FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
THE WAY FORWARD IN CHRIST
(Part 183)
ON POLITICAL CORRECTNESS – 7
February 6, 2020
Today’s gospel: Mark 6:7-13
Jesus “summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.” (v.7). Apostles are those who are sent. They go under God’s authority and do the work of God. And what basically is that work? “So they went off and preached repentance.” (v.12). Why repentance? Because this was the first step to reconciliation with God and being brought into a life in Christ.
This is unlike what some pastors say today, who no longer speak of repentance. They are just into acceptance, accompaniment, embrace. We must do all those, but we must also speak of repentance. In doing so, we can offend sensibilities. Now see what else the apostles did. “They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.” (v.13). Without repentance, there is no liberation and no salvation. What good then would it be for a sinner to be accepted by people or the Church but still live under the dominion of the evil one and still not experience the fullness of healing brought about by a life in Christ?
Now we do reach out to all, especially to sinners. We do not shun them. Jesus said to the apostles, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there.” (v.10). They were not to ask whether righteous people lived in the house. If they were welcome, then they just entered and stayed there. But while there, as they preached the gospel, if the people in the house were in sin, then they would preach repentance, which is an essential part of the gospel.
Now see what else Jesus says. “Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” (v.11). Wow. So much for political correctness! How offensive! But apostles are not politicians who just want to get along and be accepted. They are proclaimers of the full gospel. They represent Jesus, who preached repentance and told them to do likewise. They look not to the acceptance of man but to the righteousness of God.
Christians are disciples of Jesus who are also sent by him. They proclaim what Jesus proclaimed, under his authority. They go forth in total dependence on God (v.8). They engage the enemy. They are not into political correctness.
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