Our Christian Duty

When Believers do nothing, evil abounds, and dominates. Christians are called to shine the light of God on the corruption of evil doctrines in religion and society. Failure to do so is like a watchman gone to sleep. Judgment awaits!
– Jim Conner

EXPOSE THE CORRUPTION

Expose the corruption? But I thought Christians were supposed to keep bad things “under wraps.” Say nothing bad about people. But now I read the Holy Scriptures and they tell me to expose those who participate in evil deeds! I will follow the Scriptures. I will establish the Truth in my heart. If I must decide between what I have been taught and what the Scriptures declare, I must choose the Bible.

“And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;” ^NAS Ephesians 5:11

“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” ^KJV Romans 16:18

“Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.” ^KJV Proverbs 19:25, 21:11

I choose to believe the Scriptures regardless of my heritage. In the mouth of two or three witnesses let everything be established, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. The Scriptures are of no private interpretation. Are there corroborating scriptures?

Paul did not hesitate to expose the evil deeds of Alexander the coppersmith. He boldly identified the man who was doing wicked things. He warned Timothy about the danger Alexander posed to him as a minister of the gospel.

“Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:” ^KJV 2 Timothy 4:14

John, the apostle of love, had some scathing remarks about Diotrephes, a church leader who was opposing the apostle and mistreating travelling ministers as well as local saints.

“I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

 Therefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.”  ^KJV 3 John 1:9-10

RESIST AND EXPOSE EVIL

Believers have instructions to oppose the incursions of the evil ones personally and in society, whether in church or politics.

“Neither give place to the devil.” ^KJV Ephesians 4:27

Christians have marching orders against the forces of evil. The commands begin with a personal submission to God. Only God gets the glory for the deeds of believers. It is imperative that no personal pride be involved in the resistance.

When a believer approaches the enemy, he knows his personal power is inadequate. Therefore, he submits to the orders of God and puts on the whole armor of God. Then he speaks the Word of the Lord in the Name of Jesus. Satan has no answer for such an onslaught of the power of God imbedded in the faith-filled words of the saint.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  ^KJV James 4:7

Turn The Other Cheek? Resist The Devil?😒

We see the scriptural instructions to resist the devil. “Give no place to the devil” also can cover a lot of spiritual territory. But let us look at the next area that involves evil-doing men. What approach did Jesus take with them? Did he turn the other cheek? There is a time to turn the other cheek and there is a time to fight with great valor. Do we know the difference? Ministers, we have a lot of ground to recover. Proper judgment is necessary before taking action. Discernment is available. Take courage, humble yourself before the Lord and get up wielding the word of faith at the enemy of our souls. Jesus conquered satan at the cross. Now pick up the mantle and destroy any advances of satan in society. “The works that I do shall you do…”

What do I do if my Christian brother sins against me? Rebuke him. Then, of course, forgive him as he repents. Rebuke is a way of saying, “expose the corruption.” Luke 17:3.

The man of God is required to expose corruption in his church. Failure to do so results in the growth of false doctrine. The modern church is surely guilty of this failure. Many in church leadership have given themselves to “inclusion” in direct opposition to the truth of God’s word. Many ministers are guilty of embracing false doctrines. Where are the men of God who will dare rebuke those in error? Where is the God of Elijah? The true question should be “Where are the Elijah’s of God?”

 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

 ^KJV 2 Timothy 4:2-5