MEASURING A STRONG CHRISTIAN
1. INTRODUCTION
When Samuel was sent to anoint David as the new king of Israel, he learned that God’s measure of a person was different than man’s:
1 Sam 16:6,7 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the LORD.” 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
The same is still true ... God’s measure of a Christian is very much different than that applied by many people today.
In this message:
* We will review the measure often used by Christian Believers to evaluate one another
* And then consider what is God’s measure - which ought to be ours as well!
2. THE MEASURE OFTEN USED BY ‘THE CHURCH’
We begin with the measure often used by the church in general.
a. WE OFTEN MEASURE CHRISTIANS BY:
The amount, the volume, of activities they are involved in, within the church
* If they are involved in every activity in the church, then they must be ‘faithful brethren’
* If they are only involved in certain areas, even though these are specific to their spiritual Gifting/calling, then
they must be ‘weak brethren’
Their leadership abilities
Men are considered strong Christians if they:
* Lead worship, lead prayer, help serve at the Lord’s Supper, teach groups, particularly adult groups, preach
sermons
Women are considered strong Christians if they:
* Sing in the worship group (not to lead), teach Sunday School, organise and run women’s ministries, prepare
communion, clean the building
b. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS MEASURE
It measures the outside of people
* People can do all these things and still be spiritually dead on the inside
* ‘Hypocrites’ can exist very comfortably with such a measurement!
* Christians can remain in ‘spiritual immaturity’ if this is the only measure given to them
It tends to neglect the very nature of the body of Christ – one Body, many members (1 Cor 12:20). One danger is when the emphasis is placed on the public, up-front, functions of the church, see 1 Cor 12:22-26:
1 Cor 12:22-26 “On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honour to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.”
* A further risk happens if the emphasis is placed on one function over another, e.g. ‘teaching’ over ‘serving’ ... the ‘big’ over the ‘small;’ it is surely great to have anointed teaching, but how would you like to sit in a dirty smelly church building? ... is the ‘teacher,’ here, more important than the ‘cleaner’ – ask a visitor?) – c.f. Rom 12:3-8; 25:
Rom 12:3-8 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Also; 1 Cor 12:25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
3. THE REAL MEASURE OF A STRONG CHRISTIAN
Because of the above problems with using such measurements, there is the potential for misjudging and condemning one another. This is something we want to avoid (Jas 4:11,12). What, then, ought to be the measure of a strong Christian?
a. IT IS FOUND IN SCRIPTURES SUCH AS:
Gal 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
* Here we see the qualities of truly spiritual Believers
* This is real evidence of being truly led by the Spirit of God
* Now one who is truly ‘spiritual’ will certainly be obediently involved in the various activities of the church, not because he wants to do something for himself, but because the Lord has called him to do a specific thing for Him - e.g., Gal 6:1,2 and Heb 10:24,25
* But this measure requires that the inner man is changed first (Rom 12:1,2; 2 Cor 5:17)
* And, the purpose of being involved with the Body of Christ – His church - is to build up and encourage other Believers - this is what church is about (see 1 Cor 12:7; 1 Cor 14:12)
Col 3:12-17 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
* Again, this measure begins with the inner man
* But it carries over to our relationship with one another in such activities as Bible study, worship, corporate
prayer, witnessing, caring, discipling etc.
b. CONSIDER OTHER PASSAGES, SUCH AS THOSE THAT FUNCTION AS:
PREACHERS
* A person may preach a great sermon, but what of his personal life? - 1 Tim 6:11; 2 Tim 2:22
* This person may be willing to contend for the faith, but do they do this in the right spirit? - 1 Tim 6:12; 2 Tim
2:23-25
BISHOPS (ELDERS, PASTORS)
* They may be married and have children who believe - cf. Tit 1:5-6
* But are they quick to anger; are they able to teach others? - cf. Tit 1:7-9
MEMBERS, YOUNG AND OLD
* They may be attending the services faithfully
* But is their conduct becoming their stage in life? - cf. Tit 2:1-8
c. THE CHALLENGES OF SUCH A MEASURE
It emphasises the reformation of the inside of a person first, trusting that the outside will naturally follow:
* It requires ‘transformation,’ when ‘conformation’ would be a lot easier
* Transformation takes more time than simply conforming
* This can be time that some Believers may not wish to take
Either for themselves, or for those whom they want to quickly conform to their ideas and programmes, e.g. trying to get involved in teaching before they are ready mentally, or more importantly spiritually (character), just to make themselves look good – c.f. Jas 3:1-2
d. THIS IS A MEASURE THAT OFTEN ONLY THE LORD SEES
We see each other only for a short time each week
* It is easy to put on a mask, to pretend to be something we are not.
* But the Lord sees us as we are!
On the other hand, brethren who may seem passive when we are together may be extremely active when apart
* Active in their warfare against personal sin
* Active in their daily service toward others, in the name of Christ -- activity which we may never see, but the Lord knows!
4. CONCLUSION
a. THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING THE TRUE MEASURE OF A CHRISTIAN
* This has not been so we can go around and judge others
* But to suggest caution in how we measure others
* And to make sure that we are properly measuring ourselves (Rom 12:3)
b. THE STATEMENT OF THE LORD TO SAMUEL STILL APPLIES TODAY:
“Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Sam 16:7)
c. A WORD OF CAUTION TO US ALL
Let us be sure the ‘measure’ by which we examine ourselves is the same one used by the Lord!
