faith as the statistics and doctors share one more heart-shattering piece of information. It hurts, it stings but death has no more victory. The truth remains, despite what is happening in this pandemic, God is on the throne. And death was defeated at Calvary.
O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?
1 Corinthians 15:55
We must understand how victorious we are even in the deepest parts of our despair. Death is no more the victor over sin, Christ is. The power of death was defeated on the cross when Christ died and rose again (Romans 6:7-9). We can feel better with talking about and dealing with death as Christians because of the victory we have over death through Christ. We cannot be afraid of a battle that has already been won (1 Corinthians 15:57). Christ won this battle with His death and resurrection.
This situation is happening right now, and I am choosing faith. I am choosing Christ as my hope. I am choosing to believe in the faith that my father showed me. Every day I pray that Gods will be done. That is the scariest prayer to pray because His will might not be what we want. His will might be that my father does not come home and we have to be ok with that. For every believer in Christ, death signifies the transition to the eternal (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). We leave this life and await the continuation with Christ in the next (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Death is not the end. Christians have a unique disposition when they utter this statement with confidence. It is not a false endearment or empathy but rather a truth with a foundation in our salvation story.
The fear of losing someone can paralyse us in our faith but God is still in control. We may never get over death. Death is a factor of human existence and happens every day, however, in this pandemic, it is occurring more frequently. We must not allow this to frighten us out of our faith. Our faith is in the immovable, Almighty, all-powerful God who never changes, from now and to eternity.
When we are faced with the fear of death or the worry of losing a loved one, let us remember Jesus’ sacrifice. Remember the truth of what Christ did on the cross for us and the hope we now have in Him. We can have hope in life despite our fears. We have hope in God who gives us life and sustains us to enjoy the life we have been given.
Even when the numbers terrify us, what God has said in His word should steady us with the firm foundation of Christ to trust in. The One that will not be shaken.
Q: Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible? A: Samson, because he brought the house down
Turning on the news or flicking through social media, it’s easy to get absorbed in what is happening in the world right now. We get caught up in the most pressing issues of the day. Maybe we don’t need the news for that; perhaps it’s our individual lives that have us completely transfixed on the here and now with all of its competing demands. Our daily life keeps us moving from one thing to the next.
For followers of Christ, there is a view that we need that which reaches beyond the immediate concerns of today. That view is eternity. It comes with hope and warning – and we need to heed both. Let’s take off the lens of our present circumstances for a moment and look with a steadfast gaze towards eternity.
Read and reflect on 1 Peter 4:7-11
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:7-11
Discussion
In fact, Peter in this text is encouraging these saints to be prepared to suffer by focusing on the nearness of “the end of all things.” Look at what he said in the beginning of chapter 4:
“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude (emphasis mine), because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin (1 Peter 4:1).
He calls these believers to have the attitude of Christ in being willing to suffer. Like any good soldier, Christ was prepared to give his life and Christians should have this attitude as well. In addition, Peter says in 1 Peter 4:7-11 that having a proper eschatology, a view of the end times would also help these believers with being prepared to suffer.
We can have no doubt, that one of the things that made Christ willing to suffer was a proper view of eternity. Christ always lived with the thought of the end in mind. In fact, throughout the gospels Christ sought to prepare Peter and the rest of the disciples for sufferings that were coming through developing this view. Look at what he said:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am (emphasis mine).
John 14:1-3
How could these disciples keep their hearts from discouragement and giving up, even though they knew their master was about to die? They needed to have a view of heaven and Christ’s second coming. Christ went to build a place for them and he is coming again. This would help keep their hearts from being troubled during the coming suffering.
It is the same for us. One of the secrets to being able to suffer in a world where we are pilgrims is to live in view of the imminent return of Christ.
When Peter says “the end is near”, he was essentially saying there is nothing keeping Christ back from returning at any moment. This was the early church’s blessed hope that helped enable them to endure the sufferings they were experiencing in the world. Christ could return at any time.
Even though it has been 2000 years since this was written, it is still as true for us today as it was then. In fact, it is truer because we are closer to Christ’s coming. When Christ resurrected we entered into the final stage of world history. It is a stage called the “last days.” Look at what the writer of Hebrews said:
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe (emphasis mine).
