7. The Christian Life
One might ask, “Now that I have made a commitment to the Christian life, what exactly does that mean?” Often when we teach someone and baptize them into Christ we fail to continue their teaching as we are instructed by Scripture to do (Matthew 28:18-20) and they are virtually abandoned to struggle on their own with very little support or guidance. Many probably feel it is the church’s responsibility to teach them through Sunday Bible classes and sermons. We need to wake up to two things. First, WE ARE THE CHURCH! THIS TEACHING IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY! Second, allowing that the new convert attends Sunday (morning and evening) and mid-week studies, they will get only around 2 1/2 hours of Bible a week. That’s around 125 hours a year if they never miss services. In the public school system, a first grader attends around thirty hours of class a week for thirty-six weeks. In one year a first grader gets around eleven hundred hours of classroom teaching. That means if a new convert never misses services, it will take around eight years to get a first grade education in Christianity. Adding the fact that these classes are often unrelated, poorly organized, and inadequately presented, it almost certainly will take much longer than that. It is little wonder that the church is not growing as it should. In this section of study we will briefly discuss some of the many facets of the Christian life.
1. Love
We are going to explore several words as they relate to the Christian mentality. We will begin with the word love (agape). The word agape (love) carries the idea of willing good towards or wanting the best for someone or something. The Christian is instructed to love God (Deuteronomy 6:5), neighbor (Leviticus 19:18), enemy (Matthew:43-44), good in general (Titus 1:8, Romans 12:9), and a host of other things. Since all things are tied to loving God and man (Matthew 22:36-40) we will discuss only these two aspects of the agape – type love.
A. Love of God.
We are to love God with all our heart and all our being. But Jesus tells us that loving God is tied directly to obedience (John 14:15,21,23). Recently I was talking with a “Christian” and he was explaining how much he loved God. I asked him why he never attended worship and he said he had to work. Now it is my opinion that a real man would love his wife and children more than he loves football, his car, his own health, or even his job. I also believe a real Christian man will love God more than all of these (including his family – Luke 14:25-27). A man who says he loves God and forsakes the assembly (Hebrews 10:25) fools only himself. So it is with all intentional sin (Hebrews 10:26-27). I cannot call Jesus my Lord and continue to disobey Him (Luke 6;46). My love is demonstrated by my obedience (I John 5:3). A life of disobedience is an offense to God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and will surely be punished in the day of judgment (Matthew 7:21-24, John 12:48-49).
B. Love of man.
Love of man requires sacrifice. Because I want the best for all mankind and because the best for someone is the salvation of his or her soul, I will sacrifice whatever it takes to share with them the gospel. Love of man will motivate the Christian to be consumed with a drive to evangelize as many as possible. It will become our passion and our reason for living, just as it did in the life of Paul (Philippians 1:23-24). The Christian life then, the life of love, is one of obedience to God and service to mankind so that as many as possible can be brought from darkness into the light.
2. Change
If one is to be a Christian then his life will be a life of change. As he learns about Christ and His church he will change spiritual families(from Satan’s family to God’s family), the way he acts, and the way he thinks. The first (change of family) stimulates all the other changes we experience. Let’s briefly look at these two areas of change.
A. Change of thinking.
The first change must be a change of heart. We call this repentance (at least in part). Basically this concept demands Godly sorrow for past sinful acts and a repulsion we experience at the presence of sin. As we mature spiritually, sin becomes more and more offensive to us. We hate it; we abhor it; we are sickened by it. This is not instantaneous at our baptism but a maturing of our minds as we walk with God. Don’t be so alarmed if this process is slower than you would like, just keep walking, walking with God.
But this change of mind is far more than just repentance (turning to go in a different direction). It is a change of focus. It is a change of desires. It is a change of mission and chosen destiny. It is a total metamorphosis of our mental processes and outlook. Mentally and emotionally we change. – who we are – our very nature – becomes the nature of a child of God.
