What If It Were Up to You

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“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32).

A pastor asked a churchgoer, "What are the two greatest problems in the Church today?" The man answered, "I don't know; and, I don't care!" The pastor responded, "Then you have both problems!!"

Ignorance and apathy produce a people who are uninformed and unconcerned. Sadly, there are many such people in the Church today. Our altar calls have netted many decisions, but produced few disciples.

Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Discipleship is the doorway into Truth, Freedom and Personal Responsibility.

The Lord calls us to be His disciples. He deals with ignorance by telling us the truth, and He deals with apathy by telling the truth over and over and over again. John Wimber once said, "It not the truth that sets you free; its the truth you KNOW that sets you free!" Jesus said, “You shall know the Truth.” Let’s take it one step at a time:

You - that’s personal.....accept it.

Shall - that’s imperative....obey it.

Know - that’s cognitive.....understand it.

The - that’s definitive.....admit it.

Truth - that’s reality.....live it.

Truth, Freedom, and Responsibility always go together. Responsible living is the fruit of Freedom; and Freedom is the offspring of Truth. Jesus Christ has redeemed us and given us His Holy Spirit and knowledge of the Truth; so that from the inside out we would be a free and responsible people who are self-governed under God.

A Gallup Poll revealed that the majority of Americans are looking to the Government to remedy their loss of freedom, their loss of economic prosperity, and their failure at child-rearing. The cry of the masses to the imperial Halls of political Power is - "Do something about Education, Health Care, the Economy, the Environment, Drug Abuse, Gang Violence, Cigarettes, Sexual Harassment, Bigotry, Racism, Work Ethics, Abortion, Homosexuality....etc! We voted you into office so that you would DO SOMETHING!”

But, my friend -- YOU are the one who can make the difference. And I am, too.

We know the Truth, and we are therefore a people of understanding. We have been set free, and we are therefore a people of zeal. This is God’s answer to ignorance and apathy. As Christians we must each take personal the words of our Lord, and conduct ourselves with wisdom and honor toward those around us. This will answer the ignorance and apathy of the world, and bring great glory to our Lord.

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