Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: EXPRESSION (11/12/20)
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TITLE: Express Yourself To Glorify God | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
11/18/20 -
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Every field of science has its own vocabulary and terminology. The vocabulary and terminology are familiar to those involved, but is like a foreign language to outsiders and new comers.
The inability to effectively communicate to “outsiders” and “new comers” of/within the Christian Community obstructs the primary work (Matt. 28: 19, 20) that God gave His Church to do.
“Go therefore and make d-i-s-c-i-p-l-e-s of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, t-e-a-c-h-i-n-g them to observe all that I commanded you… (Matt. 28: 19, 20 NASB).”
These marching orders not only told the Church what (make disciples) to do, but how (by teaching) to do it.
The word “disciples” is an English translation of the original Greek word m-a-t-h-e-t-e-s. A m-a-t-h-e-t-e-s is a technical student (2Peter 3: 18) and an applier (James 1: 22 NASB) of the Word of God.
Spiritual combat is more of an exchange of words rather than bullets. Therefore, the primary battlefield of spiritual combat is not out in the devil’s world (Luke 4: 6 NASB).
It is in-between one’s ears, as our thoughts determine our overt actions (Prob. 23: 7 NASB).
Language and expressions are critical elements in the realm of spiritual combat. Both contribute to one's ability or inability to understand spiritual things. An accurate understanding of Scripture is what enables the advancing disciple to detect and to avoid the pitfalls and consequences of embracing false teachings/practices.
In the political scenario, ambassadors must be well-versed and have a clear understanding of the policies of the kingdom he/she represents. Ambassadors must have the ability to effectively communicate the position of the nation he/she represents, and avoids expressing their own personal feelings.
As ambassadors of the kingdom of God (2Cor. 5: 20 NASB), advancing disciples must develop a clear understanding of Scripture and the ability to communicate it to others by what he/she thinks, says, and does on a daily basis.
Completing the Communication cycle requires that whatever the point was that the speaker, author, singer wanted to convey to the recipient be received and understood.
Keep in mind that disciples plant and water, but it is God who causes the growth (1Cor. 3: 6,7 NASB).
In the realm of spiritual combat (Eph. 6 NASB), there are many obstacles that can contribute to the failure to communicate.
Among these obstacles is the promotion of adulterated Gospels as being the means of salvation (Gal. 1: 6-9 NASB); false doctrines (1Tim. 4: 1 NASB); religious traditions of men (Isa. 29: 13/Matt. 15: 8 NASB); and the inherent hostility (Romans 8: 7) and inability that Fallen Man has God and the things of God.
What all of these obstacles have in common is false information/practices. Promoting false information/practices, even with the best of intentions, plays right into the devil’s hand (1Pet. 5: 8 NASB).
Another obstacle under the umbrella of expression can be the over-use of “Christianese.”
Christianese refers to the vocabulary and terminology frequently used by evangelists, pastor-teachers, and disciples. While Christianese has meaning to advancing disciples, it can be meaningless to unsaved souls and limited meaning to “infants in Christ (1Cor. 3: 1 NASB).”
Evangelists are there to present the unadulterated Gospel Message to unsaved souls, affording them the opportunity to receive eternal life (John 3: 16). The evangelist’s primary target group involves those outside of the Christian Community, many who have no understanding of Christianese. Nicodemus of John 3 was a very “religious” man of His day. Yet, he had no clue about what it meant to be “born again” or how to go about it.
Pastor-teachers present accurate doctrine to born again believers for the development of the post (after) salvation spiritual life.
Sometimes the function of evangelists and pastor-teachers overlap. Only God and the individuals seated in the congregation, listening audience, and/or readership know for certain where they, as individuals, are in the master plan of God.
Accordingly, when engaged in the Great Commission, evangelists, and pastor-teachers, and disciples must take care with the use of Christianese and ambiguous expressions (1Cor. 3: 1-3/Eph. 4:29 NASB). Express yourself to glorify God by edifying (Eph. 4: 29 NASB) others.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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