Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

If it ever ‘neat’ to be a Christian! One is surrounded with such nice people who are hospitable and always ready to help us when we’re in need.

The local assembly fills our week with activities that are really ‘neat’- young people’s meetings, young couples’ meetings, seniors’ clubs, the best fun in the world.

Every long weekend, several assemblies organize rallies where we hear interesting speeches by highly educated Christians, which show that the Gospel is a very respectable philosophy and not the foolishness that the world thinks. We also have opportunity at those rallies to chat with other Christians, who think like we do; and we can enjoy sports with them. It is even possible to get a job in the organization of such rallies, according to one’s aptitudes and tastes. I’ve had such-and-such a job for ten years; and it’s great. ‘Neat-o!’

Also, it’s so much easier among Christians to find a spouse, since we meet lots of young men and young ladies at these rallies. As Christians, we already have the most important in common, and life together is so much more ‘neat.’

Christian reading material is also ‘neat,’ as there is such a vast selection of books on so many subjects- Christian novels, books on prophecy to tickle the curiosity of those who enjoy current events, and books on love, courtship, and marriage, that help make married life more ‘neat.’

Christian radio and TV programs are really ‘neat,’ and so are recordings of Christian music, just what it takes to relax on Sunday afternoon. And a concert of Christian music is one of the ‘neatest’ outings one can imagine, with Christian singers and musicians and the stage professionally set up.

It’s also really ‘neat’ to hear a missionary from overseas tell us about a country where the climate and culture are different; it’s the best lesson in geography or anthropology one can get. Yes, the Christian life is really ‘neat;’ It’s the life for me!

The above reflections may seem a little exaggerated because they combine the attitudes of a number of people. We do not claim to have found them all in one any person. Nor are we disapproving any of the activities mentioned above, as they are not necessarily wrong. God uses the majority of them. What we are driving at is the spirit that is back of such an outlook, which treats the Christian life as simply a way to “have a good time,” as a cultural basis for a life with pleasure-oriented ambitions.

For many years we detected this mentality in a number of professing Christians, and it disturbed us. Then one day we could hold our tongue about it no longer. The leader of a prayer meeting lead in a long prayer in which he present- ed many requests in a tone that made them sound rather like demands; and the reason he presented for each of them was: “it would be really ‘neat’ that way.” He seemed to think God was obliged to arrange our whole lives so as to make everything really neat.’ This was particularly disturbing considering that a message had just been delivered concerning the necessary conditions for following Christ as a true disciple. That leader’s prayer seemed to be a total rejection of what we had just heard preached. At that moment we were compelled to declare war on this way of thinking, which we call the “neat gospel.”

Let us examine whether our spiritual mentality has been partly infected by this “neat gospel.” The apostles and other Jews often showed it by their remarks, and the Lord worked hard to straighten them out. This struggle is particularly evident in a certain section of the Gospel of Matthew chapters 16 to 18. These chapters are preceded by an event the second miraculous feeding of a multitude- and followed by “when Jesus had finished these sayings…” and an account of another event. We can therefore consider these chapters to be a unit, and a series of lessons of which the central theme was “the neat gospel.” Each lesson deals with one error in the mentality of the apostles, and thus the Lord corrects seven notions inspired by this false, “neat” gospel.

The first of these notions is to seek respect from worldly scholars (Matthew 16:1-4). The Pharisees asked for a sign, a miracle, to prove scientifically that Jesus was their Messiah. They wanted teaching that carried prestige so that everybody would be obliged to recognize it as true. They thought, “It would be ‘really neat’ to be looked on as great scholars, learned men, for holding a philosophy that at the same time brings us into God’s favour.”

That is one of the main errors of the “neo-evangelical movement.” The pioneers of this movement said, “The evangelical faith has long had a reputation of being the religion of the ignorant. Let’s change that. Let’s present our teaching on a highly intellectual level so as to win the world’s respect.” By and by their error was uncovered. T be accepted by the world as learned, takes more that simply knowing as much as the world. It requires thinking like the world. Sadly, a well-known magazine published I promoters of this movement is often invaded by the world thinking, the spirit of our age.

