Doing Good - How Doing Good Will Change Your World, Part 1

Do you know what has the power to change your world?

I mean, the world around you, where you actually live, your neighborhood, your apartment, your community. I mean, where you work actually being transformed. If you want to know what actually works according to God, stay with us. That's today. Welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. The mission of these daily programs is to intentionally disciple Christians through the Bible teaching of Chip Ingram.

I'm Dave Drouy. Thanks for joining us as we near the end of our series, Doing Good, What Happens When Christians Live Like Christians. Now, as many of you know, we say that phrase a lot around here, because we know it's what actually makes a difference. We believe that when followers of Jesus sacrificially do good, it can radically change their families and communities. But this isn't a new idea, as we've been learning through Chip's study in the book of Titus, doing good has been a quality of authentic believers for centuries. So how can you be a Christian who really lives like a Christian?

Well, for that answer, turn in your Bibles to Titus chapter three, and let's join Chip for today's talk. When people do good, they change their world. And when we do good, we can change our world. When Christians act like Christians, people get loved, homes get healed, communities and neighborhoods get changed. And the Scripture says that when God's people do good, your world can actually be changed. When the apostle Paul wanted to sum up the very reason why Jesus came to earth, 1 Timothy 1.15, he said this, this is a trustworthy statement. It's a statement that deserves full agreement that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

And then I love his last line, of which I am the worst. The word to save there literally means to be delivered. Jesus Christ came to earth to deliver us and all men and all women and all children out of bondage and sin and slavery and all the bad stuff it creates, and to deliver us into a new life and a new relationship. So what has the power, let's get it down to where we live, what has the power to change your world, your neighborhood, where you work? Well, on the front of your notes, I'd like to suggest that there's three things. They're in the form of questions, and question number one is what has the power to convince your neighbors and friends and co-workers that God's word is true? I would say it's safe to say in our day that by and large in our culture, the Bible is no longer respected by many. Second question is what has the power to restore your credibility and influence as a follower of Christ?

We're viewed as judgmental, hypocritical, anti-intellectual. What has the power to change that? Third, what has the power to make your neighbors and your friends and your co-workers actually come to you and want to explore a relationship with Jesus Christ? Some of us don't even believe that's possible, but the answer to all three of those questions are very simple, and it's the exact same issue that was happening when the Apostle Paul spoke to this young pastor Titus, and he said there's these Christians on this island called Crete, and because of the immorality there, because of the weakness of the Christians and false teaching, they don't live like Christians, and Titus, here's what you've got to tell them. You tell them when they do good at home, when they do good at work, and when they do good in their communities, God's word will be honored, they will be respected, and their neighbors will see the difference in their life, and they will flock to them and want to know how their lives can change.

And so open your notes if you will. The question I want to ask and answer is what does it look like for Christians to live like Christians? More specifically, what's it look like for me and you to live like Christians in our community? Open your Bible, if you would, to Titus chapter three. If you skim up to chapter two you realize he's told older men how to live like Christians, he's told older women how to live like Christians, he said to younger men this is how you need to live like a Christian, younger women. And now he says in chapter three, remind the people, so this is for everyone, to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. So basically chapter one, here's how leaders need to live. Chapter two, here's how individuals need to live. Now chapter three, he says to all people, and you'll notice there's six specific things that will demonstrate that Jesus is alive, that he's true, that he loves people, and there's hope. And so notice in your notes here's what I did.

I just made a quick point from each one of those. You want to change your community? You want your neighbors to think about Christ differently? Number one, obey the law. So what he says, when he says be subject to rulers and authorities, and then he repeats it, be obedient. The context is we need to obey the law. We need to obey the laws that we agree with. We need to obey the laws that we disagree with. I mean every tax time, don't you just sit down and think, and especially those of us that itemize, you know this is sort of right on the gray area and I could or I couldn't and, and boy they waste so much of my money and, and some of you that have businesses where you have to decide whether you're going to declare or that cash that you receive or, but there's a lot of areas of obedience to the law.

