The Watchman's Diary

Is the Church/Body of Christ to entangled in worldly issues? Are we too often overly focused on national and political issues than we should be? Should we be more focused on those issues?

Regardless of your answer to the above questions, one thing must be consistent—that the Body of Christ must be united and consistently applying the Word of God to our own lives. I believe the fact that we have so much division is because the opposite is true. We have indeed delved too far into foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law. Our disputes have profited us nothing but has instead given the enemy an almost permanent foothold in our communities.

On the other hand, those who think that compromising the Word is the solution are no less guilty than those who hold to immovable positions that are destructive to the body. What then is the solution? How do we remain steadfast to the Word of God without shutting others out of the Kingdom with our holier than thou attitude.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves”

Matt 23:15

We rightfully encourage our children to wisely choose the company they keep, so they do not fall into “bad company” and be led down a path of self-destruction and poor choices. The church was, at one time, where people went for advice on how to handle these matters. Today, we are too often labeled the “bad company” parents don’t want their children to keep. Yes, that is the world pushing against the Kingdom but if we are honest, it is because many in the Church act in such a way that cause outsiders to feel justified in their perception.

The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 2:16 said “we have the mind of Christ”. Why then do we continue to apply the way of man to the way we do things? Can we truly repair the church or the world in our own strength and wisdom. No, we cannot! The way of man is destined for destruction. Is it that we are not actually all operating with the mind of Christ? I say yes, we have allowed the entanglements of the world to corrupt our thinking.

It is time that we take seriously Paul’s admonition not to be “conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2a). You reading this may or may not be too entangled in the world’s affairs but someone you know may be. Let us continually examine ourselves and encourage each other, that we “may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2b).