Bethel Ministry

This portion of the website is for reflection and encouragement. It contains a short outline of the message taught this week as well as a scripture to meditate on. It is our desire that this be a tool for strengthening your relationship with God and increasing your love of God's written word to you.

 9/5/10

The World is not our enemy

Just as heaven is not our priority, the world is not our enemy. Although as Kingdom citizens we are not of the world, we are in the world, and it is God's will that we engage the world's culture with the principles, and authority of the Kingdom of Heaven.

God did not assign us to seperate or isolate from the world. This is a big hang up for many believers. In our desire to be holy, we become "holier than thou" by trying to have nothing to do with unbeleivers. "We do not mix with ungodly people."  I will not go into a room were people who are smoking and drinking. I do not not hang around people who wear short skirts or cuss all the time.

Many beleivers would rather spend all their time around other believers, even to the point of desiring to work at a Christian job for a Christian boss at a Christian company. We can not engage the world (the popular culture) by escaping from it, nor can we influence it by isolating ourselves from it. Jesus certainly did not. One of the biggest criticisms the religious leaders leveled against Jesus was the fact that He spent so much time with"sinners," the homeless, prostitutes, and cast offs of society. When challenged on this , He responded, It is not the healty who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means." I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have come not to call the righteous, but sinners." Matt. 9:12-13. That is our assignment too. Are you completing your assignment?

What grade would you recieve from the Master, do not look forward to being graded on a curve. This test grade is Pass or Fail!

A Small Bytes

Meditate on this small bite for the week.