Biola Broadcaster - 1973-06

biblical attractions or detractions that have been added, you are still one in Christ. You may go across town to another church building or move to another city, but in Christ you are all still part of the same body, and you are still under the umbrella of the biblical church. Then how do you relate to the various "churches on the corner?" Just as you would to other members of the body, certainly not with a contentious spirit, cutting remarks or self-righteousness. As "green" a new generation person as you may be, the body—or the church, if you will—comes first. Thus, behind the facade of man's organization, the church on the corner is (if it contains believers in Christ) an assembly that contains a part of the body that needs uplifting and edification. Wherever you are, wherever you go, seek out the body. Serve and be served. OTHER ORGANIZATIONS Consider now the other organizations with which a Christian must contend. We will place them in three broad groups. But all of these stand in contrast to the "body-church" that is God's unique organization. Although there are significant differences, for example between General Motors Corporation and a Christian college, there is even a greater distinction between both of these man-devised organizations and the spiritual body of Christ into which all believers have been placed by God. Government The first arbitrary group I have selected is government. Here I would embrace local, state and national government; including all branches, bureaus and agencies. To these, the Christian relates with Spirit-given qualities of love, peace and temperance (Galatians 5:22 and 23). He does not lay aside the necessary marks of one who is a member of the body just because he enters a governmental building or confronts an officer rather than an evangelist. The Christian does not have a double stand­ ard. He is not one person on Sunday and another on Monday. He is careful to project a positive testimony in public affairs as well as in his home or in his church. When old things pass away in his life all things are to become new—not some things and not sometimes (II Corinthians 5:17). Hopefully, the day is passing when Christians erect phony facades and play at righteousness. The Christian, however, need not relate'to government in the same way he must relate to the body of Christ. Though the Christian may have little choice under which government he lives or the measure of its con­ trol over him, he is not automatically submerged in the organization as he is in the body of Christ. He is not obligated, e.g., to work for the

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