The Christian Life
What should a Christian’s life be like? How should they live as God’s people? We must go to God’s Word to answer this question. What did the apostles do? They formed communities of new believers, instructing them to come out from among the unbelievers of that pagan world and live as God commanded:
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6: 14-18).
This passage tells us that true Christians are so very different from unbelievers that they cannot live together with them. They cannot totally separate because they must share their faith and make converts. Their private lives, though, must be separate. They and especially their children need a godly environment in which that faith can be nurtured and grow.
They should follow the apostle’s example and live in small communities of true believing families. Personal study and the outgoing proclamation of God’s Word of grace should be exemplified by all. Even the young should spend much time in the study and discussion of God’s Word. It’s study and outward expansion should be the central concern and life-long purpose of the entire community.
This is what the early Christians of Ancient Rome did. It resulted in Christian Europe and eventually Christian America. It happened before and it will happen again, just as God tells us:
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)
This is the future that lies before us, the future that God saw as already accomplished in His eyes, eyes that see the future as already true. It will be true one day. Perhaps this troubled generation may mark the beginning of its formation.