BEN F. VICK, JR.
The lifting up of Christ is the greatest need in the world today. Another way this can be done is by a denial of one’s self. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matt. 16:24.) To deny one’s self means to disregard “one’s own interests.” (Vines, p. 292.) Of course this does not mean we should neglect our own salvation. (Acts 2:40; Phil. 2:12.) But we are living in troubled times when men are “lovers of their own selves.” (II Tim. 3:1-2.) The world says, “After me, you’re first.” It is the “me-generation” and people put on “Us-Festivals” for the enjoyment of their own pleasure. Let us remember that Christ did not come to this earth to please himself. “For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.” (Rom. 15:3.)
Even within the church of Christ there needs to be a refocusing on Matthew 16:24. Selfishness leads to envy; envy to strife; strife to division. (I Cor. 3:1-5.) The exalting of self means to lower the Christ from his high and lofty place. When self is placed in the forefront, Christ is removed to the background. Every member of the Lord’s body is obligated to hide behind the cross of Calvary. Paul wrote, “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” (II Cor. 4:5.) We are all servants for Jesus’ sake. We are brethren and share the same relationship one toward another and to Christ. Those who love their titles and degrees tacked to their articles and/or books and encourage the church to subscribe to or buy them are no better than those the Lord condemned in Matt. 23:5-12. What is the purpose of advertising one’s attainments? Is it to show one’s qualifications? If it be so, why not let the author’s work be proof enough? Jesus said, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased.” (Matt. 23:12.)
In Revelation 4:9-11 the beloved apostle wrote, “And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Through worship the twenty four elders honoured and exalted the Christ.
We too, through our worship, can lift up the Christ. The songs we sing should be praiseworthy, considering the preeminence of the Christ. (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16.) The expressions of our hearts to God in prayer should lift up the Christ. Jesus, in teaching his disciples how to pray, said, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name…” (Matt. 6:9.) We can elevate Christ by the use of the solemn pronouns rather than the common, everyday, street pronouns. In partaking the Lord’s supper we can lift up the Christ by taking our minds back to the trials and death of Christ on the cross. (I Cor. 11:17-34.) Christ is lifted up in our preaching when the truth is preached and all listen attentively. (Jn. 8:32; 17:17.) Christ is exalted when all give as the New Testament directs. (I Cor. 16:1-2; II Cor. 9:6-7.)
To lift up the Christ means to spread the gospel and stand for the truth. Jesus commands us, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mk. 16:15.) It is not lifting up the Christ for congregations to sit on large sums of money while thousands of people are dying unprepared to meet God. The church is not in the banking business. “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion.” (Amos 6:1.) Also, it is impossible to spread the gospel and not defend the truth. The apostle Paul, in spreading the gospel, had to defend the truth on many occasions. (Acts 19:8, 9.) Those who think they can do the former without the latter will stand for nothing and fall for everything. Paul said, “I am set for the defense of the gospel.” It is not possible to put the pure in until the impure is removed. (Jer. 1:10.)
Jesus Christ is honored and exalted when he is reverenced and respected in the hearts and lives of Christians. Jesus is “the light of the world.” (Jn. 9:5.) He is the source of light. The Master Teacher, in his sermon on the mount, said, “Ye are the light of the world.” Thus, in a sense, he is the source of light and we are reflectors of that light. Now the question comes to you and me, “What kind of reflector am I?” Those in the world receive either a dim or bright view of Christ by seeing his reflection in us. Jesus exhorts us, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16.) The apostle Paul adds, “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” (Phil. 2:15.) How do you suppose the world views Christ when we are seen faithful in attendance, visiting the sick, teaching the gospel to others, etc.? Such lives do lift up the Christ in the eyes of the world.
Many other ways might be considered in lifting up the Christ. But these are enough for now. Remember: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.” (Rev. 5:12.) Brethren, let us lift up the Christ.
—The Informer
Vol. 35, No. 46. Oct. 3, 1982