As Americans, we live lives of relative ease. Even in our current economic state, we can see that we have much more than a large portion of the world. Perhaps the tragedy in Haiti has brought this fact to the attention of some. The comfortable, yet busy, lives we live allow us to place our trust in ourselves. We don’t really need God. Therefore, it would seem that many “Christians” have an extremely small view of God. I understand this because I spent the majority of my life thinking of Him as some distant being who exists for the purpose of granting or denying applications to heaven and to keep my family safe as they travel. A deeper look into Christianity exposes a vision of God that is much greater than this limited, and quite frankly, insulting view of Him. In his book Crazy Love, pastor Francis Chan encourages Christians to see that God - creator of the vastness of the universe, and the infinitely minute details in nature - desires to have a close, personal relationship with us. In light of this, how can one continue to live a "normal" life, which shows no interest in this offer, while carrying the label "Christian?"
In Matthew 22: 37-40, Jesus gives us ALL the requirements for gaining not only eternal life, but also the best possible life we can live on this earth. When asked what the most important commandment was 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.”
This passage communicates a couple key ideas. First, how can one love God without knowing Him? It is impossible to experience meaningful love without an intimate relationship. This means that Christians must be diligently seeking to know God more intimately if they are to love him with everything. The second thing I notice is what separates Christianity from the rest of the world. Jesus says to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Here lies much of the appeal of the Christian faith, should this point be put into practice. A Christian must learn to love other people just as much as they love themselves. This is how God is represented to the world.
Notice that what Jesus says is a commandment, not a passing recommendation. It is mandatory that Christians love God with everything if following Him. So, what is love? Aristotle defined love as “doing kindnesses; doing them unasked; and not proclaiming the fact when they are done." This definition clearly states that the person possessing love will do things to show it. Aquinas expanded on Aristotle’s definition, using the term agape, by expressing the paternal love that Christians receive from God and reciprocate. Christians should be living a life defined by love. Shouldn’t this love for God, then, be noticeable to spectators?
This current life is short and fragile. Most have had someone close to them taken away prior to reaching old age. Someday we will all be six feet deep and no one will care how well dressed or popular we were. This reality should prompt a paradigm shift, causing Christians to live lives that count for something important - something that doesn't die with their bodies.
Works Cited
Chan, Francis. Crazy Love. 1st ed. Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2008. 25-28. Print.
“Philosophy of Love,” by Alexander Moseley, The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, http://www.iep.utm.edu/love/
Zondervan NIV The Quest Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994. Print.
I would like to point out that you, as a young kid, didn't believe as you do now, just as you did people change as they learn more about themselves and what they believe in. I don't think that this is insulting to God at all, he has a plan for you and it may be to educate others about what you used to believe in and how you came about to believe what you do now.
ReplyDeleteOne other thing I want to comment on was on the First Commandment, it quotes "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This doesn't suggest that you have to publicize your love for him, you just must love Him with all your heart and all your soul. You can do this in the privacy of your home, you shouldn't have to show the entire world about your relationship, it is one between God and yourself, no one else needs to be involved.
In a sense you make a valid point regarding how our perceptions of God change as we grow in our relationship with Him. Although I maintain that this is an insulting view of God, I do concede that the purpose of grace - God's willing forgiveness of us based the gift of GOD'S SON for our sins - is to erase this error from our records. God will willingly forgive us every time we "mess up"; however, here in America, everyone has access to the Bible and therefore has no excuse for not knowing what is in it. Christians MUST be constantly growing in their relationship with, and knowledge of, the God they claim to serve.
ReplyDelete2 Peter 3:18 – "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…”
Your thought that Christians shouldn’t spread their faith to others directly contradicts a statement commonly known as “The Great Commission” among Christians. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands his disciples saying, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,…” In a recent CNN article discussing the controversy surrounding Tim Tebow’s Anti-Abortion Super Bowl Ad, CNN Political Analysis, Roland Martin addresses the Great Commission with, “The Christian faith calls on believers to spread the word of God. There is nothing wrong with that.” He goes on to call the critics analyze their opinions. “The criticism isn't unique. For many folks, they would rather Christians treat their faith like a buffet: Take a little bit of this, a little bit of that, ignore this and that, and go on your merry way.” His message: Christians! Believe what you claim to believe!
I will most definitely concede to you that there are different roles that Christians play in the process of spreading the gospel. Some Christians, who are poor speakers, or uneducated in their faith, should not be responsible for spreading the gospel. They typically do more damage to the cause than good.
Works Cited
Martin, Roland. “Nothing Wrong with Tebow Super Bowl Ad.” CNN Opinion. 06 Feb 2010. CNN.com, Web 8 Feb 2010.
Zondervan NIV The Quest Study Bible
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994. Print.
I would like to say that I believe both of you are correct. As children, we are highly uneducated on everything and anything, even though we would like to believe that we know everything. And as you both mentioned, we learn more about God as we grow in our faith. Just like with the life, the older we get, the more we know. If a person asks another person to drive a car at the age of 8, that would be rediculous, but as we get older, we start taking classes on how to drive a car and that gaining experience when we actually do drive a car. Now I am not saying that learning about faith and God is like driving a car, that again would be rediculous, but in a way the process is the same.
ReplyDeleteAn 8 year old would not, and should not, be able to explain the power and love of God. Even an 88 year old might not be able to explain the power and love of God. However, just like driving a car, the more we read the Bible or talk to people about the Word of the Lord, the more we are able to know.