Thinking Like a Christian

A series of Scripture meditations on what the Bible teaches about the Christian life.

by Pastor Pete Beck III

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ruthless Christians please God

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, 3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him. 5 So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. Colossians 3:1-5 (NET1)

Christians are almost universally condemned for the misguided efforts of the Crusaders to free the Holy Land. Most identify Christianity with "turning the other cheek," not with cutting off our enemies' heads. That is what Islamists do. According to James, mercy triumphs over judgment, and Jesus told us to forgive our enemies. So, when is it pleasing to God for believers to be ruthless? The church is known for ruthlessly judging those who engage in sinful behavior, especially if one of our own falls. Is this pleasing to God? Does it attract people to the gospel? Surveys show that non-Christians view the church as being judgmental and hypocritical. This means they see how we come down hard on people who deviate from accepted behavioral norms, but they also see that we are guilty of the same things for which we judge others. I believe the Bible makes it clear that we are to be merciful to others, but ruthless with our own sin.

 

Paul's logic is inescapable in the opening passage above.

 

We died with Christ when He died and rose when He rose from the dead (Col.2:12); therefore, we should focus on the present spiritual reality of being "in Christ."

When Jesus returns in glory, there will be a final cutting off of what remains of the sin nature and a rewarding of obedience.

Therefore, we must put to death those things which would distract or prevent us from fully glorifying God in our present lives and at Christ's Second Coming.

 

By understanding what Christ has done for us by providing forgiveness, redemption, reconciliation and the indwelling Spirit, and by considering the glory that will be ours by fully cooperating with God in the present transformation process, we should ruthlessly put to death any and everything that would distract or detour us from the goal of living lives worthy of our heavenly calling. Instead of ruthlessly criticizing others, we should be ruthlessly repenting for our own sins and ruthless in our determination to be obedient to God. This kind of ruthless Christianity pleases God.

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