Kiunjuri had given his heart,
soul and mind to the Lord for years. Not only had he tried to make his decisions in accordance with the teachings of Christ
but he had also sacrificed countless hours and money toward spreading Christ's reign. By all counts he was a true servant
of God. Like those of us who have served Christ for a long time, Kiunjuri faces one of Satan's most pernicious temptations
which is to rely upon our track record of faithfulness.
Inevitably, whenever a person begins to rely upon "what I have done" as a measurement
of how good I am, the result is to think lower of those who have done less. To some who were confident of their own righteousness
Jesus told the parable of a tax collector and a Pharisee going to the temple to pray.(Luke 18:9-14). This is not just another
jibe at the Pharisees. This is Jesus' contrast of those whom the crowd would have considered "the best" and "the
worst." In today's world perhaps he would have told the parable of the Sunday School teacher and the drug dealer or the
preacher and the crooked politician.
The
contrast between the two prayers is stark. The Pharisee used what would have been considered the right posture and good Jewish
form in his prayer (he thanked God for his righteousness rather than taking credit for it himself.). By way of contrast, the
tax collector did not use good form and his prayer consisted of one measly petition which admitted his gross errors, "God
be merciful to me a sinner."
Then
comes the unexpected ending to the parable. The "drug dealer," not that hard working servant of God, went home justified
before God! The Pharisee's words had betrayed his spirit. He was relying upon what he had done resulting in a holier than
thou attitude whereas the tax collector had come before God seeking His mercy.
How can a Christian fortify himself against a holier than thou attitude after
having served God faithfully? Jesus pointed to the answer in Luke 17:7-10. Someone who serves God should realize that by doing
what God wants of me I am only fulfilling my responsibility and purpose. I am not demonstrating my goodness nor building up
a reserve of righteousness for boasting.
The secret to side stepping Satan's trap is in understanding the proper function
and role of doing good. We have been created in Christ Jesus to do good works; this is our purpose. Ephesians 2:10 But when
we fulfill God's intended purpose for our life this does not make us good or righteous, only unworthy servants who have simply
done our duty. As such let us always come before the throne of God seeking His mercy and grace.
Many Christians worry about the spiritual condition of their loved ones. We have found everything in Christ and want to share that with our families. We want to be assured that they will be saved, too. What does the
Bible have to say about the salvation of our family? What can we
do to help our families find Christ?
One of the problems Christians will experience with family members that aren’t Christians is their intimate knowledge of you. If you didn’t become a Christian
until you were an adult this will be a special problem. They will be looking for some significant change in you or be watching
for you to ‘mess up’. They may also be afraid that you’re going to try and force Christianity on them.
Jesus does warn us that our families may turn us
away when we try to tell them about Him. “So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house."
(Matthew 13:57 NKJV) He also teaches us to try, “Go home to your friends,
and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." (Mark 5:19b NKJV)
One way to witness to your family is through example. Let your
life be a testimony to the miraculous power of Christ. Put extra effort into your relationships with your family. Let them see you going to church, reading your Bible, living out the Commandments. Perhaps
the most significant way to testify is by controlling your tongue. Don’t be drawn into disputes or discord with your
family. Let your changed will be evidence to them. "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree
bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.” (Matthew 12:33 NKJV)
Keep an invitation open to your family to attend church with you. Take advantage of holidays like Christmas and Easter when
non-churchgoers are more likely to accept an invitation. Welcome your family to join you at special church functions, picnics
and presentations. Don’t press too hard but do make certain that your family knows they are welcome to join you. You
might also try having family members over for dinner after church.
This gives you an opportunity
to discuss the sermon and offer your views on how it applies to
your life. Be sure to keep the conversation about you; don’t make insinuations about something lacking in your brother’s
life or behavior or assumptions about his beliefs. “And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not
consider the plank in your own eye? “ (Matthew 7:3 NKJV)
Making assumptions about the spiritual condition of someone else is risky.
You have no way of knowing what is in the heart
of another individual, only what is in your own heart. Don’t assume that your family is not saved just because you don’t
see evidence of it in their lives. Don’t be judgmental; you’ll only succeed in driving people away from you. This
defeats your purpose and closes doors that may be difficult to open again. "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn
not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37 NKJV)
What
should be obvious is often overlooked. Keep your family in your prayers. Take your concerns for them to God; ask Him to draw
your family members near to Him. Be specific in your prayers; tell God exactly what concerns you. Then, be patient and let
Him do the work. Listen for His guidance. “The effective prayer
of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (James 5:16 NAS)
Seek guidance from your pastor and Christian friends. Remember that you’re not Super Christian operating in some spiritual vacuum.
It’s easy to start developing a spiritual arrogance that quickly leads to a judgmental, holier-than-thou attitude. You may not be a part of the plan that God has for your loved ones. Sometimes, your only function will be to introduce the idea, plant
the seed. Someone else may do the watering and the harvesting.
Keep your eyes on God and let Him make the plan.
Listen for His voice and be prepared to do His bidding. Keep a vigilant eye on your own relationship with God and avoid backsliding in your attempts to guide your family to salvation.
Be
certain that you know how to present God’s plan of salvation. Be prepared to explain why salvation is necessary and
how God has made it possible to be forgiven through Christ. Know the relevant scripture and be able to find the verses. You
cannot teach what you do not know. Ephesians 6:17 tells us, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God;” (NKJV) We must know the
Word to use it effectively. Remember, “…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. “ (Romans
10:17 NKJV)
Now here’s a word of caution to new Christians. You may be experiencing
a genuine exhilaration with your new acceptance into the family of God. This is a wonderful thing. You may want to go out
and evangelize the world and that’s great too. But there is much for you to learn. Get comfortable with your new life
and learn what Christianity is about. Dedicate as much time as you can to reading and prayer. Christians need to be disciplined
in their own study to be good disciples. This caution is not intended to dampen your enthusiasm; it’s only a reminder
to know before you teach.
New Christians may not be prepared to teach the plan of salvation, but
you are certainly able to bring your friends and family to church with you. You’re certainly qualified to share your
excitement. Be aware that your family may not be as excited or interested as you are. Don’t let this discourage you,
trust in God and pray for those you are concerned about.
Salvation was the most important thing that ever
happened to me. I suppose it is for most Christians. We certainly want our family to be with us when we go to heaven. Tell
your family about your experience when you are ready but be prepared for disinterest. Learn all you can, be a dedicated student
and a prepared disciple. Trust in God to care for those you care about. Don’t push, pray and ask God for help and guidance.
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. “ (1 Peter 5:7 KJV)
