A preacher told how he had recently spent some time with a fellow he enjoys be-ing around. He doesn’t drink alcohol, nor use tobacco in any form. He is never heard to gossip, tell a lie, use profanity, or tell suggestive jokes. He doesn’t patronize night clubs or taverns, nor the theaters that show adult only movies. He has never cheated some-one in a business deal. By some folk’s standard, he might be called a “good Christian.” But then he said, “I think you ought to know that I have been describing my dog.”
Good common sense would tell us that it takes more to be a “good Christian” than not doing a lot of bad things. The Bible tells us the same. Paul wrote, “Therefore, if any-one is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (II Cor.5:17) To be a Christian one must “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provisions for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Rom.13:14) The only way to put on Christ is by faith when one is “baptized into Christ.” (Gal.3:26,27)
As Christians, there are necessary positive things that must be done. We are ex-horted to add to our faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. (II Pet.1:5ff) It is not enough simply to refrain from doing certain things that are wrong; we also must do things that are right and divinely author-ized. Negatively, we must “deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.” Positively, we must “live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.” (Titus 2:12) We also must be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…” (I Cor.15:58) We must not be guilty of “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…” (Heb.10:25) We must deny self, take up our cross, and follow Jesus daily. (Luke 9:23) We must restore the erring (Gal.6:1); take the gospel to the lost (Mark 16:15,16); support the Lord’s work financially (I Cor.16:1,2); and personally (Col.1:10). We must “warn those who are unru-ly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, and be patient with all.” (I Thess. 5:14) And the list of positives goes on and on as we become more and more Chris-t like. Dogs cannot do these things, but men and women can and must.
God forbids certain things, and we must know what they are and submit to His will in these matters. But let’s not deceive ourselves into thinking that living for Christ, and serving Him, involves a long list of don’ts that we must avoid. And as long as we don’t do these things, all will be well with our souls. The do’s are just as important.
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