Building bridges between inside and outside

“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4: 5–6). This was the Bible text on which the Chief Apostle based his divine service in Dieburg (Germany) on 25 February 2018.

Inside and outside: by definition

It should be clear that when we are talking about outside and inside, we are not talking about New Apostolics and all the others, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider said. “What is meant is clearly defined in the Catechism: the church of Christ. We are not talking about the New Apostolic Church. Nor are we talking about the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, or the Protestant Church, nor even the sum total of all of these churches.”

“Christendom defines the church of Christ as the fellowship of the baptised who believe in Jesus Christ and profess Him as their Lord.” Only in this light can we begin to examine who is inside and who is outside. “If someone is not baptised, it is quite obvious, but in other cases we must be careful,” the Chief Apostle said, and added: “Only God can assess the sincerity of faith.”

Acting wisely

“We have merely established that there are many around the world who are outside because they no longer believe in Jesus Christ,” he continued. “Now to our Bible text: ‘Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside.’ What is this wisdom? I am going to mention a few aspects.”

• Do not allow yourself to be unsettled. “Whether the majority of people consider the teaching of Jesus Christ true or not does not call the truth of the gospel into question. The fact that many people are of the opinion that they do not need the fellowship of the faithful does not question the importance of the church of Christ for salvation. Jesus said: ‘The word of God stands forever. The gates of Hades shall not prevail over the church of Christ.’”
• Do not allow yourself to be influenced. “We have recognised the truth of the gospel and do the will of God. The number of those who are faithful to Him has absolutely no bearing on our faithfulness.”
• Do not regard those outside as the enemy. “Even if many people today are outside of the church of Christ, God does not see them as opponents. Jesus Christ wants to win them for Himself with His love. It is the mission of the church of Christ to give them the opportunity to experience this love and get to know Jesus Christ.”
• Setting an example in the mind and spirit of Christ. “In the church of Christ people serve Jesus Christ. They treat each other with love, strengthen and serve one another with their gifts, and are united. They are one body: the body of Christ. This is the sign by which the effectiveness of the Holy Spirit can be identified.”
• Doing what we expect of others. “We do not treat those who are outside like they treat us. We treat them as Jesus Christ treats them.”

Friendly conversation

“We do not patronise others,” Chief Apostle Schneider said. “We know very well that we are here only by grace. We are not better than others. Whether inside or outside, we live by the grace of Jesus Christ.”

“Let us have very normal conversations in everyday life,” he said in conclusion. “But let us also season them with the salt of the gospel so that the people realise: they have special experience, they have special confidence and joy. This acts like a magnet!”

In conclusion the Chief Apostle said: “Let us not waste time thinking about who is outside or inside. Let us strive for this wisdom and speak as we have heard. This will have a positive effect on those who are outside and will help them find the way to Jesus. That is our mission.”