Christlike - Part 2
So back to square one. What is being “Christlike?”
Initially, when a persons’ lifestyle or stated purpose is not Godly, then the proper “Christlike” thing to do is correction in an equitable manner. Loving the lost is done with Bible based logic. That means one has to look past the error to the person and separate the two. But this does not always show a social “loving” attitude as the new era believers are want to do in their definition of Christlike.
The authors of the Books of the Bible are writing to and for believers and for those that seek truth, having an interest in for God. The Old Testament is more historical for correction while the New Testament is for the present, not the “present times” during which they were written, but for the present times of every age. And each Testament has a purpose, Galatians 2:24; 1 Corinthians 2:12.
We find the New Testament writers were and are also talking indirectly to unbelievers of any age or time since they are always listening and watching. Even in their expressed strong disapproval of Christ, unbelievers are subjected to these writings in order to find fault.
Then, too, some books of the New Testament open with a note to a specific person such as Theophilus in the Book of Acts. A few open with no designate leading us to the conclusion it is written to all people that chose to hear or read it, such as John. But most books of the New Testament open with a salutation to the believers such as with the Book of Romans. And all were written for the uplifting of the believers and the conversion of the unbelievers.
The writers wrote the words of God, not human thoughts and interests as we see in the new versions of the Bible. The writers are talking directly to believers, the Church, reminding us of Jesus and His many words through and to His apostles. He speaks to the entire Church, which is all of us believers, of any denomination where the proper foundation is found in the words of Jesus Himself.
Jesus’ messages in John, specifically in His last lessons found in the chapters of John 13 through 17, are not just for the Apostles, but for us as well, today. We must remember that what He taught the Apostles was not one time lesson for the moment, but issues they were to address in themselves as well as to teach to others. We, today, are the “continuing others.” Time and teachers can not change the true message. And more, Jesus words are available to the world in its entirety, saved and unsaved.
In the many passages and dissertations of the Gospels, Jesus tells us all we are to love the believer and unbeliever alike. But we seem to miss an important item by this “misunderstanding.” What is love?
One is to basically love one and another for the sake of Christ and their salvation. But once the person is brought into the family of God through Jesus Christ, the type of love changes. It becomes a greater love with greater restraints, and yet greater required actions.
We “love” the unbeliever with a brotherly, social love (phileo) because that is our mission. How else are we to bring them into the family of God, Mark 16:15. And this can only be done by purposed individual interaction. But, as to their unGodly works, we are to have no part, nor are we to defend their works or those that are a part of it. And this is not a judgement. This is the Christian ethic addressed in 1st Corinthians 10 directly.