The Lord’s answer to the Pharisees indicated that they already had all the signs they needed, if they would only recognize them. What they needed to recognize these signs was not more impressive proofs, but a change of heart. The message of the cross will always seem foolish to the unconverted, since only the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart can enable a person to grasp spiritual logic (1 Corinthians 1:18; 2:14-16).

This is not to say that we shouldn’t try to reach the highly-educated with the Gospel and show them what it has to do with their lives. Paul sought to do that when he spoke to the Athenians (Acts 17:16-34), and there are good efforts made to do the same today. That is part of our mission to preach the Gospel to every creature. The error of the “neat gospel” is to seek honour from a world that despised and crucified our Master, whereas the servant is not greater than his Lord (John 15:20). The scholar who becomes converted must, like any other convert, take his cross and follow a Master who was despised, treated as a fool and crucified, but who will return some day in glory.

The second notion of the “neat gospel” is conformity to the thinking that is in style (16:5-12). The Lord warned His disciples against the “leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees,” meaning the teaching of those sects. What was their teaching, and especially, what was dangerous about it? Christ exposed certain teachings of the Pharisees in Matthew chapter 23, and we find the same purpose all the way through them- an effort to tone down God’s Word. The Pharisees explained God’s commandments in a manner that would exempt them from keeping them (see especially verses 16-22). The Lord called such explanations “leaven” because they spread readily and rapidly, becoming popular without difficulty.

Many explanations of this type are being spread in our day, becoming popular very quickly and having the effect of toning down God’s Word. Such reasoning permits Christians to follow more of the mentality of the world around them. The Bible says, “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16); but Christians are allowing a careless life by saying, “God doesn’t see my sins, but only the blood of Jesus.” They repudiate certain biblical commands and claim that they were given because of the culture of the biblical world without first examining whether the reasoning of the context of these commands permits such an explanation. They say, “We musn’t be too strict because the Bible speaks more of love than of judgment.” They make serious compromises in their conduct, claiming that they are being “all things to all men” (1 Corinthians 9:22). Then they say, “Let’s show people in the world that we aren’t all that different from them, but that we can still have a good time with them because we enjoy the same things. It’s ‘really neat’ to be able to witness to our neighbours by playing cards, drinking beer, and singing popular songs with them.’

God’s Word is “sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). It requires crucifixion of what we are naturally, and resurrection to a new, transformed life, radically different from our former life. If we preach the true message of the cross, the world will always think we’re crazy. In fact, that is the proof that our message is supernatural (1 Corinthians 1:18). The true Gospel would never have been able to win a single convert, except by the Holy Spirit’s convincing the sinner of his need of salvation (John 16:8). Let us beware of every form of the leaven of

the Pharisees.

Thirdly, the “neat gospel” induces us to seek affiliation with a dignitary (16:13-28). The apostles, and especially Peter, were happy to know that Jesus was their Messiah (verse 16). He even indicated that Peter’s realizing this was encouraging, showing that Peter was experiencing personal communion with God (verse 17); and He assured him of great blessing (verses 18-20). But along with this wonderful discovery, the apostles lodged hope of acquiring political power. They expected their Messiah to overthrow the Roman Empire and re-establish the Kingdom of Israel. This notion was so deeply embedded in them that Christ was still struggling to get it out of them during the last moments before His return to Heaven (Acts 1:6). The apostles were so eager to be affiliated with the King of a sovereign nation, and to have the stamp of divine approval on their position of authority.