And God says, here's the command, Romans 13, 7, render to all what is due them, speaking of the government, tax to whom tax is due, custom to who custom is due, fear to whom fear is due, and honor to whom honor is due. I don't know about you, but I, my heart breaks when I hear of people that have a very strong Christian testimony and then it's revealed sometime later that they break the law and they're completely discredited. One of my favorite coaches is Jim Tressel, Ohio State University, and I had the opportunity because we were at an event together and he was speaking and I was speaking and so I got to know him in the back room and had a very strong Christian testimony, wonderful guy. And if some of you sports fans know the story, a couple of his players were selling their jerseys and some things, memorabilia, for a few hundred dollars here and there. And NCAA rule, the rules, if a coach becomes aware of that he has to report it. And he was on a national championship run and it came to be known that he was aware of it and he didn't report it. And I'm sure there were parts of him that thought, you know, they're young kids, they're 20 years old, it's a crazy rule, but he's not the coach of Ohio State University anymore.

And I remember later reading an article by some commentators and other coaches, you know that Tressel, all he talked about was Christ and honor and kids and raising up young men. See, he's a liar like all the rest. See, we can't afford that.

We can't afford that. When I do my taxes, when I have these moments, here's what I have to think about. Is a few hundred dollars or a few thousand dollars or getting away with a little something, is that worth God's reputation and forfeiting the blessing of God? We want to change the world, number one, we have to obey the law. Number two, that little phrase, be ready to do whatever is good, serve your community. God expects His followers to make wherever they live, your neighborhood, your community, wherever we live, He says, you need to serve your community. The word means to be prepared and active to serve the welfare of your community. Galatians chapter 6 verse 10 says, so then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people. Let us do good to all people, and especially those who are the household of the faith. Because we've got to transform the world, and the way we transform the world is not by arguing with people, it's by obeying the law, it's by doing good and serving our community.

And third, we're to guard our tongue. Notice the phrase here, slander no one. Basically, refuse to be negative. Guard your words about other people.

Critical views, untested information. You may have strong political views, you may disagree with people, you may think the world's going to hell in the handbasket, but be very careful what you put on your Facebook. Be very careful what emails you pass on to people.

Be very careful in coffee shops how you speak about other people. Because your name isn't simply, in my case, Chip Ingram, it's Chip Ingram, son of the living God. And it's not just your reputation, it's his reputation. And we have been known for being so negative, and so harsh, and we pass on untested truth, and we attack.

And I got news for you, no one's heart is won that way. He says to this group in Crete, and says to us, obey the law, serve your community, guard your tongue. In fact, if you want a good test, a great verse to memorize.

All my children would say, they had to memorize this. Let no one wholesome word proceed out of your mouth. But only such a word as is good for edification or building up according to the need of moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. No putrid, no corrupt word comes out of your mouth, because they identify you not just with your job or your family, but as a follower of Christ.

And your words have the power for good and for evil. Fourth, he says, refuse to fight. It says be peaceable is how it's translated.

Literally the word is be a non-fighter. Yes, we're to take a stand on the truth, but we're to take a stand with grace. We're not in a cultural war. If I hear that one more time, we're not trying to win a cultural war, we're trying to win people's hearts.

We're trying to care about individual people. If you win people's hearts, and you love them, and you take a stand for truth, but you do it with a winsome and grace and concern, and you treat people with dignity even if you disagree with them, that's how the early church changed the world. That their culture was completely anti-God, but people just couldn't get over the fact that they were the people that helped the poor, they were the people that helped the lepers, they were the people that gave good for evil. Romans 12, 17, 18 says never, there's not a lot of room here, never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. Literally that word respect is consider, take into account. You don't have to agree with people, but they grew up and they've had experiences and they've been through some things, and this is how they look at life.

Respect what is right in the sight of all men, if possible, and it's not always possible, but it's possible so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. People who think so radically different than us need to meet someone like you that is a thinking, loving, kind Christian that actually believes in the Bible, that is bold about your spiritual experience, your life's been transformed, your commitment in your relationships, and you come to work and you do excellent work, and you can articulate your faith, and what they realize is you're not weird, you're not crazy, you're not angry, you're not harsh, you don't talk negatively, and they need to have a friend. People that strongly believe in abortion need to have a great Christian friend. Homosexuals in our community need to have a strong Christian friend. People who are just absolutely on the opposite end of the continuum of wherever you are politically, they need a strong Christian friend.

