What Should We Do Now?: Returning to the heart of the gospel

By Rev. William Baker

What should we do now? asks the penetrating question that every committed Christian needs to answer: What has happened to the Christian church and its message? Church attendance is down and Christians have never been perceived more poorly than they are today. Clearly what we have been doing for the last fifty years or so is not working. The question confronts us: Is there something wrong with the gospel of Jesus Christ, or are "we" the problem? Has all the hypocrisy, the corruption, the political pandering, and harsh judgments of everyone but ourselves finally taken its ugly toll?
What we should do now? calls on all Christians to acknowledge our mistakes and failures and for each of us to abandon our misguided ways and priorities. The author summons all true believers back to the roots of the gospel of Jesus Christ as depicted for us in the New Testament.
Dr. Baker reminds all of us that our mission is still the great commission and carefully lays out before us 14 troubling areas in which real change is needed if we are to become the people God has called each of us to be.
What should we do now? reminds us that faith, hope and love are in fact still the answers this world needs to heal the human spirit and bring peace to a fractured and troubled planet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Dec 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798350931945

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Dedication

This book is dedicated to my wife Sheila, my children Claire, Bill, Deborah, Jason and Fiona, my sons-in-law John and Chris, my daughter-in-law Jenny and fourteen of the most amazing grandchildren and one great grandchild that any one person could hope to have in their lives. With a special thank you to M. Adele.

It is also dedicated to all my Christian brothers and sisters around the world regardless of their denominational affiliation, who simply want to separate themselves from the divisions in the church, the chaos of this world and return to the heart and soul of the gospel of Jesus the Christ. People committed to faith, hope, and love. FAITH in the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. HOPE in the soon return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And a profound LOVE for every person they encounter regardless of any of the labels this world would place on them.

What Should We Do Now?

Returning to the heart of the gospel

©2023, William Baker

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

ISBN: 979-8-35093-193-8

ISBN eBook: 979-8-35093-194-5

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

1. WE SHOULD PICK AN AUTHORITY, JUST NOT OURSELVES

2. WE SHOULD ALWAYS WRAP THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IN LOVE

3. WE SHOULD CONSTANTLY REMIND PEOPLE IT IS NOT COMPLICATED

4. WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SEEK FIRST THE PRESENCE OF GOD

5. WE SHOULD STOP TRYING TO MAKE THE GOSPEL POLITICALLY CORRECT

6. WE SHOULD KEEP CHURCHES AND DENOMINATIONS IN PROPER PERSPECTIVE

7. WE SHOLUD ASK THE LORD TO TEACH US TO PRAY

8. WE SHOULD STOP BLAMING GOD FOR ALL OUR AND THE WORLDS PROBLEMS

9. WE SHOULD REALIZE A SOVEREIGN GOD IS NOT OUR COPILOT

10. WE SHOULD ADMIT THAT OUR INFLUENCE AND CREDIBILITY HAVE BEEN LOST

11. WE SHOULD PURSUE FORGIVENESS AND ENCOURAGE REPENTANCE

12. WE SHOULD ENGAGE WHOLEHEARTEDLY IN THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION

13. WE SHOULD EMBRACE THE UNITY OF THE BODY OF CHRIST

14. WE SHOULD BELIEVE HOPE IS A GOOD THING MAYBE THE BEST OF THINGS

INTRODUCTION

What should we do now? The obvious place to start is at the beginning. Why am I writing this book, and what do I want to say? Specifically it is a growing desire within me, and I hope and pray that I can inspire within you to become a problem-solver in a church that is clearly troubled and divided. If these indeed are the last days, it is time for the walls to come down, the divisions to stop, the anger to disappear, and the body of Christ to come together in what we say, do, and showcase to a world that desperately needs the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The question that immediately comes to mind, though, is who is the we in the title of this book? Well, my friends, the we I would like to talk about primarily is us, Christians, people of God, and faith. People who call themselves followers of Jesus Christ, and His Gospel. Folks who truly believe and confess with their mouth that Jesus is the Christ, and that God has indeed raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9).

