The Duel

For we commend not ourselves again unto you, 

but give you occasion to glory on our behalf,

 that ye may have somewhat to answer them 

which glory in appearance, and not in heart.

2Corinthians 5:12 

Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?

 If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, 

let him of himself think this again, that, 

as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

2Corinthians 10:7

      The fine line that sometimes exists between Authentic Christians and cultural Christians, or liberal Christians is not only blurred but often non-existent. Mankind has always shown that a person thinks very highly of their opinion (I am at fault here at times), holding such opinions with high esteem. A word that conjures up mental pictures is "dueling." This mental picture is usually of two men facing each other with gun in hand, pointing that gun and then firing to kill the other person. This duel is usually fought over a quarrel to settle this quarrel. This word has a larger meaning: any contest between two persons or parties. In some way a person may even have a duel with their thoughts even though another person is not present. A duel is to prove to others that they are guarding their reputation and this at any cost, to avoid personal disgrace and this is done with such fervor. These arguments are generally based on moral arguments against malice or revenge. A problem is that there is ignorance as to the root problem that has led to a duel. We must not forget that duel is simply a demonstration of preference to have the favor of man rather than of God. In a duel to the death the life of a human being is at stake and if killed they would probably find themselves facing God, and there in His presence that person would come to know that what was done offended God. 

     Oh, you say, I have never been in a duel, in no way have I attempted to kill another person. Really! Maybe not a duel with a gun, but how about a duel with the mouth, or even with a thought? Do you not know that God will judge your very actions, and your very thoughts? How many times have you resorted to a duel for the sake of your name and honor, if so, then you are in the judgment of God. Have you ever had a duel with sin, a desire that you know is against the law of God? Have you ever had to make a decision when under the right circumstances that are dictating to you to do what you know is wrong? Duels come in many different forms and in every case your need to sin becomes greater than your need to be faithful (It won't hurt this time, I will pray for forgiveness, no one will know), and your self has some sort of esteem that you are really a good person and your physical or even mental life feels good. We all, if we do not attend to our relationship with Jesus Christ, sin willfully. We have a natural problem: self-esteem! No lofty ideals will vindicate a person because this self-esteem comes from selfishness, vanity, envy, jealously, and all combine to lead to disaster. Disaster can even cause a person to fall from achievement. On one hand this self-esteem motivates a person to excellence and on the other hand, it leads to such as wars, fights, destruction of societies, and self.

     This type of teaching, to avoid self-esteem is lacking in preaching today, that is, there is a lace of teaching about Christian morality. This is done by those seeking applause, approval, money, all has a higher value than teaching the hard truths of the Bible. Even if some Christian morality is preached it is too often done with out, or with, few qualifications. A person is taught to pursue personal recognition without teaching about the pitfalls in this pursuit. All this leads to seek vain things, to fill up a person with vain conceits, passions and to put one's affection on this life, this culture and steal the heart away from God. Children are taught to become successful, and this is not wrong to do so, but is this teaching also teaching them to be successful in life is not the greatest success, rather to be successful Christians is to be Authentic Christians. This even if it means losing a promotion, or seeking to be seen as successful, to have, more and more, and more, soon, God is left in the dust. This may be a reason why so many young people after leaving home to pursue life leave the Church. This may be why there are so few young people entering into missionary work, or to become involved in evangelism. They are not taught the truth: God does not care about your success! God cares whether or not you are living an Authentic Christian life and that involves being involved with the spreading of the Good News (was this not a directive of Jesus to the more than 120 in the upper room? Yes!). That directive was not just for the apostles, nor for our preachers and elders, deacons, deaconesses, but for you and I. You may not become involved as it might cause you to look "bad" before others as a "Bible thumper" and your appearance is not what you want it to be. Authentic Christian Faith has a distinct characteristic: not to be satisfied with mere outward appearance of good, but to be just as concerned with motives behind the actions and to have inner person purity. 

     Seem hard? Yes! But do we not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? Yes! So what is the problem, you, change from the inside/out and allow God to use you in His service. 

Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth;

     for the faithful fail from among the

children of men. They speak vanity every

     one with his neighbor: with flattering 

lips and with a double heart they speak.

                       Psalm 12:1-2

Blessing come from faithfullness

Richard L. Crumb