The Value of a Christian

Sunday Sermons

Mark Dunagan
01/28/07 - Sunday Morning

When a Christian looks at the culture that surrounds him and the negative attitudes that are often expressed towards the convictions that he holds dear, he might be tempted to think that there is not any room in the current culture for the Christian. The Christian might even assume that since his values are often ridiculed and devalued, that maybe he has little value as well. In this lesson I want to consider the actual value of a Christian, even in a society that frequently is unfriendly towards authentic Christianity.

The Blessing of the Upright: Proverbs 11:10-11

“When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there is glad shouting, by the blessing of the upright a city is exalted”.

“However drab the world makes out virtue to be, it appreciates the boon of it in public life” (Kidner p. 91). “Generally wicked people don’t like people like themselves; they can’t trust each other. Thus even though many wicked people may live in a city, generally they prefer to be with the righteous people” (Alden p. 93). “When the wicked perish, there is glad shouting”, people are glad when people who lie, slander, deceive, steal and murder—die, because the city is safer. To this day, most people still rejoice when an inmate on death row is executed. Christian, it may seem like you are ignored, but many of your neighbors and coworkers are glad that you live and work next to them.

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).

“Here is the most searching test of policies and achievements” (Kidner p. 112). “To any people”: This truth applies to any nation, not merely the Jewish nation in the Old Testament (Jeremiah 18:1ff). This verse reveals that the principles in Proverbs that speak of the importance of righteous individuals, either in a society or even in positions of leadership, have applications to all nations and cultures. Any culture will suffer when God is ignored or when sin dominates. Removing true religion (which includes the concept of absolute truth, morality, purity, and ethics) from national politics, or domestic and foreign policy is a grave mistake. History has proven that sin leads to the deterioration of any culture. Hence, speaking out against sin, standing up for the truth, being vocal and placing your vote with the party or candidate which is concerned about truth and morality is vitally important.

A People’s Happiness

“When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves” (Proverbs 28:12). People actually do flourish and prosper under righteous administrations. Honest leaders are needed to make any government stable; far too many people in our world labor under the tyranny of unjust rulers. What keeps a community or nation safe is the presence of God’s people. One of the great tests of any nation is the “border test”. That is, how many people want out or in when a nation drops its border restrictions.

When the Wicked Rise Men Hide Themselves

· When the righteous decrease, freedom of speech is not gained, rather it is lost.

· When the righteous decrease fewer people are willing to take the risk of doing what is right.

· When the righteous decrease fewer people are willing to be involved in noble causes.

· When the righteous decrease people do not venture out at night or into certain parts of town.

· When the righteous decrease people also tend to “hide” in their jobs and in their homes.

Rejoicing Instead of Groaning

“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, people groan” (Proverbs 29:2).

“The moral of the story is work hard for good government, and if you don’t, then don’t complain when it’s bad” (Alden p. 199). Wicked leaders will naturally oppress any people, for good policies, fair legislation and fair taxes cannot come from people who are wicked. “When society is good, society is happy; when evil rules, society is miserable” (Garrett p. 228).

The Light of the World

“You appear as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15). Besides shedding light on what one must do to be saved, the presence of a Christian brings light in all sorts of other areas:

· My presence assures my neighbors that it is all right to place other things ahead of material possessions and material pursuits (Matthew 6:33). I am a reminder that there is much more to “living” than merely possessing things or doing various physical activities, “for bodily discipline is only a little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things” (1 Timothy 4:8).

· My example as a parent reaffirms that love and discipline should be normal parts of every home. The sacrifices of time and effort to lovingly disciplining our children are worth the out come.

· The example of a Christian wife reveals the incredible strength and beauty in the concept of “submission” (Ephesians 5:22). In a culture that places such a premium upon outward beauty, or one might say even a rather “plastic beauty”, the presence of Christian women encourages other women that there is much more to beauty than just the externals (1 Peter 3:4; Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised”).

· The example of Christian young people sets the tone that respect, honor and love for parents and those in authority is not something weak or weird, but is enjoyable and noble (Ephesians 6:1-2). Proverbs 20:29 “The glory of young men is their strength, and the honor of old men is their gray hair”. “A proverb to lift the reader above the unfruitful attitudes of envy, impatience and contempt which the old and the young may adopt towards each other. Each age has its appointed excellence, to be respected and enjoyed in its time” (Kidner pp. 140-141). In addition, the aged have a different kind of strength, but it is still strength nonetheless. Gray hair says, “They have survived youth (an accomplishment in itself), they have reached the age of rest and relaxation, and they have acquired the wisdom of old age” (Alden p. 153).

“You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). “Let us never forget that Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, and the rest, had given their full teaching several centuries before these words were uttered. It was after that amazing flowering of the mind and the intellect that our Lord made this statement. He looked at this band of ordinary, insignificant people and said, ‘You (and you alone) are the light of the world” (Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, pp. 162-163). Remember, Jesus said that believers, ordinary believers were the light of the world and the salt of the earth.

· Man is very good at articulating various problems among men, yet when you ask the experts, “What is ultimately responsible for these bad situations and what do you propose to do?”, outside from biblical principles, they will remain unanswered.

· “Light not only reveals the hidden things of darkness, it also explains the cause of the darkness. The best and greatest academic thinkers in the world today are entirely baffled with regard to what is wrong with the world. It is just here that we Christians have the light, which explains the situation. The sole cause of the troubles of the world at this moment, from the personal to the international level, is nothing but man’s estrangement from God” (Jones p. 167).

· “When you consider the setting, and remember the people to whom our Lord uttered these words, they do indeed become most remarkable. It is a statement full of significance and profound implications with regard to an understanding of the nature of the Christian life. ‘Ye’, said our Lord, looking at upon those simple people, those entirely unimportant from the standpoint of the world, ‘Ye are the light of the world’. It is one of those statements which should always have the effect upon us of making us lift up our heads, causing use to realize once more what a remarkable and glorious thing it is to be a Christian” (Jones p. 159).

· Thus, every Christian is the light of the world, and one is a light just by being in the world. “Because he is a Christian he immediately has a certain effect” (Jones p. 164).

· There is also a sense in which people are not aware of the darkness until the light appears. The appearance of the Christian and his faith helps people see what is “normal” and how man was designed to live and interact with others.

Whose World is Real?

When one lives apart from God and His revelation or when one lives among many people of such a persuasion, it is easy to forget basic realities, such as:

· Men and women are designed for each other (Genesis 2:18), and honor and respect will sustain and enrich every marriage (1 Peter 3:7).

· It is normal and all right for young boys to be masculine and full of energy.

· One should work hard even when the boss is not around (Ephesians 6:5-6).

Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017