The Role of the Church in today's society!
Ephesians 3: 10 -12 and Act 2: 42-47.
Introduction:
We are living in a age where Christians are being persecuted in many nations.
1. ISIS Islamic state in Iraq and Syria have killed many Christians in Iraq. They are not sparing ladies nor Children. You can see the horrible photo of these on the internet.
2. On 11/8/014 Boko Haram killed nearly 100 people in Gwoza, Nigeria.
3. On 14th April Boko Haram captivated more than 200 Christian ladies till today they are surviving as captives in Nigeria. Recently they have captivated more than 60 women and Children. The government is silent and their relatives are helpless.
3.India is also not far from the persecution. When BJP government came in power the whole nation anticipated the ACHHE DIN but after they came in power the BURE DIN (Bad days) of Christians started. The RSS and other militant groups have already started persecuting Christians in INDIA Christians are being persecuted.
Some recent incidents:
1. This month Hindu groups convert Church into a Mandir, claim that 72 Christians converted to Hinduism
Not just the 72 Valmikis were reconverted into Hindus from Christians at Asroi village, about 25 km from the Aligarh district headquarters but a 7th Day Adventist church was also converted into a Shiv temple, where these Valmikis used to pray, the report said. According to reports, these Valmikis converted to Christianity in 1995 and now they have again embraced Hinduism.
2. Christian arrested in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
August 22, 2014: According to reports received from Mandla, Madhya Pradesh, a Christian named Rakesh was arrested by the police while he was on his way to a Christian meeting.
3. Rev. Paul on of the Nazarene pastor and his youth members were brutally bitten by the RSS group and also they vandalized the Church in Delhi.
Now as Christian what is our response to this what is our role in this society. I suspect if severe persecution like Iraq and Syria(My friend from Syria) stars in India many Christians will turn away from Christianity.
4. Why I am saying this : FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014
India is a Hindu nation, I'm a 'Hindu Christian': Goa Deputy Chief Minister
Panaji: In comments that may trigger a controversy, senior BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister of Goa Francis D'Souza, Friday, said that India is Hindu nation and he considers himself a 'Christian Hindu'. D'Souza made the remark while defending his cabinet colleague Deepak Dhavalikar who said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could make the country a 'Hindu nation'. "It was always a Hindu nation and will always be a Hindu nation. You don't have to create a Hindu nation," D'Souza said.
"India is a Hindu country. It is Hindustan. All Indians in Hindustan are Hindus, including I - I am a Christian Hindu," D'Souza said.
Illust: AApan sarve SHIV BHAU said the pastor's brother in law.
People have already started to compromising their faith in India. But in midst of this what can we do as Church. Now people are talking about sending Christian representatives to the parliaments. People are going hunger strikes for reservations. These all things are there but today God is reminding us the ROLE OF CHURCH IN TODAY"S SOCIETY! READ Ephesians 3:10 – “To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God should be made known by the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm.
Here we see two things about God's intention for the Church , 1) His manifold wisdom or wisdom of God, should be made known by the Church 2) To the principalities and power in heavenly places or realm.
a. There is a answer the question, What is the role of the Church in today's society?
A. The answer is the same today as it was in the 1st century.
1. We may have more gadgets: like I (apple) product and we live in I world
2. We may have more tools.
3. We may have more modernism: pre, post modernism
4. We may have more ideas and programs: Today the fad has come to attained the healing crusade, people are after the physical healing but what about the spiritual healing? I know many Christians who profess to be Christians , they say they know Jesus, they are Church goers but in reality they have no personal relationship with God. They are spiritually sick.
We are engrossed in so many programs. Even though, we have advanced in almost every are of Life, BUT ......
5. But . . . We still have the same role as the early church had.
B. The role of Church is the same because the needs are the same because . . .
1. Every society still needs God!:
No one can deny the very existence of God whether he is Hindu, Muslim, Buddha, Jain, Sikh or a nominal Christian. If you want to know how our Indian people are searching for God, please visit Utterakahnd and see the how people are intensely searching God. Hajj yatra of Muslims, and now in Christianity people want to visit Holy land as if it is a pilgrimage of Christians.
2. Every society still needs Christ:
In India many people are searching for the truth as Christians we know the truth... and the Jesus said in John 8:32, Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
What is this TRUTH? We see Jesus said in John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. In none of the scripture we find such a strong claim. My dear Church every society still needs Christ.
C. Let us see what does bible says about the Church's role in the society, Kindly turn with me to
1. Acts 2:42-47 – “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
Here we see as Church we have some role to play, some work to perform, some mission to accomplish. That can be classified under three categories. .i.e.
