One
can be forgiven for being confused about Christians, Christ
followers, the Emerging Church and other phrases and buzzwords used
to describe those who believe in Jesus as the Son of God. Bible
commentators have spotted in 1 John certain tests which one can apply
to decide if a person is a true Christian. They can be sorted into
three main groups, namely moral
(keeping
God's commands),
social
(loving
one another)
and doctrinal
(believing
Jesus is the Christ).
There
are other Bible passages which back up the claim that God expects his
people to have those three traits. Paul wrote that faith, hope and
love will remain even after knowledge passes away. (1
Corinthians 13:13)
According
to John we overcome the world by our faith
(1 John
5:4).
He links our hope
to having good morals (1
John 3:3)
and love
is at the heart of his letters. Those who are “of the devil” are
marked by their evil deeds and lack of love. Liars and antichrists
deny that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became a human being. (1 John 2:22)
On
the one hand John wrote his first letter to encourage Jesus followers
that they can know they have eternal life. On the other hand he did
not want those who are deceived to be soothed by a false sense of
security. Everyone reading it can ask the question: “Do I believe
in Jesus, do I keep God's commands and do I love other believers?”
The
letter also serves the purpose of recognising false teachers. Those
who teach are judged more strictly. (James
3:1) Every believer must ask
the question: “Whom do I listen to? Are they walking like Jesus
walked?” In a world where information is available at the touch of
a screen or keyboard these questions are of the utmost importance.
We
were made to have company. Before the second human being was created
Adam had only the company of animals. God said Adam was alone until
Eve was formed out of his rib. It is God's will that his children
love one another. No normal father would enjoy the company of
children who are fighting each other.
In
the post-modern world bad relationships among members of families
have become common. Jesus predicted that it would happen. (Matthew
10:21 & Luke 21:16)
Biblical marriage is not the norm in our society. To be self-centred
is not regarded as wrong. Paul predicted that that would be typical
of the last days. (2
Timothy 3:2)
But it is common sense that any two or more self-absorbed people are
unlikely to get along well. A person who must always have his/her own
way is likely to end up alone. In some cities of Europe more than
half the population live in a household of one person.
The
gap which arises because of the absence of flesh and blood company is
mostly filled by phones and screens. These can be switched on or off
so that one's independence is assured. The lack of intimacy is often
made up by voyeurism because the human soul longs for companionship.
This pastime creates unrealistic expectations which further eat away
at relationships.
In
stead of changing the prevailing culture many influential leaders are
propagating the acceptance of values which mirror this broken
community. That is why abortion on demand and same sex marriages have
become acceptable, even common place. Morality is regarded as
relative to the occasion and the people involved. Absolute values and
objective truth are not acceptable to someone who is used to making
his/her own rules.
The
popular culture accepts as fact those ideas which can be
“scientifically proven”. The rest is regarded as speculation. The
leaders of this world are opposed to a Christian world view in which
sin and salvation are accepted as objective realities. Against this
background John uses two Greek words which are translated “know”
40 times in his 3 short letters.
We
know objectively that our sins are forgiven and we have eternal life
because of the witness of John and and the thousands of Christians
who lived before us. Subjectively we have the witness of the Holy
Spirit and have come to know the Father and the Son. We are in a
relationship with our Creator. We are responsible for our actions and
there are no secrets to attaining power over sin or sickness.
Against
the pressure of the dominant culture to compromise our values John
urges his readers to love one another. It is not our mission to bash
other Christians. (James 4:11-12)
If they confess Jesus they are on our side. (Luke
9:49-50)
He warns his readers against idolatry, that is loving the pleasure,
pretty things and prestige of this world. Idolatry will damage one's
faith and make one insensitive to those in need. (Ezekiel
16:49-50)
