How to be a Christian in a Secular world.
 

Recognition.
 

We must first recognise that we are dealing with a breakdown of morality.
Although this has been happening for a long time now. Permissiveness began way back in the sixties, with the free love revolution, the flower power And the drug culture. 

The problem now is that society has begun to accept it as normal behaviour. Where once it was recognised as wrong, it is now seen as acceptable. 
We can remember when it was frowned upon to get pregnant before marriage, it was not looked on well to live with someone before marriage. Divorce was accepted but not looked on as bad.
There was no such thing as LBTQ. Practising homosexuality was punishable by imprisonment.
Today, you are seen as homophobic if you disagree with it.
Not only is it supported by non gays but it is supported by religion, in spite of the scriptures condemning it.
The bible is being used to condone it.

Rejection of Bible authority.

Another thing we see is the depletion of the authority of the bible. This is not only in the world but in the church. In the West there has been a great growth in eastern religion, Islam, Bhuddism.
 

In 2Tim3:1-9, we read: 1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 
2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 
3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 
4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 
5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 

Verse 5 of the reading below tells us that there are those within our churches who appear to be godly people but they deny the power of it.
True possessors of Jesus Christ are exhorted to avoid such people, for they are only professing Christ but do not possess Him.

6  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 
7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

Verse 7 tells us that there are those that are ever learning but never come to the position where it has any effect on them and they never come to a knowledge of the truth.
 

8  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 
9  But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. 
 

What then is the Answer?
 

First of all, we must recognise that we are all sinners. Paul the Apostle makes it clear in his letter to the Corinthian church.

1Co 6:9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 
10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 
11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 

We all have our short comings and so we should not judge others. We are sinners saved by grace and there but for the grace of God go I.
We were no different than them but we have come to the knowledge of the truth and we were brought to repentance and faith in Christ and therefore we have received forgiveness and been changed.
So, we cannot judge anyone.
We should not love their sin but are to love them.
If God loves them then so should we.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should have eternal life.

To hate is human to forgive is divine.

Jesus taught us to love and forgive.

Matthew 5:44 Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 
 

Defend the Word in love.

There is an old saying, “We don’t need to defend the Bible, it is like a lion, it can defend itself.
Defend in this sense is stand for the Bible. Stand for its authority, its inerrancy, its infallibility.
When people try to degrade it, to denigrate it, to mock or scorn its teachings. Then we should take our stand in favour of it.

John 17:17 Jesus declared: Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
 

Preach the truth in love.
 

We as bible believing Christian’s, must understand that the Bible is divinely powerful, authoritative, and able to save and transform. 
The book itself is just a book, it has no magical power but the words of it are.
It is the Word of God that brings life,

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10:17  
 

God’s Word is the medicine for a secular culture and church.
 

2Tim 3:14-17 14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 

15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

17  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 
 

Remain Steadfast
 

We must remain convinced, steadfast and true to the only Truth that matters—God’s Truth.
Secular society does not have the answer to sin. The government can pass laws but they cannot stop people sinning.
The Bible is the only thing that can transform a life and bring peace to a troubled soul. The Bible alone has the power to transform society through the transformation of its citizens.
 

Read and Study.
 

It is imperative that we educate ourselves and our children in the truth of God’s word.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Strong faith requires a strong foundation, we must study, read and digest.
 

Seek fellowship.
 

Studying brings questions. Christians have many questions. Being born again does not automatically give us bible knowledge. We must do what we are exhorted to do by the Apostle Paul, when writing to young Timothy:

2 Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
 

We must seek out those who can help. Seek out good Bible teachers and Christian Counsellors.
It is important to belong to a bible believing church, one that teaches the authority and inerrancy of scripture.
If we are not involved with a church, we should at least share time with other Christians, whether a home fellowship or group studies. We cannot survive as Christians on our own, we are part of a greater body of Christ.
 

Practice your faith.
 

A most important truth for Christian life is that a lived-out faith is far stronger than one that’s merely intellectual. 
Our faith must descend from our head to our heart. Many Christians don’t realize this and settle for a life in the world with emphasis on church attendance. Going to church on Sunday is as far as Christianity goes.
The attitude of some is:
I have done my bit if I polish a pew. If I have given in a collection.
 

Get involved.

Get involved in loving others through charity work, join a residents groups, an action group. It’s not all about work in a church, it is about living a Christian life, wherever you are.

Let your Light shine.
 

You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.
As Christians we spend 90% of our lives out of church, living our lives in the world. This is the nature of humanity. We work, we join clubs, we shop, we visit relatives and friends. This is our life.

Christianity is about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The theme of our lives as Christians, true disciples of Christ is learning more about Him and pointing others to Him.

We spend part of the 10% mixing with other believers by attending a building, in fellowship, in bible study and prayer. This is how we grow in the Christian Life.

If we are to be the salt in the world, we have to mix with the world. If we don't we will not savour it.
If we are the light of the world, we must let our light shine to bring light to the world.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Mark 9:50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavour, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”

Jesus told us in John 17:14-16 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
 

Some of us take our boats out of the water all together. Our intentions are good. We want to protect ourselves and our families from the sin of the world.
We are influenced by the old adage: It is easier to drag someone down than to lift someone up.

Granted, it’s easier to live by God’s standards if we remove ourselves from the influence of the world. But there’s one big problem with that. In doing so, we also remove the influence of Christ from the world.

Jesus calls us to go out into the world and take the Gospel not hunker down in a holy bunker.
 

We are told in 1 John 4:4 Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.

The world does not want to hear the Gospel. The natural man receiveth not the things of God. 1 Cor 2:14.

However, God has an Elect people out there and He is in the process of gathering them to Himself.
God has ordained that men should come to Him through the preaching of the Word and the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
 

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10:17.
 

To be the salt and light in the world, we must always be ready to give an account of what we believe.
This is in word and deed.

One third of the 90% of our time, we spend in bed, asleep. Let's use the other 60% wisely.

Jesus said: John 9:4 I must work the works of Him whilst it is still day. the night cometh, when no man can work. 
Joh 9:5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 
 

He also said: Matt 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
 

The Fruit of the Spirit.
 

Practice the fruit of the Holy Spirit and in whatever other ways you may be able.
Christ has set us free from sin and death and He wants us to live abundant lives.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Gal 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 

However, this does not mean that we can live any way we like. It does not use our freedom to sin
Jesus Christ gave all the means we need to live an abundant life, He tells us how we can do it.
What we must not do and what we should do.
 

Gal 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 

Gal 5:14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 
Gal 5:15  But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 
Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 

Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 

Gal 5:18  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 

Gal 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 

Gal 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 

Gal 5:21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 

Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 
Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 
 

Prayer.

We have an amazing God who loves to hear His children pray.
From what we have looked at up to this point, you can actually see a need to pray all around us, making it obvious why we should pray.
 

Luk 11:1  And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 
2  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 
3  Give us day by day our daily bread. 
4  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. 

Prayer causes God to listen

Psa 66:16  Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. 

17  I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. 

18  If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: 

19  But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. 

20  Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. 

When we deal with our sin and our heart, God listens to our prayers and acts on our behalf. Leaving things unresolved makes it difficult for us to be honest, let down and vulnerable, causing our prayers to be distracted or not genuine.

Prayer is a perfect opportunity to explore our hearts, share everything with God and begin relieving ourselves of guilt and other emotions that may be weighing us down. Doing this will attract God and allow him to work in our lives.

 

 

 

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