B. Change of behavior.
As we begin to change our thinking, our behavior will begin to follow. You will do what your heart directs you to do (Proverbs 23:7). It is interesting, but as the change of heart continues so will the change of behavior. And as the change of behavior continues so will the change of heart. They effect each other. That’s why we are constantly being prompted in the Scriptures to both think and act properly. Consider the following scriptures:
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Philippians 4:8“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: 1 hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”
Psalm 101:3“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
I Corinthians 15:33“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”
Galatians 5:9“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
Psalm 1:1-2
As a final warning bad thoughts also effect our behavior and bad behavior effects our thoughts. We must remember, and never forget, that as the one goes, so goes the other, and we must guard against letting either (mind or body) focus on anything that will cause our spiritual destruction.
3. Morality
Morality has to do with having right ideals or proper principles of human conduct. These ideals are not established by the subjective values and reasoning of man but by the revealed will and objective values of God. With this in mind, we will view some very broad areas of morality which are important to the Christian perspective.
A. Humility and servitude.
Most people would not consider these to be moral qualities or issues. But they very certainly are. Our humility before God and our willingness to serve (God and His creation) effects how we relate to the carrying out in our lives the will of God. Our right ideals will help us center on that which is important (eternally) and not be consumed in things that ultimately do not matter. These moral qualities will help me resist the fleshly desires of my human appetites (alcohol, sexual immorality, drugs) and satisfy instead my hungering after righteousness (Matthew 5:6).
It is also the moral quality of humility which will help me not think more highly of myself than I ought (Romans 12:1-3). It will help me more fully appreciate my need for a savior because of my personal worthlessness (Luke 17:10). With this moral quality in my possession, I will not hurt others to build myself up; I will not gossip or ridicule someone to their detriment or destruction. Further, I will not let another person slander or bite and devour my brethren in my presence, knowing that this action is destructive and comes from a heart that is morally bankrupt (Galatians 5:13-16).
B. Honesty.
A moral necessity in the Christian life is honesty. Scripture says that all liars go to hell (Revelation 21:8). But more than that, Christianity is founded on integrity. Every promise (positive or negative) that God has made, He has kept. Whenever we say ”yes” or “no” as Christians it should offer to whomever we are speaking a surety it is true and correct (Matthew 5:37). If we are honest of character it will effect our entire lives. We will be faithful in all things because that is the promise we made to God. We will be faithful to our mates, children, friends, and all others because that is our moral make-up. One who is not honest will violate his word, God’s word, or anything else that serves his purpose. He will lie, cheat, steal, whatever, because he is morally bankrupt in the area of honesty. He will be of no value to God, his family, his friends, the church, or himself. Honesty is a moral necessity for one to have a successful Christian life.
There are many other areas of morality we might discuss. But in viewing these two areas, humility and honesty, we have in a small measure touched them all. If as Christians we can learn to be humble before God and honest in all we do, then our life as a Christian will surely lead us home to be with our God.
4. Commitment
Commitment is a key concern in the life of a Christian. Christianity (and commitment to it) must overshadow every area of our lives. We will look briefly at four areas where we need to concentrate of strengthening our commitment.
A. Study.
We really need to study and learn the word of God (II Timothy 2:15, Psalm 119;105). It is through God’s word and a proper understanding of that word that we may obtain salvation. Only if we study will we be able in life to make proper decisions. Discernment is the order of the day for the Christian. He looks for what God has said and accepts it readily. This knowledge of the scriptures guides his actions and makes him right before God (II Timothy 3:13-17).
B. Teaching.
Study is good and should be part of our on going life process. But somewhere we need also to become teachers (Hebrews 5:12). We teach others so they can teach others so they can teach others (II Timothy 2:2). This is the God – ordained way of spreading the word of God.
C. Evangelizing.
Well, I’m back to this issue again – the need to evangelize. I talk about it often because it is our mission. Christ commanded it (Mark 16:15-16) and the church did it (Acts 8:4) and that settles it. It is our mission. If I am to love the Christian life, I must be involved in evangelism. I can send someone; I can go myself; I can raise money; I can send tracts and correspondence courses. But I must do something towards my mission if I am to live the Christian life.
D. Application.
Commitment means application of the word of God to every aspect of my life. When I teach, I teach God’s word (I Peter 4:11). When I listen, I listen for God’s word (Psalm 139:23-24). When I live, I live God’s word (Colossians 3:17). Total commitment to my Christian life is the only thing that will satisfy God. I may lose my friends, family, job, health, even my life. But I will count none of these dearer to me than the will of my God (Acts 20:24). Only with this type of commitment can we please our Father in Heaven.