Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday May 31, 2007

The evidence for being a Christian is often the subject of conversation and most people have a hardened notion of just how to tell if so and so is really saved. On more than one occasion I have assured them that Satan makes the grade in accordance with their evidentiary criteria. I paid the price for my remarkable wisdom and was duly consigned to the lowest part in the Kingdom of Darkness. Such is life.

I do know from the scripture of at least one man who was declared righteous, not by the church or the Ladies of Eternal Pink Lemonade, but by the Holy Spirit in 2Peter 2:7-8. I speak of Lot. Yep, that Lot with all of his filth is called righteous and godly by the Holy Ghost who goes so far as to tell of the deliverance of Lot. What evidence is there that Lot was a righteous man? Well, the Bible says he was righteous. Secondly the Bible gives a little noted, but very real evidence of this righteousness. For most of his life it seemed as though Lot had it made in the shade. Yet, something, something very important was missing in his life. He had no joy, no peace, no goodness, none of the positive fruits of the spirit we commonly harp on in our attempts to get folks to evaluate their life or to measure the depth of our own commitment to the Lord. Yet Lot had one glaring "gift" of the Spirit that is nearly always overlooked.

Lot was miserable. Vexed, is the term the Bible uses to describe his inner life. In other places the word is "tormented" thus a righteous person will be tormented inwardly by the way's of the world, in Lot's case the way that he was infected is evidenced by his shameful drunkenness and unspeakable act with his daughters. Soul torment, if not dealt with, if endured for the sake of personal gain, Lot's primary problem, will in the end produce torment and this torment permits all sorts of outward expression.

Of course this inner torment is not the sign the world will recognize as evidence of true Christianity. There is a universal sign that the world of unbelievers readily accept as a sincere expression of religion, not necessarily limited to the Christian religion. You can take it to the bank that without this mark, the world you think you are bearing witness to is certain you are a hypocrite at best or a total fool at worst.

Francis Shaeffer commented on this in his book, "The Mark Of The Christian," when he wrote:

"Love, and the unity it attests to is the mark Christ gave Christians to wear before the world. Only with this mark may the world know that Christians are indeed Christians and Jesus was sent by the Father."

Perhaps the torment, unknown to others, in your soul is sufficient to witness that you are an inwardly backslidden Christian. This is good and hopefully you will trade this inner torment for peace. On the other hand, the only evidence acceptable in the court of world opinion is your love toward others. So, if you are accused of being a Christian, is there enough evidence for a conviction?

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2007 Use with Credit

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