Hebrews 1:1-2
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
We are on this planet for such a short time in comparison to eternity. We may live our lives believing we have years to do all that we want, but the reality is none of us knows how long we have left. Our life is fleeting, so like the psalmist our prayer might be to ask the Lord to “teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
We must consider the brevity of life, not knowing what will happen tomorrow, as our life is but “a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). For Christians, we are pilgrims passing through this world; it is not our home, nor our final destination. It helps us to keep that perspective, having the confidence that our momentary troubles will pass. It should also remind us to not become attached to the things of this world.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16).
Death is inevitable for all of us, and many in our community and around the world are living and dying without knowing the good news of Jesus. Eternity should propel us and drive us with an urgent desire to share the gospel. We know that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who believe (Romans 1:16).
Death is not the end of the story for any of us as there will be an eternal outcome, whether in the presence of God or out from His presence for eternity (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Jesus has made a way for all people to come into His Kingdom through the cross on which He died for our sins. We must share this truth with others, for their eternal future depends on it.
“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands’’ (2 Corinthians 5:1).
Believers have a secure hope that they will one day be with God in heaven. The death and resurrection of Jesus has made a way for sinful mankind to be reconciled to a holy God. When someone declares with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in their heart that God raised Him from the dead, they will be saved (Romans 10:9) and they have eternal life. We can live boldly, having full assurance in where we are going after death. We also have the promise that Jesus will return, and we will be with Him forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
The gospel also provides hope in suffering with the eternal promises found in Scripture. We know that we will suffer in this life and that the very call of following Jesus is a call to deny ourselves and take up our cross (Matthew 16:24). However, our suffering is never for nothing and there is purpose in the pain which Jesus can use for our good and His glory. When suffering comes, we must remember that He is the Savior of the world who suffered for all of us because of our sin, yet by His wounds, we are healed (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24).
Even if we are not physically healed in this life, we will be healed in the life to come where there is no more suffering or pain (Revelation 21:4). We have hope both now and for eternity that Jesus will never leave us, nor forsake us as we go through struggles and suffering here on earth.
“And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:3-60).
If we fail to understand the gospel ourselves, it can have eternal consequences as it shapes our view of eternity. There are ramifications for not proclaiming the gospel with clarity to others or omitting core truths because we fear what others will say. Having an eternal view should keep the gospel at the forefront of our mind and direct our conversations with others.
This is the greatest news for a broken world desperately hungry for hope; we shouldn’t keep it to ourselves. There is a need for urgency – do others know Jesus? How can we daily live our lives with fervor for the souls of those we encounter? Our minds can be filled with God’s Word which shapes our understanding of who He is and the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ as we seek to faithfully proclaim it to others.
The workplace can be a daunting and overwhelming place for young Christians. It often presents a melting pot of beliefs and cultures that directly oppose our faith. We face the challenge of wanting to make a good impression and build relationships with our colleagues but not wanting to compromise our faith as a result. It is important that we proactively and intentionally make the decision to stand firm in our workplaces but what does that look like?
Throughout the Bible Christians are exhorted to stand firm, be steadfast, and unmovable (Ephesians 6:11-13, 1 Corinthians 15:58, 2 Thessalonians 2:15). Essentially, we need to be “spiritually grounded”. It can be tough to do this when we are in the workplace because we desire to fit in, we may fear persecution and we might actually be ashamed of the gospel.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are great examples of what it looks like to stand firm (Daniel 3). They were faced with an instruction from the King that stood in direct opposition with their faith as Jews, and they were faced with a fatal penalty for disobeying that instruction. In the midst of this, they chose to stay grounded in God. So, what can we learn from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?
Standing firm requires us to stand out (Romans 12:2)
The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shows us that standing firm in our faith requires us to go against the curb. I can imagine how awkward it would have been for them, sticking out like sore thumbs as they stood whilst everyone bowed. Well, this is exactly what is required of us as Christians. Romans 12:2 tells us that we should not be conformed to the patterns of this world, in doing so we are bound to look different from the rest of our colleagues.
Standing firm requires us to fear God and not fear man (Matthew 8: 35-38)
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s story isn’t just inspiring because God saved them from the fire, their story is inspiring because of their heart posture in the situation (Daniel 3:16-18). They were less concerned about the fire they would face here on earth and more concerned about the God they would face in eternity. As believers, our first thought should be towards God and not the men we work with and under.
