I believe, for the most part, that the simple majority of people are honest, hard working and charitable, with a good value system. I don’t have statistics to substantiate this notion, but the people I rub shoulders with each day seem to be caring and personable. At the other end of the spectrum are the simple minority of degenerates, the criminally minded and derelicts of society.
Besides the obvious conclusion that the simple minority desperately needs God, there are many more people in the simple majority that don’t know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior even though they are decent and upstanding people. Some serve false gods, while others rely on superficial beliefs in a supposed spiritual awareness, deeming themselves spiritually adequate, because of their good works, good intensions, and self righteousness.
Adhering to the doctrines of man are unsound teachings. The Bible calls them false doctrines. Countless numbers of the simple majority are trying to make it to heaven by means other than Jesus. They are being misled and deceived, because truth is not the foundation of their faith or belief system.
(II Thessalonians 2:10-12) “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” v.11 “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: v.12 “That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
While professing to have good sense, these misguided individuals misconstrue and equate good sense with being right. But they are simply wrong according to God’s Word. (The Acts 4:12) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” This verse refers to Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life. There is no other way to heaven except through Him.
My dad could not understand why people refused to see the truth of God’s Word; the Bible. He felt the plan of salvation was clear and precise; understandable to anyone seeking truth. He believed that God’s plan for fallen man was specifically laid out for those that were willing to allow God's Word to speak to them.
Dad was critical of those that fell short of their potential in Christ; not only in serving God, but other ways like reneging on their responsibility of holding down a job or being accountable. He was very opinionated and less tolerant of Christians professing the born-again experience that failed in their responsibility to interact and witness to people needing spiritual guidance. He considered them to be ‘gravy trainers’ that were taking the easy way to heaven. He believed in putting your best foot forward and not stepping back from whatever you set your mind on doing.
Dad often said, “You’ve got to be a little better than the other guy in order to stay.” He was referring to work ethics and keeping a job, but this good advice runs parallel with Christianity, because it takes a made up mind to serve God and to use one’s talents for Him.
Simplistic as it may sound, making up the mind to better oneself is in keeping with doing something positive for the Kingdom of God . If the simple majority of responsible people reached out to the true and living God, and was born-again through Jesus Christ, there would be a multitude of people to share the Lord with the simple minority, mentioned in paragraph one. Were this reality, Christians could take the world for Jesus; but this is not the way it is.
A sad commentary to the authenticity of numbers is: sinners outnumber Christians. Even though a person is full of benevolence, upstanding in the community, and all in all a good hearted individual, if they do not profess Jesus Christ as Lord of their life, the Bible says they are a sinner. (Romans 3:23) “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Consider for a moment how many born-again Believers you know. How does that number compare with the number of people not serving God? How many Christians live next door to you or in your neighborhood? How many Christians with whom do you work? How many Christians once attended church, but are now in a sinful, backslidden condition? Perhaps you are the only one serving God out of the many people that you know.
I believe God’s design is for all Christians to shine wherever they are. The Lord strategically places them in areas of darkness to be a beacon of light that emits a bright illumination of God’s love, compassion, kindness and beauty, to those needing direction and help.
God wants Christians to do their part to the best of their ability. When this is done, their influence touches others around them in positive ways. It is imperative to shine for Christ and allow God’s truth to be seen in us.
Pettiness, unkind words, and the general aura of negativity, should never follow a Christian, nor should they take on the negative personality of those around them that need Godly influence. Non-believers are watching and listening to everything a Christian does and says. One person walking with God may be the only ‘Jesus-figure’ they see.
A minimal number of Believers can influence the simple majority of non-believers when they set their mind to do the very best for God. Though Christians may be the least number in a crowd, when they stand tall in the strength of Almighty God, they become the simple majority, through Christ.
God + 1 Believer = Simple Majority.
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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