Focus: The Peculiarity of the Church

Text: Phil.3:20

"For our CONVERSATION is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ."

Jesus Christ makes clear to us that we are IN the world, but NOT of the world. We are in the world for a divine mission. The world is only our workplace, and God has called us to holy worldliness. We are a colony of heaven in the earth. The word 'conversation' in our text is 'politeuma' in the Greek. It has to do with 'political affinity,' 'community,' or 'citizenship.' Believers are members of a heavenly community located on planet earth. We believe and behave differently from the world around us. We think and talk differently. We have a different view of things and live by a different value system. We conduct our earthly affairs in line with our heavenly constitution. We do not play the world's kind of politics. Russell Moore was right to say that "if God's way upsets our political alliances, let's crucify our political alliances." We are not in league with any nation on earth. We are solely in alignment with Biblical truth, social justice and global peace.

The church is a unique entity in this world. Peter says, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" (1Pet.2:9). In all ramifications we are different. Our allegiance is primarily to Christ. Allegiance to one's country or nationality is only secondary. Peter says, "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Act.5:29). We take Christ into every facet of our earthly life. We pray not only for the peace and prosperity of Israel, but also for global peace. We do not side one nation against another nation. Our assignment is from Christ, and it has to do with the salvation of the souls of men.

Saul was a terrorist who became Paul the preacher of the gospel of Christ. There's no man that God cannot change and no sinner that He cannot save.

The church is not like any other organization or institution. The church is a unique body on earth with Christ as her head. We are light and salt. We are Christ's witnesses and our mission is to win souls for Him. Let's carry in our consciousness the fact that we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, and a peculiar people. Our sole role is to show forth the praises of our only deliverer - Jesus Christ. We are a peculiar people with a peculiar destiny. Let's face it. Let's be it. Let's do it.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter