YOUNG
PEOPLE
(jod hai thes^rniwerl !
Second in a series of Informal Chats with Young People on their Perplexing Problems
By William W. Orr, D.D.
Can I Be Popular? Is it possible for a young person to be a true Christian and be popular too? This question has perplexed not a few of us. We want to have friends and be well thought of. But can we do this and still retain that valued companion ship with our greatest Friend, the Lord Jesus (John 15:13-15)? Now look here a minute. I believe that your friends will thoroughly respect you if your Christianity is genuine and you live what you profess. And I sincerely believe it to be possible for you to live for Christ and have a large circle of friends and acquaintances. I know for I’ve seen it demon strated. But don’t forget this: the world in which we live is sharply divided into two great groups (Matt. 7:24-27), one Christian, and the other non-Christian. One group has God as its Father and the other Satan (John 8 :4 4 ); one is bound for heaven, and the other for hell. Then tell me this: if you live like a real Christian (2 Tim. 3 :12 )— a godly, consistent, righteous life before the world do you really expect the unsaved to be crazy about you? Certainly not. Here’s the reason. Your life lived for Christ is a con stant reproof to the lost of the sinfulness of their hearts. Day by day you are silently (2 Tim. 4:2) preaching about their unrighteousness and their need of a Saviour. All this is distasteful to the natural heart. Folks just don’t like to be told they’re sinners (Rom. 3¡23) even if they sorely need it. Sometimes they vent their displeasure upon the one (John 8:40) who points out their sin. In this case it might be you. Do you see? It isn’t that your character is unlovely, or that you have something that even your best friends won’t tell you. It isn’t personal dislike at all. It’s just that sinners don’t like saints. You remind them of their sins. And this hurts. But don’t worry; perhaps some day they’ll be reminded enough to forsake their sins for a Saviour, and be grateful for your witness. Take, for example, the life of Christ. Here was the O C T O B E R , 1 9 4 9
blessed, sinless Son of God, living a perfect life before the world. What is the story of His popularity? Well, thank God, many of the sinners, (Luke 5:32) the publicans, the common folk, sought Him, opened their hearts to Him, and were eternally blessed. But the other gang, the pseudo-re ligionists, (Matt. 26:3-5), the grafters, the selfish, avaricious crowd opposed Him all the days of His earthly life, and one day laid their sinful hands upon Him and murdered Him by nailing Him to a tree. Do you think Christ was popular? The Bible says some interesting things about the matter of popularity. On one occasion Jesus gave a long message (John 15:15-25) to His disciples on this subject, telling them not to be surprised if, instead of loving them, the world hated them. He too was hated without a cause. Christians are promised tribulation (John 16:33) in the world. Both Peter and Paul write of present sufferings and coming glory. On the whole, the message of the New Testament points to constant conflict between the Christian and the world. So be forewarned. The best thing is not to worry too much about popularity. Place this matter, too, in the hands of your Lord. Think much of your popularity with Him. For as His dear face fills the horizon of your life (Phil. 1:21) all other things will assume infinitely less importance. Build up a circle of friends who love the Lord, who think and talk your lan guage. Be sure to continually carry the story of Christ to oth ers all of the time thus gaining real friends (Matt. 6:19, 20) who will last not only through time, but through eternity. Study your Bible on this subject to learn what it says about the world’s attitude toward Christ and Christians. Strive mightily for heavenly popularity (Matt. 25:21). It seems to resolve itself down to this. You can’t be popular with God and with Satan too. If you would do God’s will, you must turn your back on the world, the flesh and the devil. To do Satan’s will would be to crucify your Saviour anew. I’m sure there’s no question in your mind as to whose popularity you want. Page Eleven
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