Standing firm in our faith is our appropriate response to our Saviour who stood firm so that we could have salvation. We stand firm in our workplaces first and foremost because that is the call of the believer. Our faith is evidenced when we choose to not conform to the things around us but decide to stand out for God.
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel
Philippians 1:27
For many of us, the vast majority of our time will be spent at work. The people we are likely to interact with the most is our colleagues. To be an effective witness, we must hold on to our beliefs, our mouths cannot be telling one story whilst our lives tell a different one.
As we work and interact with colleagues who would rather make a joke out of Christianity or those who are tolerant of our beliefs, or those who are curious and want to know more- let us remember the words of Apostle Paul. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Rom 1:16). Let us be bold in the eternal saving power of the Gospel, not being ashamed of it, but recognising that we may be the only mouthpieces of the Gospel that some of our colleagues will come across. Be encouraged by the attitudes of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, whether we are saved from the fire or not, God reigns supreme so it is Him that our lives, jobs and worship belong to.
There’s a common misconception in Christianity about the idea of ‘loneliness,’ like it is normal to dissociate from a social bubble as long as you have Christ. There was a stage in my life where I thought this, believing that as long as it was just God, my Bible and I, I would be fine. Ever since COVID-19, however, God has shown me what it truly means to be a ‘lonely’ Christian.
Where there is an absence of something we often take for granted, we feel the impact of it all the more. Imagine you had lighting in your house the whole year, and all of a sudden everything switches off, leaving an absence of light and only darkness. You feel the impacts of the loss of lighting all the more in comparison to you living with unstable lighting all your life. This has been the situation for many Christians like you and I. It is becoming increasingly difficult to cope, to continue the race amidst everything. So what now? What are the solutions to this new pandemic we know as ‘loneliness?’
The Lord will not abandon His people; He will not desert those who belong to Him
– Psalm 94:14
Loneliness is not a foreign biblical concept. Job suffered from loneliness, losing everything and everyone. Even Christ suffered from the feeling of being alone from the Father as He was hung on a tree. There are many other examples in the bible, however they all have one major thing in common. God did not abandon them in their loneliness. In fact, God knew that periods of loneliness would come, that is why He highlighted the importance of community in His Word.
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
-Ecclesiastes 4:12
Despite lockdown restrictions, the importance of community remains. God has made a way where a virtual community can be created, allowing oneself to grow spiritually, socially and mentally. These include online bible studies, online church and general online socials. A schedule could even be formed to ensure that a community is sustained – that you are not left in your loneliness as a single cord prone to break.
David was a shepherd. Despite this, he still sought time to play the harp, developing the talent God had bestowed on him. Now that we have more time, we can now learn to explore our gifts, talents and interests. What have you always wanted to do? Of course, it’s easier said than done. Thorough introspection and prayer is needed to understand which direction to take, but what’s important is the starting point. Everything afterwards will be easier.
Furthermore, try to set biblical goals for yourself. You don’t necessarily have to complete the whole Bible in lockdown, but perhaps there was a book you always wanted to analyse, or a topic you always wanted to look into. Maybe there was even an aspect of theology you always wanted to understand – now is that perfect time. As much as we should set goals to build ourselves up physically and socially, we should also spend this time tending to our spiritual goals.
Try and interact with those around you. If you’re living at home, try and interact more with your family. God placed us in families for many reasons, one which I assume is He understood that we could not grow in loneliness. We require social interaction, a community who can help us on our journey to maturity. Engage with this God-given community. If you’re not living at home, engage with an appropriate social bubble, making sure that a community is still maintained.
Community is of importance in the Christian faith. This is how God intended it to be, a faith of relationship and not dictatorship – and not just relationship with Him but with others whom you would call brother and sister. This is why we are referred to as the body of Christ, a body made up of a community who love the Lord. In all, it is important for you to understand that you are not alone, regardless of what Satan tells you. Hold fast, it will be over before you know it.
During the last year, whilst living amidst a pandemic the UK has heard Boris Johnson repeatedly remind the nation of its civic duty to follow the lockdown rules, to reduce the spread of the virus and save lives. This call is specifically aimed at preventing this deadly disease from affecting those most vulnerable, such as the elderly. However, our civic duty doesn’t simply begin and end at preventing the spread of the virus but extends to wherever there is a need to be met. So what is our civic duty and how do we live it out as Christians?