That's when the walls break down. This is what Jesus says. This is what Paul says to this young pastor.

This is how you turn around this immoral place called Crete. Fifth, be winsome and forbearing. The word means to be considerate, gentle, willing to yield one's rights. The opposite is don't be stubborn and insisting on your own way. It has the idea of not clinging to your rights.

We've gotten this idea that these are my rights, and this is how I view it, and you want a great example? Jot in your notes 1 Peter 2, 18 to 25. If anyone had the right to cling to their rights, it was Jesus. But Jesus understood it wasn't about changing the Roman Empire, it wasn't about him having his rights. It says he set an example for us, and he says to those Christians through Peter, what credit is there if you suffer for doing what's wrong? In other words, if you cheat, if you lie, if you steal and you suffer, what credit's that?

But if when you do what is right and suffer for it, are you ready? This finds favor with God. For Christ suffered and set for you an example that you might follow in his steps. And although he was reviled, he reviled not, but instead entrusted his soul to a faithful creator.

See, we don't get to have our rights. It was his power. Meekness is not weakness. Meekness is strength under control, the strength not to spew back, the strength not to retaliate, the strength not to say I've got to have my rights. That's the Spirit of God living inside believers who are following Christ. He says in James 3, 17, if you're wondering what's coming out of your mouth or your actions, if this is God's wisdom or the Spirit's wisdom, here's a picture of the Spirit's wisdom. James 3, 17, but the wisdom from above is first purer than peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering without hypocrisy. That's the litmus test for my attitudes when I quote forbear or put up with or am considerate in a very godless world. Finally, he says treat everyone like an VIP, very important person. He says show yourself humble to all men.

Would you circle the word all? I mean, do you realize how crazy this was in the Roman Empire? To a slave, treat everyone, all people.

I mean, that Roman guard, your master who has beat you, okay, treat all men with humility. And the reason I put like a VIP, like a very important person, is I remembered a story. It was a number of years ago. We were flying into Jakarta to do some ministry, and if you've ever traveled internationally and go to a really big city, here we are, and it's like getting through immigration. There had to be like 400 and some people, and I thought it's going to take as long to get through this line as it did to fly here. And it was like, and then there was this line that had a, you know, it said VIP, you know, no one's going in it, you know, a couple apparently important people.

And you know, I'm in the back with our team like this and thinking we're going to be here forever and ever and ever. And I saw this guy walking, and he had a sign with two things that rarely go together, VIP in the name Ingram, holding it up. And I'm thinking, gosh, I wonder what other Ingram was on this plane.

And I realized it was me. And our host in Indonesia was a retired general, General Mantiri. He was involved in the ministry and he was hosting us.

Well, I guess retired generals have a lot of pull. And I mean, I went through here and this man came and said, give me your passport, please. I gave him his passport. Don't worry about your luggage. Take care of this. He flashed it. I mean, and then we got in a car and the traffic there is like, you know, Mexico City or Manila.

I mean, like three days to get from one side of the city. We're in his car with his little flags. We start driving and everyone, the Red Sea parts. Now listen carefully. I was treated like a very important person because I was a friend of a general. And God says to me and He says to you, I want you to treat these people that I have created. And I want you to treat these people that whether they receive the gift or not, I believe that every person on the face of the earth was worthy of the price tag of the blood of my son Jesus. And so regardless of their color, regardless of their education, regardless if they're dirty, regardless if they're smelly, regardless if they're rich, regardless if they're poor, I want you to treat every person 24-7 like a very important person, whether they have the penthouse or whether they're the elevator operator, whether they're the person in front of McDonald's or the people that owns the McDonald's chain. I want you to treat everyone regardless of their political views, regardless of their lifestyles, regardless of how they live, regardless of how many tattoos or piercings they have or how many Rolex watches they wear. I want you to treat them as a very important person. And the Apostle Paul said when we do that, you'll change your community.