Today we often hear about efforts to reach the “leaders of the country” with the Gospel politicians, heads of big corporations, people who are famous in the world of sports and of fine arts, and renowned scholars. God certainly wants the Gospel to be preached to every creature (Mark 16:15), including “the leaders” and “the great.” Yet I think I detect in this emphasis on “the great” an aspiration similar to that of the apostles. Christians seem to think that by evangelizing leaders and other people with prestige, they will be able to transform society. They think it’s “really neat” to preach the Gospel in company with dignitaries, hoping that the prestige of these dignitaries will lend prestige to their message. It is true that God sent His prophets and apostles to preach before kings and other political leaders; but He did so rather to show their boldness, and not to produce a revival by means of worldly prestige.

I will speak of Thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed (Psalm 119:46).

Reading this aspiration in the apostles’ hearts, the Lord told them of His coming suffering and death, by which He would make possible the kind of kingdom he would establish. That horrified Peter, who strongly protested (verses. 21-23). But then the Lord insisted that whoever wanted to be part of His Kingdom would have to follow in His footsteps, bowing to a life of sacrifice and rejection by the world.

We can certainly thank God for every Christian who has born testimony to the glory of God in a position to which the world attaches prestige- but let us thank Him for their testimony, and not for the prestige that the world gave them. The world has often paid attention only to their prestige and their earthly achievements, while setting their testimony aside. Let us also remember that many people with prestige, though they claimed to be Christians, hid their light under a bushel (Matthew 5:15). Whenever a revival has transformed the life of the entire population of a region, it came about by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, and not by the prestige of a person who got converted.

The fourth desire stimulated by the “neat gospel” is to retain a visionary atmosphere (17:1-22). Three apostles had a fabulous experience during the Transfiguration. On the mountaintop they saw the Lord shining with glory, and Moses and Elijah with Him. Peter thought, “How ‘neat’ to be here; let’s keep up this experience by putting up tents for these heavenly visitors.” But when the time designated for this vision was up, they had to go down the mountain and face the world with its problems and devote themselves to God’s work. And after seeing such a magnificent spectacle, the apostles suffered a devastating failure-their powerlessness to cast our a demon, due to their unbelief. Yes, it was “really neat” to enjoy the vision mountain; but what did that change in their daily life on the among the world?

Do we fall into the same trap as Peter? It’s “really neat” to attend conferences, hear interesting messages, sing heart-stirring songs, and “chat” with other Christians. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, and at the end we feel we’ve “gotten a real boost.” But when we return to daily life among the world, what has really changed? Maybe we hold fond memories of the conference, wishing we were still there. But, are we now more conscious of God’s presence, enjoying deeper fellowship with Him, more conscientious because we’ve learned to hate evil more? Are we more holy, more fervent in our prayers, more zealous to witness, more full of love, more attached to what is eternal? Otherwise, we have wasted our time at the The experience was “really neat,” but spiritually useless. There is reason to fear that this may be a frequent occurrence. Perhaps the fault is sometimes in the subject dealt with at the conference, if it wasn’t practical, or if it wasn’t applied much to life. But that isn’t necessarily the case. If the three apostles didn’t benefit from the Transfiguration, at least for a time, the fault certainly wasn’t in what they had seen and heard. Their hearts just weren’t in condition to benefit from it. A message about a Saviour who would be crucified didn’t touch hearts that were following a “neat gospel.” When we go to Bible conferences, do we go asking the Lord to make His Word pierce us like a two-edged sword? Do we ask Him who searches hearts to teach us, convict us, correct us, and instruct us in righteousness, that we may be complete and prepared for every good work? Or, do we go because whole the atmosphere will be “really neat?” That will make the difference.

