humility

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Be the Joneses

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There is a saying that more people read the Christian than read the Bible ... or something to that effect.  The reality is that, for many non-believers, the ways of their Christian friends are the main source of initial knowledge about Christianity and its impacts.  We can't expect that they are just waltzing into the library and picking up the Bible to explore.  In most instances, they are studying us first!

So does this mean that we are supposed to be perfect all of the time?  Do you feel a bit of stress at the thought that others judge Christianity by your actions?  Well, don't be stressed.  It is important to know that we are on display, and others are watching us to see if Christianity is real or just a show.  But it is also important to know that we will never be perfect.  What we want to be is different!

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Easier Said than Done

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"And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”  Disheartened by the saying, the man went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 

And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”  And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?”  Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” "

This message in the book of Mark is powerful.  At first, the message seems to be an Occupy Wall Street style rebuke of the wealthy.  But, the last couple of lines are key.  

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It Takes More than Sunday Church

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n my recent review of J.C. Ryle's Thoughts for Young Men, I noted how effectively Ryle advised that it is not enough to merely know of Jesus, you must know his mercy, grace, and power.  I can speak for many when I note that I sat in churches for decades thinking that attendance was what I needed to do to cover my spiritual bases.  If I showed up, I would make it.  If only I had read Ryle's additional commentary:

"...if you think the mere carrying of your body to a certain building, at certain times, on a certain day of the week, will make you a Christian, and prepare you to meet God, I tell you flatly you are miserably deceived."

The truth is that it is not about our actions, it is about our relationship with Christ.  I find that Churches today are not spending enough time focusing on the nature and dynamic of our human to Christ relationship.  

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Can I Get a Little Help?

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Once you really see yourself for how you have been, and see the person you are designed to become, the real action starts!  "Being yourself" is about living what you have come to understand as your designed way of being.  We are meant to be humble, selfless, and giving towards others.  What does this mean?  It means no longer pursuing happiness in the search of what we call the deep idols: (1) power, (2) acceptance from others, (3) comfort, and (4) control.  These deep idols were critical items to many of us, until we came to understand that they are fleeting and ultimately lead to misery.

Living a humble, selfless life is tough stuff.  It is clear to me that I am completely unable to do this on my own.  I need more than a little help ... I need a lot of help to live my life in this way.