WE ARE IN TROUBLE

I think if we are honest, and if we are willing to take a step back for some real perspective, we must admit the following: number one, our society and country are in real trouble, and the people, both Christian and not, are emotionally stressed and scared to interact with a troubled world. Secondly, we must admit that what we have been doing for the last fifty years or so is not working. The church today and its people have never been viewed more poorly than we are now. Our inability to lead or set an example for Christian and non-Christian people to follow has never been more obvious for those people who honestly have eyes to see and ears to hear how we are perceived by the world. And here is the big reality check for all of us: there is nothing wrong with the Gospel, or the message of Christ. I am reasonably sure that we would all agree on that important point. So then, what is the problem? The answer would be hard for any of us to deny: WE are the problem. It must be the way we are walking and talking, our priorities, and the way we are living, and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. Now, I do realize that every generation has made the same kind of comments and assessments about other generations at some point, but wouldn’t you agree that this time it just seems different. It is not just that there are seemingly overwhelming and scary problems, nor that the public discourse has never been more hate-filled, with doubt and mistrust. These things sadly have always existed to an extent. What is concerning today is that the very foundations of our republic, its founding documents, and the Bible itself are not only being threatened, but openly undermined. They are gleefully being manipulated and used as political fodder by powerful people for their own manipulative and selfish purposes.

THE CHURCH

And the church, remember the church, has lost most of its ability to influence people in a positive way or provide the kind of leadership or example that is so desperately needed. In the past whenever we have faced problems as Christians or as a country, we all quietly felt that in the end we would all come together and overcome the challenge. There seemed to always be this abiding sense that although we all had our opinions, there was this undefined principle called the common good, meaning that we would in the end all rally around, and overcome whatever challenges we faced. I think a perfect example of this is found in the very sad events of September 11, 2001. After 9/11, people stood shoulder to shoulder regardless of race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, or political persuasion, and declared, We will overcome this challenge to our country and our society. And guess what—to their, and our credit as a society, we did. But today, I feel compelled to ask the question, would we now react in the same way?

THE FOUR PILLARS

I think the four pillars of our society have always been a stable government, an abiding faith in God, love of family, and a belief in the goodwill and unity of the American people. I am not suggesting for a moment that these great pillars are gone but I would certainly contend that they have never been weaker than they are now. The lack of unity and goodwill among the American people, and the very real breakdown of the nuclear and extended family are the direct result of our dysfunctional government, and a church that has totally lost its sense of mission and purpose. I am not a political pundit or analyst so I will try to leave politics and all of its complexities and problems to someone else except when they directly seek to challenge, manipulate, or use God, Jesus, the Bible, or good people of faith for their own misguided purposes. For the last fifty years or so, I have been constantly learning, growing, and experiencing new things in my walk of faith, and in my relationship with Jesus Christ. But as I have observed the body of Christ over those years, I have become more and more concerned about all the walls, divisions, and animosity I see in those who call themselves Christian. As a parent who loves his children, I cannot help but believe that this behavior and these attitudes amongst God’s children must truly break His heart. I am reasonably sure that this is not the way He wants us to act, or the way He wants us to treat each other. If there really is a one true God, one true Spirit, and one true Savior, Jesus Christ, and there is, how can this be? Should not the members of the holy trinity, and our pursuit of truth, with their help draw us closer and closer together, and not further and further apart. I cannot help but wonder where do all these walls and feelings come from, and what are they doing to us as the body of Christ? And how does all this dysfunction in the so-called body of believers affect our ability to minister to a lost and dying world?

ARE WE REALLY HIS DISCIPLES?

As I contemplate all these things, it is difficult for me to get John 13:34, 35 out of my heart and head, where Jesus says: A new command I give you: Love one another, as I have you, so you must love one another. By this, all men will know that you are my disciples. The word command here is hard to rationalize away. It would logically follow then that because we as Christians don’t seem to be able to get along with each other, never mind love each other, the world has the right to question whether we are really true disciples of Jesus Christ. And here it is, if we will not follow His commands, then why should they—they who are nonbelievers; they who do not know God’s love or His continued calling to them? Most Christians are very familiar with several verses that tell us that after the Lord’s death, resurrection, and ascension and even more pointedly, in these last days, we will face all kinds of trials and tribulations from the world and the devil. What these verses don’t tell us is that some of the toughest challenges we would face would come from within, and would be of our own making. Yes, I mean from within the church, and the body of Christ. In all humility, the devil and all his minions, and sin, do not scare me nearly as much as close-minded, self-righteous, hypocritical Christians, who love to wield power, and control. And the Lord knows, how they love to sit on the judgment seat for everyone but themselves.

