An attorney in Winston Salem was heard to say, “I’m empty inside.” An English teacher in Russia said, “I’m an atheist, but I know there is something else.” The world is full of empty, confused people. But we have an answer to emptiness and confusion. We have a Faith!
Faith is defined as “what is believed; the contents of belief (Vine’s). It is the contents of Christianity…the Word of God…the gospel. There is only one faith, just as there is only one salvation and one Savior. Jude 3 tells us, “I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
Contend is a strong verb. “To contend as a combatant” (Vine’s). To fight for something with great strength. It is an effort as contrasted with passive involvement. “Fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12). “We proclaim, admonishing, teaching; I labor, striving” (Col. 1:28, 29). “Striving for the faith” (Phil 1:27).
We are to contend in society. Social enemies of our faith are crime, immorality, hypocrisy (the U.S. Supreme Court has Bible quotes, but schools cannot), tolerance (everything but Christianity and Judaism is tolerated), blasphemy (the ACLU and the media make a mockery of God), homosexuality (some are even priests and pastors). God’s call is to a life of integrity and godliness.
We are to contend in the marketplace. Greed runs rampant; its all about money. The owner of a sizable business once told me, “You have to tell white lies in business” (and he was a church deacon). Larry Burkett teaches us that the reason for a Christian to go into business should be to glorify God and provide for employees’ needs. God calls us to be salt and light. Contending for our faith may be costly, but it is demanded.
The church must contend for the faith. A compromising, social church has no power, and no real reason to exist. “If dosage of the gospel is too low, it will only build immunity to it, rather than heal the sinner,” says Mario Murillo. Many churches today are more interested in making sinners feel good about themselves than confronting their sins. Churches should be proclaimers of truth. “You shall know the truth and the Truth shall set you free” (John 8:32). “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). “Test the spirits” (I John 4:1).
We must contend in the home. Children must be taught discipline, respect and obedience to God. “And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart: and you shall teach them diligently unto your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up” (Deut. 6:6, 7). “The things you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men (and our children) who will be able to teach others also” (II Tim 2:2).
We are to contend with ourselves. Of all the problems I face, I am the chief. I constantly struggle with apathy and complacency. I must maintain discipline in prayer, devotions, and witnessing. My conscience tends to be atrophied by the world and prosperity. We build ourselves up by being in the Word. ‘The word of His grace which is able to build you up” (Acts 20:32). “Pray without ceasing” (I Thess. 5:17). Maintain the relationship. “He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
As Christians are we passive pew warmers, or witnessing disciples? Where are we on our spiritual journey? Are we still in the same place where we began? Let us pray:
Set us afire, Lord. Stir us we pray.
While the world perishes, we go on our way,
Purposeless, passionless, day after day.
Set us afire, Lord. Stir us we pray.
R.S. Cushman