I have always envisioned a Godly person as the following:
1) Quiet
2) Smiling
3) Peaceful living
4) Everybody loves them
5) Caring and Compassionate
6) Dress Reverently
7) Non-Confrontational
8 ) Republican
Check out this passage as Paul encourages his friend and growing theologian Timothy: 2 Tim. 3:12 “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…” This passage tells us that we are not Godly until we have been persecuted.
What guarantees persecution:
1) Sharing the Gospel
2) Truth
3) Preaching The Cross and The Blood
4) Living the Word of God
5) Advancing God’s Church
6) Purity
7) Obedient Faith
8 ) Leading your Children according to The Word of God
9) Saying No to Sin
10) Confronting Sin
Jim Elliot, missionary to the Aucas, who was killed for his faith said “God, let me not be a single milepost on the road, but a fork…that people must make decision when approaching my life.” I do not want to be a mile post either…I want my life to be a fork and when I am passionate about those who are lost in their sin I will become a point of decision for them. I have had it all wrong for years…I thought Godliness equaled “everything works out”. Paul demonstrated that a purposed mission changes our lives eternally and daily. Just for the record persecution is not consequences due to sin and self imposed wrong.
Do you want to be called Godly? You must persecuted! You and I are evidencing Godliness when we are persecuted. Preach The Blood and The Cross and you will be persecuted. Preach Jesus and you will be persecuted. Preach against sin and you will be persecuted. Live for God not men and you will be persecuted. Become preoccupied with the unchurched and you will be persecuted.
Share some stories of recent persecution you have experienced for Jesus Christ and His Cause…
Scott Moore says,
As the Church was starting to grow and reach people I had one of “Those” meetings with a couple in my church. They are incredibly talented musically. They had both dropped out of the music in a loud fashion of course, and they had become very sporadic in attendance and yet, people were being saved and we were growing. Yet, everything I was doing was manipulation or hype. I tried to defend myself but with every defense opened up an new issue they had with me. So I stopped defending myself and allowed them to speak. And speak they did for 3 hours. Accusing me of everything from ignoring old people, to leading the Fellowship astray. They could not be a part of this but did not want to leave the church even though they felt they needed to. I listened and kept my mouth shut knowing that there was nothing I could say or do, but also knowing that God was blessing me for my obedience. This was one of the lowest times of my ministry because I almost let this couple destroy my joy in what Christ was doing. It is true that everyone wants to reach the lost until you start reaching the lost. I am holding firm and this particular incident had a pleasant ending which I can share if you want to hear it. It proves as well that persecution is necessary if we want to do God’s work.
on 25 March 2009 / 6:55 PM
Stephanie Lindley says,
I think the idea of not being liked is the hardest thing I have to deal with as a Christian. I have always been a people pleaser by nature, but I have realized I have to be a God pleaser. I still have a long way to go. Thank you for your reminders that help me keep my eyes on the prize!!
on 25 March 2009 / 7:45 PM
Freddy says,
Your vision for being “godly” is warped to say the least. You left off being white and straight. And nothing about the former President and the republican party was godly. Maybe the exact opposite. War, torture, corruption.
This sounds more like the Southern Baptist idea of who is Godly. If you white, rich, straight, and republican we want you. Let me ask you, have you ever humbled yourself and washed the feet of your staff? How about a sick or homeless person. Have you embraced a child with AIDS? What do you do for the widows and orphans within walking distance of your church? I do not honestly know. I am asking.
I would say a godly person is:
Bold
Content but not a smiling church nut job
A promoter of peace and anti war,violence, racism, anti-death penalty, etc
Respected by everyone
Caring and compassionate in the way of Jesus, Mother Teresa, Dr Martin Luther King, Not George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.
Dress Reverently? As long as you junks not showing, who cares.
Non-Confrontational? Jesus was Mr. Confrontational
Republican? This I could write a novel on. The last 8 years did not reflect this one bit. Why do you all want a mold to fit the “perfect” Christian? God works in many way beyond the scope of our imagination. God can use anyone to further his message. I really hate when people put a label on folks and say okay your approved to be apart of us. You fit the criteria.
Please correct me if I’ve missed your point.
on 25 March 2009 / 8:32 PM
Kameron Richter says,
I understood the point to be an adjustment to the author’s perception of what a Godly person is:
From what you referred to as the “Southern Baptist” idea of Godliness to the idea that Godliness is not based on an outward appearance or political affiliation.
You might re-check the original post, I do think there was a misunderstanding.
on 25 March 2009 / 9:29 PM
Stacy says,
This message is in response to Freddy… I would like to respond directly to your question – Let me ask you, have you ever humbled yourself and washed the feet of your staff? – I am not staff at BNC, only part of the congregation, and I have had my feet washed.
on 25 March 2009 / 8:51 PM
Freddy says,
Stacy,
Yes and also homeless folks. You’ve had your feet washed have you washed others?
on 25 March 2009 / 8:59 PM
Nathan says,
Quiet, smiling, peaceful living, everybody loves them, caring/compassionate, dressed reverently, non-confrontational, republician. These are things we have been told our entire lives represent a Godly person. I think what Shannon is saying is that none of that junk matters, none of that makes you a Godly person. 2 Timothy 3:12 tells us what living a Godly life is all about.
Just my thoughts on the blog
on 25 March 2009 / 9:17 PM
CJ says,
Freddy, Do not judge lest you be judged.
Read your Bible with an open heart.
We can’t say republicans aren’t christian because of what one or many of them do or that Southern Baptist only cater to them. If that were the case we could say all followers of Christ are not christian. Yes, many wash the feet of their staff thru more ways than actually washing feet, but an even more open show of being a christian is prayer, love, listening to a hurt, broken soul, opening our homes and giving of our time and money to those in need. I worked in a home with 8 Aids, drug abuse men and watched them give their hearts to Christ not becauase I was preaching to them but because I was there and I listened and didn’t judge them. We are seeing the mistakes of our government as a warning to not go down their path, but some of the men and women in the government are christians and praying for the ones who aren’t. Nitpicking isn’t going to save the world, humbling ourselves before God and prayer is. Read Shannon’s words more objectively please, he knows what he is talking about.
on 30 March 2009 / 12:41 PM
talley says,
I wonder why the world has absolutely no problem w/ bnc? could it be that bnc caters to the world? long haired men and immodest women. is that a separated Church? NOPE if anyone wants an example of the world’s church-just look at bnc
on 07 April 2009 / 8:55 PM
Sam says,
Talley,
I think that it is an example of the worldly church.
on 23 April 2009 / 8:25 PM
Derek Simpkins says,
It’s a church that’s not more concerned with any one thing more than it is about saving lives. How you dress and wear your hair makes NO difference at BNC – and I believe that Jesus would applaud this. By not conforming to the mold that the churches in rural America have made for us regarding appearance of both the church building and the church itself (the people.) Brand New Church is pleasing and appealing to the majority. Concerning financial status and political affiliation, I am a broke liberal, and I have had the blessing, while serving at BNC, to lead both a teenage girl from Louisianna, and a younger adult male from India in prayer to receive Christ recently. Last weekend, while serving, I had a man from Albania tell me that he wanted to follow BNC, but couldn’t figure out what times the services were available online… How is it that BNC isn’t a World’s church? Money, politics, clothing, and temperment are all issues that at are, in some way or another, addressed in God’s Word, but they weren’t worldly until people made them that way.
on 24 April 2009 / 9:44 AM