Nov 1, 2002 4 min read

Scripture reading: Titus 3:1-8. Text: “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 2 Timothy 3:12. Every pastor who prepares his/her sermon – with Bible study, meditation, and prayer – faces these alternative situations: if the message covers a general area it may become meaningless, however, if the message deals with a specific idea it may become controversial.

On the other hand some people come to church to hear what the Bible says about a much-debated current issue and also some attend the same worship service to forget the irritating problems of the world.

The faithful usually do not realize that a pastor is caught in the middle of these alternatives. May I ask you to join me in asking God that this presentation will be rather divine than human, rather uplifting the disturbing, and rather uniting than dividing.

Can a wonderful message be presented based on an unpopular text?

If you ask the people which they would prefer: reward or punishment, praise or criticism, peace or persecution, prosperity or poverty, what would they say?

I am sure everybody would choose the first one. If our text would match the people’s desire, then it would read in this way “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be rewarded” and then there would be no problem.

However, God’s word does not follow the popular view, that is the “logos,” the logic, and it challenges us.

Three basic questions shall be raised before we enter into any discussion:

1. Is Apostle Paul’s statement still valid today as it had been in his time?

2. If the answer is positive, then what would you give up first? The godly life in Christ Jesus to avoid persecution,

3. Or you would not care what would happen to you or to your family; you will definitely live and act according to your faith firmly rooted in the savior?

Let us be thankful that in our country today the choice is not as hard as it had been for the first Christians in the Roman Empire.

We do not face an either-or decision; we have been given the chance to be a firm believer or remain neutral or question God’s existence; also our constitution protects everybody from any unlawful prosecution, not to mention persecution.

But by the very same token, we cannot deny that a Christian life is without any cost.

The closer we wish to follow the Master and the more seriously we take his teachings, read Matthew 5:1-16, the more sacrifices we have to make.

Does godly life also include the duties of a citizen?

If so many of us can find so many things wrong with our government – either local or national – how come these people do not want to get involved and do not run for office? Does not our conscience bother (or persecute) us?

How do you judge a candidate? Only by the many promises he/she makes!

If a true Christian life is not without sacrifices, then can the world offer everything good and ask for nothing in return?

What is more important for you? Freedom – Peace – Prosperity – High moral standards?

Can the government alone guarantee all these for each citizen? Is our fate completely in our own hands and are we totally in control of our own destiny? If we like to sing such patriotic hymns like “God Bless America”, then will God really do it if we do not do anything else but sing?

What does history teach us? What kind of life will promise a better future for the next generation, an easy and fun loving life or a vigilant and faithful one? Is there any connection between sowing and reaping? Please read 2 Corinthians 9:6.

In the time of Apostle Paul godly life in Christ Jesus could easily evoke persecution.

We live in a Christian era and thanks be to God that we do not have to face the same choice as our brethren did about 20 centuries ago.

However, what the Bible says is basically true even today.

If we desire to live a godly life, it cannot be done without faith, loyalty and commitment. (If you think, it is easy to possess living faith, be loyal and dedicated, please try to do it!)

Praise the Lord that less is expected of us than it had been of Timothy and his contemporaries; therefore, let us take this less more seriously.

The Rev. Alexander Jalso is a retired United Presbyterian minister living in Brownsville.