A Force for Good

The evil one is at work throughout this world, the one who has come to steal, kill, and destroy, as Jesus pointed out. But, we have been called to share His message and to align with Him in order to be an incredible force for love and truth. 2nd Corinthians 4 states:
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.
13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak,
14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

We are a testimony to the life of the Lord Jesus - He is producing fruit through us for His glory, as we testify to the world what He has done: that He has come to bring eternal and abundant life, that He loved the entire world so much that He died, but rose again to demonstrate His defeat of the power of sin and death. Our belief in what He has done and practice of the principles of Scripture can communicate to the world who He is and what He wants to do in peoples' lives.

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In John 17, Jesus prayed for the Church - that we would be a force in this world. We can read these words:
14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

This week, I've made some comments about the contrast between serving God and following the misguided ideologies of this world.  In the Christian worldview, we have to see things not as right and left, as it's been said, but right and wrong, good and evil.  We have to view current events in the light of Scripture, which is clear regarding what pleases God and to love what He loves.

I was pleased to have Christian hip-hop artist Brinson on my program recently.  I have been so impressed by artists in that genre with whom I have spoken throughout the years. I truly believe they have had the discernment to see what is occurring in the world and to speak truth in a very unique way. 

A recent CBN article features the insight and comments of hip-hop artist, KB.  Those initials stand for his name, Kevin Burgess.  The article notes: "KB...told Christian Headlines he believes contemporary hip-hop is teaching young people to 'hate Jesus.'"  It goes on to say:

He also implored fellow Christians to put reservations to the side to support people like him trying to spread the Gospel message through Christian rap.

“Let’s return to that era of seeing Christian hip-hop as a powerful way that we might bring revival,” KB told Christian Headlines. “Think about what we can rejoice over — that the Gospel is being preached, churches are being strengthened and people are coming to Christ.”

The artist also said, “The alternative is what your children are going to listen to — they are listening to,” adding, “And the alternative is teaching them to hate Jesus. That’s a little hyperbolic. But there’s truth to it.”  CBN noted, "KB encouraged Christians to look past differences and to focus on the Gospel as a unifier that helps everyone look past any divides."

We have to be clear to live for the gospel.  Christians living for the sake of the gospel, committed to Christ and centered on the Word - that is a force: for truth, for love, for righteousness.  The gospel is a force; the world offers a farce.  We need to be serious about shining the light of God's truth into our world. 

Another contrast: the gospel brings clarity and healing; the world offers a counterfeit.  In an era of confusion, when people call what is evil good and vice versa, we can depend on the wisdom of God to cut through the noise so that we might hear and heed the Spirit of God.

We can recognize that the gospel can be communicated in creative and compelling ways to reach an audience with the life-changing message of Christ.  Kevin Burgess - KB - and so many others have chosen to use Christian hip-hop as a carrier in order to counter the hostile messages toward God that are communicated through its secular counterpart.  Music is so powerful, and I am reminded of the early days of contemporary Christian music, when people were using popular sounds, yet bringing distinctly different messages.  We have to remain faithful to the message of the gospel as we seek to glorify God.