Walking as Men?

August 28, 2022

Everyone is doing it! That seems to be justification enough for most of us for

going along with something even though we know that we are not living up to

the standard of Christ. As we think about our behavior – envy, strife, and

division seem to be the norm in our world today, but we know it should not be

so in the body of Christ, which is the church. His body is coordinated, not

spastic; and harmony appears naturally because everyone in the fellowship is

dominated by humility. No one seeks his own interest but instead is very

concerned for the welfare of each member. Service is the order of the day . . .

every day, every hour, and every minute. We know that we should forgive one

another even as God, because of Christ, has forgiven us; but we are carnal,

immature, and our opinions too valuable. They seem more valuable than

fellowship, family, or glorifying our Father in heaven. We are carnal and need

to be taught all over again the first principles of Christ’s likeness. We behave

as spoiled children and not as mature saints, which is to our shame as it

inhibits church growth and destroys the weak. Those who are overcome by

their own emotions are “walking like men”, They are carnal, seeking someone

to blame. These persons will never recover until they accept responsibility and

repent of self-interest.

When we humbly and sincerely acknowledge our need for God’s grace for our

personal sin, he forgives and restores. It is our responsibility to pass that same

grace to everyone in the church, whom he died for. We are fellow laborers

with God; preoccupied with saving the lost, not being overcome with greed for

recognition, acceptance, or ‘my way’. Once we realize that “All things belong

to us” (1 Corinthians 3:21), we no longer need to strive with each other. Paul is

mine, Apollos is mine, Cephas is mine, Christ is mine, and God has claimed

me! I now can claim all even my childlike, carnal family as Christian brothers,

who are less than mature, if I am mature like my Lord.

Dr. Kenneth E. Morrison