The Watchman's Diary

There are those who either stray from the Christian faith or avoid it altogether. Each person has their own reason for doing so, and each one will give an account at the appointed time. You may have heard them say that the church is too hypocritical, or that Christianity is too restrictive. Whatever the reason, it is for them to wrestle with and for us to continue to love them, being careful not to endorse a lifestyle that is contrary to the Word of God. This is often not so easy to do, for we often think loving others means not offending them by expressing our beliefs based on the Word of God—we may go along to get along. 

Believers in Jesus as Messiah are called out to live different from the rest of the world. The reason it may often seem difficult is because the world is under the control and influence of the devil and, apart from the revelation of God, will not accept these things. The Apostle Paul writes that “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4). How then should believers live and what should our character portray. 

“We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things” (2 Corinthians 6:3-10).

We live according to the Gospel of Jesus our Messiah, in humility and with integrity. We are called to be patient with believers and unbelievers, even when they reject the message we bring. We respond differently to persecution, unmet needs, catastrophes, and unjust punishment. We live and teach the Gospel in freedom and in bondage. We remain hopeful in peacetime and in times of tumult. We labor without revolting and keep our eyes on the horizon when the nights are long. We remain full of hope in hunger and keep our hands clean in scarcity. We hold fast to God’s promising even when they seem far off because we have the knowledge of the holiness and faithfulness of God. We are kind to those who mistreat us and love those who hate us because we live according to Jesus’ teachings. 

We live differently because we are to reflect the image of Christ, through the Holy Spirit who lives in us. We are not perfect. We do not love perfectly, nor do we reflect perfectly the likeness of Christ. Which is why we look to God to help us live as He has called us. Nonbelievers may point to our shortcomings to justify their choices. We point to Christ who justifies all who call on Him.