1. Evangelism - To preach Christ
2. Edification - To practice Christ.
3. Benevolence - To personify Christ.
D. The above main role of Church we need to keep in mind and need to exhibit it..... because
1. Every society (society comprises Christian also) has lost the real godliness, see the rate of crime is increasing in our society, Bible says God has created men and women in His image but now man has defiled the very image of God. The society need to be taught the real essence of Godliness.
2. Every society downtrodden that needs to be lifted up.
3. Every society has its poor who are in need.
a. Jesus said in Matthew 26:11 – “For you have the poor with you
always . . .”
b. The expression, “The poor” appears some 135 times in the Bible
c. Jeremiah 22:16 tells us that God judges the cause of the poor and
needy. Dear Church . . . They need the attention of the church.
E. Have you ever thought why God has created us as Indian and why he has made us Christians? Because we as church are here to change the society . . . and not here to be changed by society.
This world has impacted so many Christians in many areas life.
Today I am seeing the prosperity gospel is booming in India. They liked by the people massively, now days most of the people don't like hear the salvation, redemption and sermons on forgiveness. Rather people want to listen sermons on prosperity, materialistic blessings. People want all the glamorous, famous preachers having PhDs, luxurious cars. Let me tell you the fact prosperity gospel just offers people what they want as natural or worldly man.
Look at the early church Act 2: 42, They devoted themselves to the apostles TEACHING and to the fellowship.
a. Only being Christian is not enough. Every believer's spiritual growth and maturity is based on the scripture. The Bible is the all-inspired Word of God and should never be altered.
b. Fellowship: The 1 century Church devoted themselves to the fellowship. In Christian life fellowship is very important. Now days fellowships are fading away. This problem is seen in Churches. People are just being limited to Church services, Now days people are not interested in cottage prayers, all night prayers, prayer fellowship. People wants to be alone, I met people who say "Brother now days I don't go to Church I just watch live Church services on TV or I hear the online sermons, because I am fed up people.
We think we are wasting our time but let me tell you Jesus Said in Matt. 18:20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." We are so privilege that we are enjoying our religious freedom, we can gather anytime anywhere but think about the people in Iraq and Syria for the Lord sake they are being killed. And soon that condition might take place in India.
c. The work of the church is same as it was in the 1st century.
FOUR KEY WORDS THAT DESCRIBE THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN
TODAY’S SOCIETY.
1. FAITHNESS
a. Faithful to the Word of God and faithful to the God of the Word.
b. Faithful to the mission of Christ which he has left for the church to accomplish. We will have no faith in the mission, unless we have faith in the author of mission! Eph 3:10. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
c. Faithful to go . . . Teach . . . Baptize . . . Teach those baptized to grow.
These are the four steps we see in the Great Commission? Matthew 28:19-20. Are we fulfilling any one of these steps? Let us be faithful to the Great Commission.
d. Faithful to defend the Bible . . . Its teachings . . . Its eternal truths.
Until and unless we know the Bible how can we defend it? (Biblical illiteracy)
f. Faithful to the Church (In giving the tithes, to mission and missionary who are living a challenging lives)
2. LOVE (Appears 385 times in the Bible)
a. Listen to God’s Word:
1. John 15:12 – “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I
have loved you.”
2. Matthew 5:45 – “For if you love those who love you, what reward have
you?”
a. God never set as a condition of our loving others that they love us back.
b. The world does not have to love us in order for us to love them.
3. 1 John 5:3 – “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”
b. What does love do?
1. Love gives. 2. Love serves. 3. Love is kind 4. Love does not envy 5. love does behave rudely. Love one another as Christ has loved us unconditionally.
3. ACTION
James 2:14-17 14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Our audio and video must go together
Our actions will minister:
a. To the homeless.
b. To the sick: Visit the members who are sick and pray for them.
c. To the parentless or abandoned children.
d. To the needy. F. To the disabled.
4. RESPONSIBILITY
Lastly let me tell you Christianity is not a religion, (Jesus was not a Christian) it's a life style. It's a life of responsibilities. Lead a life of responsibilities and let not get defile by the world.
Always remember, Bible says, We are in the world but not of the World.
b. We can fail in our responsibility . . .when:
1. We look like the world.
2. Think like the world.
3. Talk like the world.
4. Dress like the world
5. Act like the world.
6. Embrace the values of the world.
2 Corinthians 6:17 – “Therefore "Come out from among them And be
separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”
CONCLUSION:
A. Brethren . . .
1. We are the hands and feet of Christ to our society . . .
B. The Role of the Church in our society is to . . .
1. Lift up Christ to a lost and dying world
2. Preach Christ
3. Live Christ
4. Demonstrate Christ
C. We are not responsible for the generations and societies that are past . . . But we are responsible for the one in which we live. As member of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us perform our various roles to the society in which we live.