According to the fifth notion of the “neat gospel,” a Christian should be considered a respectable citizen by the world (17:24-27). He should do his best to hold a well-paid job, so as to show that his integrity gets him promotions. After all, doesn’t the Bible promise that “the hand of the diligent maketh rich” (Proverbs 10:4)? He should make sure his family is at ease in a fine home, eats well, and dresses according to the style. He should have insurance against every kind of risk so that his family will never suffer hardship. He should have his grave purchased and his funeral arranged so that these things won’t be a burden for anyone else. He must always keep the same job and the same home, to show that he is mature and stable. It is most desirable that his family have interesting vacations and that his children can pursue the studies needed for the careers they desire. That shows that the father is fulfilling his responsibilities. He is really a good man, and one can always count on him to make contributions to any charitable work and perhaps other good causes in the community. He can then say, “Everyone in my neighbourhood respects me and considers me a good man, and it’s God who made me that way. It’s ‘really neat’ to be a witness in this manner. That shows everybody that Christianity is not fanaticism, but that it makes us respectable citizens.”

Wonderful testimony! Oh yes? Well, I hardly think one could find a more accurate description of the life of Lot! He settled in Sodom in order to assure his family of a comfortable future and a life of ease. He led an honest, upright life (2 Peter 2:7, 8), and the people of the community respected him enough to make him a judge- for it was the judges who sat in the city gates (Genesis 19:1). Yet what effect did his “testimony” have? When he spoke of God and of the urgency to put one’s life in order with Him because of coming judgments, he seemed to his own sons-in-law to be joking (Genesis 19:14). It that the kind of testimony we want to bear?

Peter also thought that Christians should be considered respectable citizens by the world. That’s why he answered “yes” immediately to those who asked him whether Jesus paid the temple tax. Every “respectable citizen” in Israel paid it. But there were two reasons why our Lord ought to have been exempted. First, this tax paid for regular offerings (Nehemiah 10:32, 33) representing worship of Him. Would it make sense to expect Him to pay for worship of Himself? Second, since Christ and His apostles were in a full-time ministry, they should have been exempted. This tax was imposed on those who were counted in the census of men twenty years old and over (Exodus 30:11-14); but the Levites, who were exercising the priestly ministry full-time, were not counted in that census (Numbers 1:18, 47-49).

Many commentaries indicate that the Lord Jesus paid this tax in order not to offend society by making it look as though He didn’t appreciate the temple ministry. I doubt that, since our Lord didn’t hesitate to correct errors in public opinion, especially about worship (see Matthew 23:16-24). I rather think He would have refused to pay the tax, explaining why, if Peter hadn’t already said “yes.” After all, since He lived on gifts from disciples (Luke 8:3), He would be very careful about how He used the money. But if He refused to pay this tax after Peter had said “yes,” He would have given the world the impression that His apostles didn’t keep their word, or that His team of apostles was in a state of disunity. He therefore paid tax, and then corrected Peter in private- a good example the for any team leader.

Ought a Christian, then, to be a respectable citizen? Yes, in God’s sight, but not necessarily in the world’s sight. God requires a Christian to be a good citizen by obeying the law (Romans 13:1-7) on all issues that are not in conflict with the Bible (Acts 5:29); and that’s just what worldly people often neglect. They think they’re smart if they break speed limits and make illegal turns without getting caught, or if they cheat on income tax declarations. They prefer to see a thief get away without being caught- until they themselves become victims of theft. A Christian who is a good citizen in God’s sight will probably be ridiculed for his conscientious obedience to the laws of the land.

A Christian must be faithful and diligent in his work, be a good steward of his money and possessions, and do his best to provide for his family’s needs. But the servant isn’t greater than his Lord (John 15:20), who had nowhere to lay His head (Luke 9:58). The apostles later suffered hunger, thirst, shortage of clothing, and having “no certain dwelling-place.” They were treated as “the filth of the world” (1 Corinthians 4:11-13). The family must never be an obstacle to obedience to God (Luke 14:26). Also, contrarily to popular notions, it is not necessary to eat extravagantly to be healthy. The majority of North- Americans could eat a more healthful diet than they are eating, and only spend half as much as they generally spend on it. They could also go for the next five years without buying any more clothes, except for growing children, and still be dressed very appropriately for every occasion with the clothing they already have. Let’s think of what we could save- and give to God’s work, or use to help needy people! As to the idea of staying in the same place for a long time to show stability, a Christian must remember that he is a stranger and a pilgrim on earth. He must never sink his tent pegs down too deeply.

