The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
March 17, 2002
In
This Issue:
"How
to Bring Neighbors Closer to God..."
By
Steve Klein
How to Bring Neighbors Closer to God:
Writing a Letter With Your Life
A while back, someone gave me a magazine clipping containing the following story: A preacher and a bus driver went to heaven. The bus driver got a big, beautiful mansion with large rooms. The preacher got only a one-room bungalow. When the preacher asked why his reward was so modest after preaching the gospel all his life he was told, "When you preached, the people fell asleep. When the bus driver drove his bus, the people prayed."
At the expense of bus drivers and preachers, this story illustrates a great truth. "Ordinary" Christians have as much power as preachers to bring people in the world closer to God. Not (of course) by driving recklessly and scaring people into thoughts of the hereafter, but by living godly lives. Consider the following passages, each addressed to disciples of Christ:
Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
1 Peter 2:12, "...having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation."
1 Peter 3:1, "Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives."
The gospel preached is still God's power to
save men (Romans 1:16; 10:13-17). But few in our day and time
will open their hearts to hear the gospel unless they first see its
power in the life of a Christian. The following poem by Wallace
E. Norwood expresses the point very well:
"The Gospel According To You"
The most beautiful story given to men
Was written long ago
By Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,
Of Christ and His mission below.
And you write a gospel, a chapter a day,
By your deeds, whether faithless or true;
When others read it, what will they think
Of the gospel according to you?
Its a wonderful story, the Gospel of Love,
As it shines with Christ's life divine,
Oh, that its truth might be told again
In the story of your life and mine.
You are writing each day a letter to men;
Take care that the writing is true.
It's the only gospel some people may read,
That gospel according to you.
The apostle Paul wrote: "You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men" (II Corinthians 3:2). As we make choices day by day about things as varied as whether or not to attend some questionable activity, how to express our anger, how we discipline our children, whether or not to attend worship, etc. we are sending messages to our neighbors. Let us indeed take care that "our writing is true."
-- by Steve Klein