THE ATMOSPHERE WE CREATE MATTERS

Think about it: just as a house is a building, but a home is an atmosphere, we need to remember that a church is a building, and a denomination is a corporate entity. But the body of Christ should be a living, breathing fellowship of believers united in the Holy Spirit, and committed to the work and will of God. The living breathing church is a spiritual home, where all must be welcomed, into an atmosphere of love, understanding, and forgiveness. The days of brother and sister against brother and sister, denomination against denomination in the body of Christ must end. The growing waves by Christian’s of the intolerance of the views of other Christian’s must stop. Along with the palatable sense of arrogance that declares, I am absolutely right! And everyone else is of course absolutely wrong! I know some Christians love to be fruit inspectors, but remember that all final judgment belongs to the Son and the Father. In fact, I have actually heard Christians cursing, judging, and condemning other Christians to hell, calling their fellow Christians unbelievers, demons, devils, and even the Antichrist. I am compelled to ask, where is the spirit of unity that Jesus calls us to? Instead I see people hiding behind the Bible, the church, and even Jesus himself to spew out clouds of hate and half-truths. People twisting verses, God’s Word," taking things completely out of context, all to accomplish their own misguided, and selfish ends. This inflated sense of self cannot continue if we are to accomplish the tall task that the great commission calls all of us to be engaged in.

THE GOSPEL CALLS ALL OF US TO UNITY

What I feel is a broken heart for the family of God, the body of Christ. My spirit is grieved for the lack of unity that drives us all apart. The world perceives far too many of us as a bunch of angry, judgmental, and hateful hypocrites who look down their noses at anyone who does not believe exactly what they believe. How many of you honestly know of someone you love, and really care about who has been totally turned off to the message of Christ because of the way Christianity has been lived before them, and shared with them? What do I desire, perhaps even long for? Where do we as Christians, as a body of believers, need to get to? Instead of pursuing the business of division, we should instead pursue our Father’s business, the unity of the faith. We can certainly disagree, for that is also our right, but we have no right in the family of faith to be disagreeable. I like the prayer of the apostle Paul in Romans 15:5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus. He echoes the same sentiment in Ephesians 4:12,13 when he makes quite clear the responsibilities of genuine Christian leaders to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith, and in the knowledge of the Son of God, and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. There it is again until we all reach unity in the faith. It is my deepest prayer that this is what your church leaders are telling you and teaching you.

UNITY REQUIRES EFFORT

Paul gives each of us as believers a direct challenge in Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. I ask each of you, with truly a humble heart, are you making every effort to keep the unity of the spirit in all that you say, and do. The world is watching and listening, and so is our Lord. Now I can already hear the chorus of denominational pundits, theological advocates, and their inevitable and perhaps appropriate questions. What are the limits, and where do we draw the lines, and the appropriate boundaries? Now these are legitimate questions, after all, we do know that the devil is out to deceive, misguide, and destroy the very elect. Let me suggest a very non-original idea—the Bible. That which clearly divides between the truth and a lie. Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 3:16,17; All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction, in righteousness: That the person of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Is this not our ultimate goal and responsibility as Christians? To believe the right thing, to teach others the right thing, and to LOVINGLY correct others when they believe things that are contrary to the Gospel. The walk of faith, lest we forget, is a process, my friends. We are to grow, learn, and overcome. The disciples themselves were far from perfect, in fact, even abandoning the Lord when His greatest challenge confronted Him. But here is the good news, they grew and matured in the things of God and literally changed the world. All of this took time, though. God has been, and continues to be long suffering to all of us. Why can’t we offer others the same grace to grow and learn? If you want God to sit on the mercy seat for you, make sure you sit on the mercy seat for others.

WE SHOULD NEVER USE THE BIBLE

AS A WEAPON

I want to offer a disclaimer, if you will, to all my theologically gifted and talented brothers and sisters. This book is not meant to be a new presentation of theological thought, argument or insight. While I consider all of these things important to the overall cause of Christ, I find that in the hands of some, they have been used inappropriately as weapons of division, pride, and judgment against people who believe something slightly different than they do. For some inexplicable reason, we seem to be unable to humbly declare what we believe, or where we stand on any given theological issue without feeling the need to put someone else down or question their salvation.

THE GRAY AREA ALSO BELONGS TO GOD

The Bible is very good at telling us many things straight out when it wants to, but many things do fall into a gray area that leaves room for interpretation, application, and personal conviction. And yes, I know that is what opens the