A Proper Concept

Rev. J. Loren Russell

Romans 14:17-18 NKJV
“Therefore, do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.”

I have been thinking about the perception and concept of God current day believers are passing on to the next generation. Are we sharing with them the glorious, undiminished, undimmed righteousness of God? Or are we conveying a concept of God that is so far beneath His glory that it is morally contemptible?

As I look around the houses of worship and the behavior of the children of God, it looks more and more like it is us who corrupted the world through our representation of God and His righteousness. I see how we (I will call us ‘the church’) are failing the world by displaying a concept of God that belies that which was handed down to us from the Apostles.

Paul looks at things’ believers say and do and says they are contributing to the eternal damnation of people. He says, “So you should stop saying that you think other people are wrong. Instead, decide to live so that your Christian brother will not have a reason to trip or fall into sin because of you. 14 Christ has made me know that everything in itself is clean. But if a person thinks something is not clean, then to him it is not clean. 15 If your Christian brother is hurt because of some foods you eat, then you are no longer living by love. Do not destroy the man for whom Christ died by the food you eat” (NLV).

Paul infers that words and deeds send messages that diminish the concept of God to the world. For example, prosperity preaching and teaching puts emphasis on creature comforts or worldly things than spiritual. Seeking the kingdom of heaven comes first. That is what brings spiritual transformation and the ability to restrain from misdirecting the world by our words or deeds. To that venture, the Lord will add wealth and prosperity as needed.

It is the responsibility of the current church to pass on to those following in our footsteps to convey a concept of God that is high and lifted up. We must present a concept of God that will not so much as entertain a thought that is unworthy of His glory. We must leave a proper concept of our God that is glorious and undiminished.

Be Blessed +++
Rev. J. Loren Russell is President/CEO of The JLR Company and The J. Loren R Consulting, LLC for Church Financial Strategy & Consulting, an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx, creator & host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM on Facebook LIVE and author of Matters of Faith: The Book (eBook available at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177)

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