What It Means To Be A Christian (e)
Jim Davis
Amidst our space age technology, millions are searching for meaning. Very few are finding it. Humanity has always sought fulfillment through knowledge, materialism, power and pleasure. Solomon explored these avenues and concluded, "All is vanity and a striving after the wind." (Ecclesiastes 2:11)
This is not to say that there is not a certain amount of joy to be had through an accumulation of knowledge, wealth, pleasure and power. It is not to say that there is no pleasure in the physical world. But if one or more of these areas become the chief goal in life, one is destined for disappointment. There is a legitimate place for each, but not as the central focal point of our lives.
If one is to find meaning and direction for living, one must understand that a meaningful life is bound up in relationships. A relationship with God, with one's neighbor, a healthy relationship with self and the material world.
The primary focus of Christianity is relationships. It has to do with a relationship with God, with one's neighbor, and with God's creation.
Life Is Unavoidably Tied to God
Psalms 139:7-14
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (NIV)The Psalmist recognizes that there is no getting away from God. You could take a spaceship and travel 3 billion miles into outer space and God would be there.
It is when we lose sight of God that real trouble begins. This is seen as early as Eden. Notice the quality of relationship that Adam sustained with God, his wife, with the created physical world and ultimately with himself. They were both naked and knew it not, even as they walked and talked with God. When sin entered into the garden, flourishing relationships wilted through shame and pain.
Read Paul's description of the Gentile world, which had forgotten God.
Romans 1:20-32
It is little wonder that Jesus pointed out that a relationship with God was the first and greatest commandment.
Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (NIV)The word "salvation" in its broadest sense means to bring to wholeness. It's interchangeable with the word healing. We read, "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick." (James 5:15 KJV) The same Greek word rendered save here is translated heal elsewhere. The NIV says, "Will make the sick person well."
Jesus said, "Behold I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice, and open the door . . . " (Revelation 3:20) When we open that door Jesus enters not as an intruder to an already ordered life, but as one who desires to help us bring about wholeness to our lives -- to our relationships -- to give meaning and wholeness to life.
In the word salvation, I see the word salvage. I see God salvaging Peter's life in order to bring about wholeness. Jesus told him "come and I will make you a fisher of men." (Luke 5:1-11) Peter started becoming what Jesus saw in him that day.
God wants us to become what he sees in us. I come to God just as I am. But I come for the purpose of becoming what God sees in me. There lies the secret to every meaningful relationship, and ultimately to a meaningful life.
The amazing thing is that God takes the initiative in the relationship by guaranteeing us that no matter what we have done his love is constant. When he forgives us, there will be no bitter taste left in his mouth. He promises us that we will be totally accepted without reservation. He guarantees us that no matter how miserably we fail or how blatantly we sin, unreserved forgiveness is ours for the asking.
The beauty of it all is that God has made us accepted in the beloved.
Ephesians 1:4-6
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (KJV)Ephesians 2:4-9
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. (NIV)A Relationship with God Affects All Our Personal Relationships
Once we have a relationship with God, there is no way that fellowship can be maintained apart from a relationship with our neighbors. If we breathe in air, we must exhale it in order to live. The same is true with our relationship with God. It is impossible to take God in without allowing him to affect every earthly relationship.
I John 3:16-17
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? (NIV)In John's passage above, we see a relationship with Christ affecting one's relationship with material possessions and one's fellowman.
Jesus demonstrated this principle in his own life. He took God in and manifested him to the world. Philip came to Jesus asking to see God. Jesus said, "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father." (John 14:1-9) Christ demonstrated God's willingness to serve humanity. He came to serve, not to be served. (Matthew 20:28) That is why we see God on his knees in the upper room washing the disciples feet, even the feet of the one about to betray him. You see God talking to the Samaritan woman who had been married five times and is now shacked up the sixth man in her life. That is why you see God at the house of Levi, the publican. (Luke 5:27-31)
Luke 5:27-32
And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (KJV)That is why you see God at the temple teaching the hypocrite.
This world leads us to love when we are loved. Even when we extend love, we expect it to be reciprocated. Too often, we look for what a relationship has to offer as we network our way through humanity. However, God's order of things is much different. God is focused on what he has to offer us. That was Jesus' mentality also. He is looking to help us reach our God-given potential. He wants to help us see what God sees in us, something of worth and value to a world which he created. God desires to enter our lives to make us whole.
God's kingdom love is much different from worldly love. It is something that operates independent of how we feel. In God's kingdom we first love. That love is the guiding force as we get acquainted. In the world, we first get acquainted and then decide if the person is worth loving. Most people have a few friends and many acquaintances but are starving for love.
When we have a relationship with God, our relationship with our fellowman takes on new meaning. We begin to look at others as God looks at us. It is then that we can begin to help others discover what God sees in them.
A Changed Relationship with Our World
Nothing changes our world view more dramatically than a relationship with God. It gives life a renewed meaning. Christianity does not isolate us from our world. Jesus said, " . . . I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them . . . my prayer is not that you would take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one." (John 17:13,15)
Isolation is not the answer. It is making God the center of our universe that makes the difference. It is great that God has given us intelligence. Man is literally searching the far reaches of the universe for knowledge. But it is God that gives meaning to life. Jesus said, " . . . the only true knowledge is to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3 KJV)
Philosophers have sought to change our worldview. Yet, it is Christ revelation of God through himself that overshadowed all the sages of the past. Aristotle, Plato and Socrates pale into insignificance in shadow. The knowledge of God through his Son continues to overshadow all the philosophies since his coming.
We find ourselves studying psychology, monkeys, fish, reptiles, etc., in an effort to gain a better understanding of self. But the knowledge of God is the key to us understanding and knowing self and our world.
Philippians 3:7-11
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. (NIV)A Changed Relationship with Ourselves
God has placed within each of us something much like a homing device to direct our thoughts toward our creator. And from within us, he calls us to work with him in making our lives, our relationships and our world what he intended them to be.
But we must cooperate with God in establishing his kingdom within our hearts, in all of our affairs, all of our personal relationships and our society.
It really matters little how much we accomplish during the years of our existence, because unless we have a relationship with God through Christ nothing else really matters. We must seek to do his will in all of life and test everything according to his purpose, in order to find healing and fulfillment.
It is in forming a right relationship with God, our fellowman and our world that we discover a relationship with ourselves. There is really no way to know oneself apart from God. There is no other way to discovering spiritual healing.
Conclusion:
God is asking us to give him our lives, relinquish control of our possessions and seek his will in all things.
This is what it means to be a Christian.!