If you didn’t see them, you probably heard them. Some of us stopped to observe. Some of us walked on by, with the sounds of accusation and anger ringing in our ears.
They called themselves “street preachers.” They claimed to be Christians. They were very loud. They were sensational. They were extremely disturbing, and especially discouraging to those of us who claim the name of Jesus Christ.
So, to my fellow Christians in Martin, I offer this open epistle of encouragement:
Grace to you and peace from our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Do not allow such false teachers to cause you anxiety, but lift up your concerns in prayer to our father in heaven, who is able to work all things to our good and his glory.
If there are some among you with large signs and loud voices who claim to have no sin, remember what John, our older brother in the faith, has said: those who claim to be without sin deceive themselves and the truth is not in them. They make God out to be a liar, and his word has no place in their lives.
Beware of such deceivers who speak abusively of whatever they do not understand. As our brother Jude has warned us, these are men who divide the believers and do not have the Spirit. They are shepherds who feed only themselves, who grumble and find fault with others but boast about themselves.
Unlike them, build each other up in the love of God, showing the mercy of Christ to those who doubt and kindness to those in distress. Speak the truth in love, remembering what our brother James has told us: if anyone considers himself religious and yet does not reign in his tongue, he deceives himself, and his religion is worthless.
As for you, confirm your own faith by doing good deeds for the poor and those who are unwanted and unloved. Be slow to speak and slow to become angry.
Our brother Paul was right when he warned us that in these days there will be people who love only themselves, boastful, proud, having no love, unforgiving, conceited and having an outward form of godliness but denying its power. Follow his advice: have nothing to do with them! We know that before too long their folly will become clear to everyone on campus.
As Paul says, this sort of men will perish, because they refused to love the truth and be saved. Do not be like them, deceived into believing that salvation is a result of human effort. Living by a list of regulations and harsh treatment of the body appears wise, but lacks any lasting value in restraining sinful passions.
Did not our King and Savior, Jesus himself, say that no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born from above? Human efforts generate hearts hardened with self-righteousness, but the Spirit of God gives birth to new hearts full of faith, hope and love, overflowing with good deeds and kindness.
Remember: you have been reconciled to God in Christ, and are now free of the accusations heaped against you by sign-toting adversaries. As our dear brother Paul reminds us, the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ, which comes from God and is by faith, is worth far more than their false righteousness of religious zeal.
So make every effort to add to your faith goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love. Our older brother in the faith, Peter, tells us that if we have these things in abundance, they will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in the knowledge of our savior, Jesus Christ.
Be on your guard so you are not carried away by the error of lawless men. All glory be to the only God, our savior, who is able to keep you from stumbling and will bring you blameless and full of joy into his glorious presence through Jesus Christ our King.
Amen.
