DO YOU RECOMMEND YOUR RELIGION?
The great apostle Paul said, "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." (Philippians 4:9). Paul had confidence in what he did as well as what he said and could ask others to follow him.
We need the same assurance as him.
1. DO YOU RECOMMEND YOUR RELIGION BY HAVING A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOU ARE AND WHY YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE? "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5: 17). Do you make a study of the Bible to find out why we are emphasizing that one needs to be baptized to be saved? Why do we take the Lord's Supper on Sundays? Why do we sing in worship? Why do good gospel preachers tell people to get their Bibles out and read the scriptures that are being discussed in worship? Why do we ask people to give on the Sundays? If we are to recommend our religion we must make a search of the scriptures proving all things that are acceptable to the Lord (Ephesians 5: 10). If people have no scriptural reasons why they are doing the things they do in religion they need to change their religion.
2. DO YOU RECOMMEND YOUR RELIGION BY HOW YOU USE YOUR SUNDAYS? Sunday is the first day of the week. Its importance is seen in two particulars. Early Christians upon the first day of the week came together to break bread which is to partake of the Lord's Supper. (Acts 20:7). Do you on Sunday get together with the other disciples of Christ and partake of the Lord's Supper? A second thing was that on the first day of the week the Christians were told to lay by in store as God had prospered them (I Corinthians 16:1,2). Do you always give of what you were prospered with for the week on every Sunday for the Lord's work? 2 Corinthians 9:7 says we are to purpose in our hearts as to what we will give each week for the Lord's cause.
3. DO YOU RECOMMEND YOUR RELIGION BY YOUR PRAYER LIFE? Jesus spoke a parable about prayer which was designed to teach "that men ought always to pray, and not to faint" (Luke 18:1-8). In that parable there was a woman who kept going to an unjust judge asking to be avenged or her adversary. For a while he would not but then he said, "though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me." The Lord said, "hear what the unjust judge said. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them." Our prayer life ought to be day and night. "Pray without Ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5: 17)."Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving" (Colossians 4:2). It helps people to know that we are praying for them. Our lives ought to be known for our praying.
4. DO YOU RECOMMEND YOUR RELIGION BY YOUR HABITS, ACTIONS, AND WORDS. Keep in mind that drunkenness is forbidden on the part of Christians (Ephesians 5:19). Also keep in mind that lying is forbidden on the part of Christians (Colossians 3:9, 10). Cursing is also condemned (James 3:8-10). Christians have obligations to follow after the things that make for peace rather than strife (Romans 14:19). The Lord said, "By thy words thou shall be justified and by thy words thou shall be condemned" (Matthew 12:37).
5. DO YOU RECOMMEND YOUR RELIGION BY HOW YOU DEAL WITH YOUR FELLOW MEN IN THE BUSINESS WORLD? The Lord said "therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do you even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12). We should be willing to suffer wrong to be done to us rather than to do wrong to our fellow men. We should always be fair in our dealings with one another. "Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men." (2 Corinthians 8:21). Shouldn't this be the way we do about paying our debts or selling something to our fellow men? Christians have a debt to their fellow men to love them and want the best for them (Romans 13:8-10).
6. DO YOU RECOMMEND YOUR RELIGION BY HOW YOU ENGAGE IN THE WORSHIP SERVICES OF THE CHURCH? God is a spirit and our worship must be conducted in spirit and in truth to be what God seeks. (John 4:23,24). This not only refers to correct items in worship but also correct actions as well. Is your participation such as you would like to see others to participate? Is your singing with enthusiasm and ardor? Are you really praising God in worship. Is your partaking of the Lord's Supper really showing forth the death of Christ? Is your giving liberal and willing? Are you getting any lessons in the Sermons preached? Are you fervently praying as a righteous person when the prayers are made in the public worship?
In conclusion the Bible states, "examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves." (2 Corinthians 13:5). - C.D.