Today we see an increasing number of headlines focused on Evangelicalism and Christian Nationalism, bringing the matter of being Christian under great scrutiny. As Christians, we must ask ourselves whether we can be scrutinized and found desirable by both God and man. Many who profess to be Christians might say this is impossible, but is that really what the Scriptures teach?
Man's wrath is very different from God's wrath. God is slow to anger. On a human level in the world around us, individuals and even entire groups are continually riled up and insulting one another. None of this effectuates the righteousness of God. James 1:21 entreats us to leave all uncleanness and remains of malice and receive with meekness the word ingested within you, which is able to cause your souls to be saved. God has the purpose for his children to be examples to those around them. The books of James and Jude have much to say regarding what this should look like and how it is accomplished, which is to receive the wisdom prepared for us.
Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning. (James 1:16-17)
God desires to give good and perfect gifts to his children who ask in faith, not doubting anything. In fact, he is the only source of anything good and perfect. He is the Father of lights. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world and who does not change, and his plans and expectations for us remain constant. Jesus told his disciples that corporately, Ye are the light of the world. The plan of the Father of lights is to bring us out of darkness and into his light so that he can place his life and love and light in us for all the world to see.
The author, Russell M. Stendal is the editor and translator of the Jubilee Bible (JUB) and Biblia del Jubileo (JBS) translations that are published in English and Spanish. Well over a million copies of the Biblia del Jubileo have been donated and distributed into the most impoverished regions of Colombia and Venezuela.
