“The Word Of God…!”

“The Word Of God…!”(Heb.4:12-13).
As at present Christianity is the religion with the highest human population in the world. But as at now it is the sixth from the bottom among the fastest growing religions of the world.
As the religion with the largest population Christianity is nearing two and half billion adherents out of a world population of about eight billions.
By all indications, before the Second Coming of Christ it is likely that only about half the world’s population would be Christians.
If we follow the “Gospel test” to determine the presence of Christ, we may safely state with confidence that among the non-Christian population, some other billions will be saved together with some within the Christian population.
Let me briefly explain the Gospel test. There are three tests we can use to determine the presence of Christ everywhere. First is the “Church test.” The Church house or place of worship is the visible presence of Christ in any community. But over time, the Church loses its value as it lives in the world and fully becomes part of the world in everything it does. Then when this happens, a revival, or renewal happens. This leads to the “Kingdom test” whereby some in the Church consider that the kingdom is being swallowed up by the world right within the Church. This is what led to Reformation, Religious Orders, Pietism, Monasteries, Revivals etc. Even so, Religious Orders etc often fail to escape the contamination from the corruptions of the world.
Of the three tests the “Gospel test” is considered to be more relevant than the others. With the Gospel test communities hear the Gospel of Christ and respond – most times without necessarily becoming Christians. The gospel message help them to transform old cultural and traditional practices that were detrimental to human welfare. The people live the gospel as Christ wants it to be. Community life becomes patterned according to gospel requirements, such that the people unconsciously become disciples of Christ without being Church members. Jesus accepts this test in his response to one of the worries of the disciples. They told him how they saw a man casting out demons in his name. They stopped him on the grounds that he was not following them. Jesus told them, “Do not stop him… whoever is not against us is for us…”(Mk.9:38-41).
The expectation of Christ is that we should live the gospel; rather than knowing the gospel, hearing it and advocating it without practicing it.
The word of God does not return without effect. Not everyone will accept the message of salvation in the same measure. The level of your interest in the things of the world determines how much of the message penetrates you and its impact on you; either negatively or positively (Mk.4:1-20).
Besides, God is aware that rebellion rules the world, so before he sends messengers he warns them about what they should expect. Their responsibility is to speak the word as ordered.(Ez.2:1-7).
And so dear friend, Hebrews reminds us of the importance of heeding to the exhortation of God’s messengers for they bring messages that contain life and death.
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit…it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
The above is an admonition to us in the Church and Kingdom test to seek integration within the Gospel test.
Sunday prayer: Holy Spirit guide my feet on the path of the Gospel test. Amen
(Thank you for your prayers and assistance. I am up and doing.
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.