Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Tomorrow I am going to be having an R&B concert!!! This will be officially the first time I have done something on stage which is not exclusively Christian. To some, this may seem like a betrayal of the work of Christ and an attempt to make a name in the secular world, through the gift God has given me. I have talked to a few Christian people fearing that singing R&B implies a loss in Christian standards or abandonment of the faith. Not at all….. The verse above talks about all that is good, true, excellent and praiseworthy. The reference to secular things having virtue(goodness) is found in this one instance in Pauls letters and once in Peters (2Peter 1:5). However, it highlights a crucial point that should shape our Christian worldview. It points to the fact that though the world is fallen, there is still some goodness. The world is not altogether wrong. Calvin called this thing common grace. Common grace is goodness in people found outside of the specific redeeming work of Christ. Common grace alone is not enough to save, but it can point to the way, the truth and the life.(John 14:6). Before salvation, all people have a certain level of common grace and goodness. {We were not flesh eating cannibals} God has given this to us as well as the gift of his own son. Common grace pails in comparison with the grace of the Cross, but it is grace all the same. Maybe what the world needs now is not condemnation from the righteous but praise and acceptance of their goodness. Not an acceptance and praising of all things, but a recognition of the right in their system. Rather than insistently throwing the bible at them, graciously become what they are (which still has Gods blessing) and show them the way. Paul says To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some (1 Corinthians 9:20-22) If singing a song that speaks not of Christ directly might bring another person closer to him then gladly I would sing. Could the approach of acceptance and embrace not bring more people to the cross? Surely it would be more effective than giving a cold shoulder or pushing them away. My prayer today is that tomorrows concert may open the door for someone to the Ultimate truth which is Jesus Christ. If you agree, please pray for me.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 06:29:55 +0000
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