Friday, February 20, 2015
What does it mean to actually practice Christianity?
This question has been stirring me for years now. Matthew 23 is probably a great place to really examine this question. First, before you continue reading this post I challenge you to go and read Matthew 23. I feel like I have personally justified my own actions and way of living by following our "standards" we set as our guidelines. I am growing continually uneasy, however, that I may be becoming a Pharisee myself. It seems that I condemn others to hell if they do not replicate my understanding of being a Christian. I have been guilty of judging others because they do not follow the "standards" of their local assembly. Woe to me! I pray that my understanding and wisdom grows, but I pray my grace and love and patience grow also. 1 Corinthians 13 convicts me to assess my life and my actions and my motives. Have I been been guilty of not loving? And you may say, "Love, love, love, all I ever hear is just love", and you may judge those who preach love. We accuse others of being "wishy-washy" by preaching love above all else. Now, there be some truth in our accusations, BUT, what is THE greatest commandment? Jesus said LOVE the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Furthermore, Jesus continued on to say that we must LOVE our neighbour (friends, co-worker, family, acquaintances, enemy) as we love ourself?!?! Surely he must not have meant that? Surely Jesus meant to live our lives by a set of rules and condemn others who don't abide by them! NO! Jesus did not say that. Jesus said if we keep these two commandments that all the other laws are fulfilled. We are fulfilling all the laws by only loving others (Romans 13:8-10). So, I again pose the question to myself and to you, "what does it mean to actually practice Christianity?". The answer is simple but the action, especially the second part can be hard, love God, and love people. I challenge you and I to practice being a Christian today. I challenge us to stop judging others and to try loving them instead. I wonder what might happen if we could change our ways...
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As the apostle Paul said, "We can be sure that by works of law no one will be justified." Also, it seems to me that when the Jews were heatedly debating what things Gentile converts had to observe they said, "It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements..." They had perhaps four requirements. Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." We must be careful not to add to the burden with our own ideas of what is necessary. Good post, brother.
ReplyDeleteThe Moose (Joel)
Well said, brother. I do not wish to add to your burden, however, I wish you would join me in this world of blogging. I feel as though I am a lone wolf of blogging, and that should not be so. Be about your Fathers business.
DeleteNic, I am looking forward to following your thoughts as you share them here; good work!
ReplyDeleteIt is clear from Jesus' teaching that love is the impetus for all things pertaining to godliness; whether toward God or others, love must be the basis for relationship and service.
Of all, first things must remain first, and Jesus plainly made the love for God our first commandment - and whole-person love at that, spirit, soul, mind and body. Elsewhere, he elaborated on that point to say, "if ye love me, keep my commandments" (Jn. 14:15), and, "ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (Jn. 15:13).
In the present milieu of postmodern deconstruction, many Christians are tempted to scrub Christian love - especially love for God - of any submission and obedience to his ways. That is a false dichotomy.
It was in Matthew 23, as a matter of fact, that Jesus told the (dreaded) Pharisees that they ought to have attended the weightier matters without neglecting the others they were concerned with.
Love entails obedience to God's ways. I would add that church standards are applications of God's principles - at times explicit, other times more implicit - in the best way we can to our contemporary situation. Of course, these vary to some degree for a number of reasons that can be elucidated elsewhere, and Christian love should cover the variances. Still, and importantly, the principle of love for God is the motivation for them.
As we strive for authentic Christianity, it is important that we speak of love in its Christian context - which is obedience to God's word and ways. Of course, this begins within; it also works its way out. We must keep it balanced. In our haste to abandon the error of the legalists, too many in our generation are rushing into the error of the antinomians. Neither error is right or healthy.
Good writing, my friend! I look forward to interacting with you here.
PS: I agree; I believe you have matured much. For what it's worth, I'm proud of you!
David Holmes