The definition of civic duty is ‘a responsibility expected from citizens of a country”. An example of this would be when an individual is chosen for jury service. You would be expected to participate as part of the jury for the duration of the trial. So if there are earthly civic responsibilities, how much more does God expect of us as Christians? The underlying ethic that fuels this civic duty commanded by God is love. God commands us to love our neighbour and by doing this we can fulfil our heavenly and earthly civic duties. In my opinion, the parable of the Good Samaritan perfectly explores what it means for Christians to fulfil their civic responsibility.
In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus tells the now-famous parable of how we should respond to the suffering we see around us, especially to those who suffer the most. This parable begins with an expert of the law (presumably a lawyer) testing Jesus’ proficiency of the law (Luke 10:25). As ever, Jesus answers wisely and asks a question that would reveal the heart of the lawyer (verse 26). The lawyer responds correctly by stating that loving God and neighbour perfectly fulfils the law and Jesus agrees. (Verse 27-28). What the lawyer says next is interesting as it suggests that what the law requires of him is too much for him to bear (verse 29). By asking who is my neighbour, the lawyer seeks to determine who he doesn’t have to show love to. Jesus answers him with following the parable.
A man is journeying from Jerusalem to Jericho and on the way, he was met by robbers and was beaten to near-death (verse 30). A priest and then a Levite, both see this man in his distress and walk by him. What should be noted is that both these men are kinsmen in the flesh of this victim. A Samaritan (who would have been an enemy to the Jew) sees the victim, and his response differs from the previous two. He dresses the man’s wounds, mounts him on his animal, finds him an inn to further mend him and pays for his care in full (verse 33-35). Jesus asks a pertinent question to the lawyer, who was the victim’s neighbour (verse 36)? And I will ask a following up question, which type of neighbour are you? A Levite and a priest or a Samaritan? One looks like Christ, the other does not.
The scenario illustrated by Jesus is the one we face every day. No matter the type of suffering, whether large or small, there are people like the man travelling to Jericho that we will meet. Whether we will stop to meet their needs will be determined by a key element stated in verse 33. When the Samaritan saw the man in his need, he was filled with compassion (verse 33). This virtue is one we see repeatedly shown by Jesus when He encountered the suffering of people (Luke 7:13; Matthew 15:32; Matthew 9:36; Matthew 14:14; Matthew 20:34; Mark 6:34). Without compassion, we cannot fulfil our civic duties as Christians. Without compassion we will not respond to the needs of those we encounter, we will be like the Levite and the priest who walked by the victim. Jesus expects this of us, to see the suffering in this world and be moved with compassion. What this parable illustrates is that your neighbour is anyone in need. And anyone can be in need. Therefore what Jesus asks of the lawyer He asks of us.
“Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers? ” “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”
Luke 10:36-37 HCSB
The one who shows mercy is the one who fulfils his/her civic duty. The question that now remains is, ‘what does that look like?’. Once more, I think we can take our cues from the Good Samaritan. There are 3 steps each of us can take when we encounter any form of suffering: see the need, meet the need and stay with the need. In the parable, we see the Samaritan do all three of these things.
There is no greater time than the present to implement the lessons that the Good Samaritan parable teaches. Globally, we face a virus that is deadly to anyone; but especially to those who are elderly. Now, we can have the same response as the priest or the Levite and ignore the guidelines that have been implemented to keep those most vulnerable safe. After all, as long as the elderly that we know are safe that’s what counts, right? You see what Jesus is teaching us is that nobody is really a stranger. So whether it’s the elderly person on the bus that you’ll never see again or it’s the elderly person that has lived next to you all your life – they both equally matter. And our civic duty in this time would be to do whatever it takes to reduce the likelihood of the elderly contracting the virus and potentially suffering dire consequences. How we operate during this lockdown and post-lockdown will be indicative of whether we really view the elderly and other vulnerable groups as our neighbours.
If we want to be people that fulfil our civic duty then we must look to the One who fulfilled His civic duty perfectly. The Good Samaritan exists only because there is a Good Lord. And our Good Lord didn’t just see our needs and ignore them. He saw our needs, came to meet our needs and then stays with us in our needs. Jesus did that for us, He now calls us to do that for others; especially those that need it most.
