49/51
49/51
One of my old friends mentioned to me in conversation the term 49/51 in reference to
the son of a Pastor. Of how he viewed his lifestyle as being a Christian in today’s world. I immediately asked for a full explanation of his statement and what he shared startled my thinking. He unpacked it by stating that he’s 49% in the church and 51% in the world. I gasped at the statement alone. I thought of how many believers are under this same influence? Could it be that as a Christian we confess and say that we truly walk as believers do and fully trust God? I decided to explore this thinking as a person who confess Christ, where should my mind be? I questioned my own life as we talked. Could he be saying the same about me? But as I listened to his frustrations he stated the obvious. He expected the son of a Pastor to have better choices than his own. I explained to him that we are all born sinners and our need for God is evident for survival today.
I get it, although he admits that he’s no perfect person, he also behaves in a way that 's not becoming of a Christian. His anger lies with the fact that this so called Christian friend gets to go worship God and he then attends a party designed for sinners. This is what I gathered from our conversation. I had a difficult time getting him to understand that sinners do what they do best and that’s sin. Even when they come into and go out of the sanctuary. No need to be upset at that. He’s aware of his own relationship with God and would dear not play with it. I thought at least he’s conscious of his own behavior. But he's then questioning the pastors son, should he not be thinking the same? Our conversation started down the path of spelling out the gospel of how it’s free and not many who say they believe truly do. I know one thing though, that he is fully aware of his own actions. Count it all joy that he’s concerned about his own salvation an not others. There is no need for him to be worry or complain about others but form him to make sure that he’s right with God.
I’ve had similar conversations with friends who know and fight weekly to live out a pure and godly life but sin gets them every time. They prefer to not be the ones who claim to love Christ with their mouths and deny him with their lifestyles. At times they acknowledge that their sins on Saturday night would shame them on Sunday. So they rather not seek out forgiveness but instead wallow in the guilt of their sin. Therefore they would not make an effort to attend a service or even enter a sanctuary.
Having to explain the truth about how broad the road is to destruction and how narrow the road that leads to Christ seemed to have its pros and cons. What stood out to me was not only did I feel some way about his accusations but I felt some truth within his statement. I've seen with my own eyes the activity of the pastors son on social media and no less than five to six hours later there there is a post of him leading his congregation in worship. At times I was baffled by his actions but could never connect the dots. I too have similar friends who would place themselves in peculiar situations to answer in some weird way of being wise in presenting the gospel. The question some of of us have is how extreme should one be in order to reach others. Some choose street corners known for prostitutes, call girls of the night and others would go to what we call an adult strip club in order to share. How much sharing of the gospel is being done? Only God knows. Today our society thrives on alternative facts. Being a witness to an accident can have several spins on what all happened. Its the new normal amongst people living in this world.
Should Christians show a sign of being of the world to the world? If so, how much of it should be revealed in order to win over non-believers? I have my opinions about toeing the line. Yes we must not walk around here as if we are zombies for Christ for we too came out from the same place. Going into establishments to prove to others how Christians too can indulge or partake as being followers of Christ is false. We must be wise in our approach to share the gospel and try not to be heavenly minded that we are no earthy good. To my friend I will ask for you to pray and for God to grant him understanding, clarity that we should be either for or against Him.
Our society needs faithful believers who will in no doubt waiver on their walk with God. Let alone for them to be known by their fruit so that it's recognized by all. A life of an indwelling Christ inside.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" - Revelation 14:13
