This is the season when pollsters are busy trying to find someone at home to interview. One script reading interviewer called around nine o'clock one evening last week. The handy Caller ID feature indicated it was from Washington, DC. So, since it was not "unknown name, unknown number", I answered it thinking that perhaps my son has a new cell phone number. When the caller identified herself as a survey taker, my first reaction was to just politely excuse myself and discontinue the call. But, I decided to learn what was on the minds of those who prepared her script during this political time.
Now it seems that political candidates are interested in your religion. "Do you consider yourself a Born-again Christian"? "Do you consider yourself an Evangelical Christian?" "Are you Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish?" Then there were many questions about how you would vote on this or that issue or candidate.
This intrusion into my night caused me to ponder: Are there some Christians who are not evangelical? The primary meaning of the word according to Merriam Webster's Tenth Collegiate Dictionary is: Of, relating to, or being in agreement with the Christian gospel esp. as it is presented in the four Gospels.
Jesus Christ is the founder of the church that rightfully bears his name. The first disciples were called Christians, because they made a choice to be like Christ. People in any country or any century who make this same commitment to obey Christ as Lord are also simply - Christians. Since Christians are people who are interested in obeying Jesus Christ as their Lord, they are all familiar with the words Jesus gave to his disciples before he left the earth to go back to Heaven. "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV)
The Apostles and those first disciples took these words of our Lord very seriously. They began to turn the world upside down with their zeal to take the message of salvation to all people in the world. This is the true message of joy, hope, love and peace for all people in the world today. Christians today should be just as evangelistic as those in the first century were. Our hearts should be on fire to convert our family members and neighbors to the one and only Way of eternal salvation.
As a young man Robert Morrison burned with passion to turn the people of China to Jesus Christ. On his first voyage China, he was asked, "Do you really expect to make an impression on the idolatry of the great Chinese empire?" In reply, Morrison spoke more prophetically than he knew: No, sir, but I expect God will." ("Hudson Taylor and Missions to China," Christian History, no. 52) The church today needs more people who are willing to step out of their comfort zones and travel to the ends of the earth to tell people the Good News of salvation through faith in Christ.
Well, I understand that the modern meaning of the term "Evangelical Christian" means something different to pollsters and those who are hoping to influence voters to vote for them. These people attempt to put people into "mail boxes" where they can predict how a group will vote. Christians are united with Christ Jesus as Lord and King.
The caller also made me wonder again if there are Christians that have not been born again. Jesus said very plainly to a Jewish ruler who asked about eternal life: "In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (John 3:5 NIV)
One of the greatest conversion stories is about the apostle Paul. This man was previously a Jewish rabbi who was most zealous in his desire to stop the growth of Christianity. He was a highly educated and dedicated enemy of those first century "Evangelical Christians." He participated in entering the homes of Christians and having them dragged away to be punished and even some were killed. He would later refer to himself as the chief of sinners. Jesus appeared to Saul while he was on a trip to Damascus to persecute believers. Christ told him to go on into the city and a man named Annanias would tell him what to do. Listen to what he told Saul: "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name." (Acts 22:16 NIV) The only kind of Christians are the ones who have been born again by repenting of their sins and calling upon the name of Jesus as Lord, and being baptized in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These Christians are evangelical by nature of their birth.
You are invited to attend the services of the Church of Christ at the corner of 3rd and E Streets. Write me with any questions or comments David Binkley, Sr., P.O. Box 186, Cedar Key, FL 32625 or E-mail at dgbinkley@aol.com. You may also request to receive the daily WORD OF THE DAY by e-mail. Check out our web site at www.cedarkeychurchofchrist.com. | 