Sixthly, the “neat gospel” offers us ranks to acquire (18:1-11). Probably none of Christ’s disciples had known much of wealth or prestige in the past, especially those who had been fishermen before He called them. Now they had thoughts of getting promotions in society and acquiring ranks in God’s Kingdom. They were thinking, “It would be ‘really neat’ to get into a position of authority, and to have in God’s Kingdom what earthly society deprived me of” They therefore wanted to know which of them would be promoted to the highest rank. The Lord Jesus answered them that one cannot even enter His Kingdom- let alone acquire a rank without becoming humble as a little child. Unfortunately, some didn’t learn this lesson- for two chapters later they asked the same thing, even more boldly (20:20-28). Christ then insisted that, to be really great, one must become the servant of all. One becomes a leader by serving others, and not by domineering over them or by seeking superiority.

Do we make the same error when someone in our assembly is designated for a new responsibility? It is easy to react by saying or thinking, “He got promoted.” Yet the basic meaning of the term “ministry” is “service;” and any spiritual responsibility must be treated as being an opportunity to serve. Instead of seeking positions as being “really neat,” we ought to accept them with fear and trembling and with determination to watch and pray. Those in responsible positions are in greater danger of temptation (1 Timothy 3:6) and God judges them more that God will keep them. severely (James 3:1). Instead of envying them, let us pray

What hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?(1 Corinthians 4:7).

The seventh notion of the “neat gospel” is not found in every Christian circle, but we meet up with it quite often. It is the desire to form a closed fellowship (18:12-35). Those who get this idea, think it would be “really neat” to fellowship with Christians they have known for a long time, and to be content to limit themselves to that little group and be suspicious of any outsiders. Such people obviously have practically no passion for evangelism or for the extension of God’s work. Such a group is always a fertile ground for grudges and bitterness. The apostles showed this tendency in their indifference toward “lost sheep” (v. 10-14) and in their unwillingness to forgive (verses 21-35).

Of course, prayer cells for specific purposes can be useful. If, for example, Christians wish to pray for revival, or if they suffer from lack of edification and desire supplementary teaching, they may meet for such a purpose. But let it always be done in a manner that is “above board,” their local assembly knowing about and approving of what they’re doing. In the course of His instructions to correct the tendency toward closed fellowship, the Lord said to remove evil from our midst; but He said to do so in collaboration with out local assembly (v. 15-18).

Zeal for purity must not induce us to withdraw into a little exclusive group. In an assembly that evangelizes, there will always be things going on that are contrary to the Bible, since there will always be new converts who haven’t yet realized certain applications of God’s Word to their lives. They need patient teaching. There would be fewer things going on that are contrary to the Bible if the assembly stopped evangelizing; but such a negligence would in itself be a serious fault, a disobedience to the Word. Let us always remember that joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance (Luke 15:7).

We may wonder whether the Lord breathed a sigh of relief when He had “finished these sayings” (Matthew 19:1) against the “neat gospel!” It had been quite a battle! And it still remains a battle today. Certainly the Christian life should be joyful, for the Lord wants to fill our hearts with joy (John 15:11). But the Christian life is not a perpetual party in which we seek a “good time” that is “really neat, with activities and amusements that are pleasing to the flesh and bear “Christian” labels. The Christian life is a war in which we are all called to be commandos. If we want to build on the foundation laid by the Lord Jesus Christ with gold, silver, and precious stones that will survive the test of fire, let us ardently resist the “neat gospel” that can only produce wood, hay, and stubble (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). The “neat gospel” may give us a fine facade, but only the true Gospel of warfare can set off a revival.

Copyright 1985
by the author.
Used by permission.
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