That's what we do. Christians who live like Christians in our community obey the law, serve their community, guard their tongue, refuse to fight, are winsome and forbearing, and they treat everyone like a VIP. You've been listening to part one of Chip's message, How Doing Good Will Change Your World. He'll be right back with his application for this teaching from his series, Doing Good, What Happens When Christians Live Like Christians?

The Bible teaches that we're saved by God's grace and by our faith in Him. So where does that leave doing good works? I mean, why does it matter how we interact with one another? Well, through Chip's teaching in the book of Titus, we'll learn how our decision to do good for another person is more than just a simple gesture. It's an opportunity to impact their life. Don't miss the easy ways you can practice doing good every day and how we can dramatically change our world for the better.

For more information about our resources for this series, go to livingontheedge.org or call 888-333-6003 or go to the Chip Ingram app. Chip's joined me in studio now, and Chip, you explained how doing good can really impact our entire society. And as we look around our world, we're in some desperate need for a whole lot of good, aren't we?

Absolutely, Dave. Wherever you go these days, it seems like you're either hearing bad news or conversations about bad news. The volume of information coming at us today is incredible, and unfortunately, a lot of that information is incorrect or it's drawing us away from the truth. As Christians, we know we have a cause. We have a hope in Christ that we know that our lives are meant to reflect Jesus in our world each and every day. Yet even as Christians, we're not immune to the impact of the discouraging messaging and anger and negativity that's coming at us day in and day out.

And here's the deal. If you are not fueling your heart and your mind with good things, if you're not studying biblical truth, if you're not connecting in community with other believers, if you're not learning what the Bible says about how to live as a Christian, in every circumstance, the hopelessness of this world is going to seep into your soul. It'll steal your joy, your peace, and your witness. So what should we do? Can I give you a couple suggestions? Number one, consume good, true, biblical content daily. Get up, meet with the Lord, renew your mind with His Word. Second, Living on the Edge is committed to teaching and discipleship. You'll find teaching on the radio, podcast app, daily Bible studies, small group resources, tools about family, identity, spiritual warfare, the character of God. We are absolutely committed to helping Christians live like Christians, and a big part of that is helping you renew your mind.

So let me ask you, if the Ministry of Living on the Edge has guided you, helped you, deepened your walk with God, would you consider prayerfully partnering with us? God is doing a great work in the midst of really challenging days, but we need your help. And right now is a great time, because from today through July 7th, every gift you give will be doubled dollar for dollar. Thanks for praying about it and then doing whatever God shows you.

Thanks, Chip. Well, if God has ministered to you through Living on the Edge and you want to get in on supporting us, now is the perfect time to join the team. Thanks to the generosity of a group of ministry partners, every gift we receive between now and July 7th will be doubled. To send a gift, you can either call us at 888-333-6003, that's 888-333-6003, or go to livingontheedge.org.

App listeners, just tap donate. Well, here again is Chip with some final thoughts from today's program. As we close today's program, you might be interested to know that what is taught in Titus had enormous impact in the first century and then the centuries to follow. And it was just a word to everyday people that, you know, treat everyone like a VIP. It was a word to say, don't judge anyone on the exterior.

It was a word that just cut through Roman culture and the world's values. And you know that it was these early Christians, they heard this, and to them it was, oh, this is God's will. And so you know what they did? They went out to the dump sites, and when babies were abandoned, they rescued them. When the great plagues came, instead of running to the mountains like everyone else did, at the cost of their life, they would nurse people back to health. They were the people that would walk in and even when martyred say, Father, forgive them.

They know not what they do. In only 300 years, the Roman Empire went from 12 followers of Jesus to 33 million out of the 60 million people in the Roman Empire by the time of Constantine. It was ordinary, regular goodness that changed the world. We can change our world one good deed at a time. Great word, Chip.

Thanks. Well, just before we close, our mission at Living on the Edge, as you've been hearing in this series, is to help Christians really live like Christians. And one of the best ways we can continue to do that is through programs like this one. So when you hear a message that's especially helpful, we hope you'll pass it on to others. You can easily do that through the Chip Ingram app or by forwarding the free MP3s from livingontheedge.org. And don't forget to include a note about how it made a difference in your life. Well, for Chip and everyone here, this is Dave Druey saying thanks for joining us for this Edition of Living on the Edge.