THE CHALLENGE OF LIVING A CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE
Most called Christians answer the name but are far from the deeds. We seem to say we are followers of Christ but are struggling with living the life of Christ. Its a common experience; a real challenge to live the life of Christ in our multicultural society with numerous religions. Christian life is a way different from worldly living; infact, it is the opposite and there is no middle point. We are either believers or unbelievers. Some seem to say we are now living under grace and no longer under the law. Thats true in its entirety. However, what they need to understand is that the grace demands more holiness and righteousness than the laws. Jesus taught His disciples, you have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemies (the law) but I say to you, love your enemies (the grace) [Matthew 5:43-44]. Do you see what I mean! Jesus is here talking about the grace; the difficult part is to love your enemies not your friends.
Again, under the law you must commit physical murder, before charged with murder but under the grace physical murder may not be necessary. You become a murderer if you hate your brother or sister or the least of the people you do not even like [1 John 3:15; 4:20-21]. You can kill someone through gossips, slander, etc. Under the law, you have to commit physical adultery or fornication before you can be accused of such sin but under the grace, if you look at an opposite sex (or even same sex) lustfully, you have already sinned. Also idolatry does not only mean bowing down and worshiping idols in a native doctors shrine, it includes uncircumcised heart, filthy mind, greed, hates, covetousness, grudges and every type of sins of the mind. It is glaring that grace demands more purity than the laws. It becomes more challenging to live our faith under grace.
This brings to mind an abstract I read from Our Daily Bread of January 22, 2011, titled Upside down and it read, But I have to admit at times following Him is a real challenge. He tells me to do things like rejoice when Im persecuted [Matthew 5:11-12]; to turn the other check [vs. 38-39]; to give someone who wants to take from me [vs. 40-42]; to love my enemies, bless those who curse me and do good unto those who curse me, and do good to those who hate me [vs. 43-44]. Jesus was instructing His disciples on the implications of being His follower and living the Christian lifestyle. These things are naturally impossible for the human mind but a requirement for living our faith.
We like to see ourselves as sinners, condemned and worthless even saved believers are fond of all have sinned and come short of Gods glory but grace tells us that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (not because of anything we did or shall do). Christ died for us and paid in full for all our sins. Its our nature to receive and hoard but grace says it is better to give than receive. The law can make you give as a show off and to anchor your pride but grace require giving out of love, when its not convenient and painful. Thats why the saying, you can give without love but cannot love without giving. As we watch over, our sidewalks are full of people scrambling and rushing to the next point. This is the broad way but Jesus said, Enter by the narrow gate because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to eternal life and there are few who finds it [Matthew 7:13-14]. In our world, we observe that we love those who love us and hate those who hate us; give to those who give us. We establish Churches for the interest of members, and care little or nothing about non-members, lost souls and less-privileged.
It is becoming glaring now that Gods way is not upside down but we are. We do not desire to observe laws or obey His commandments and follow Gods tenets of faith but make our own laws to suit our purposes. We are, when we decide to follow the wide road instead of the narrow path; when we hate our enemies instead of loving them. We are, when we fence our churches against outsiders, the poor and non-members. We like to love in words and tongues but our calling is to love in actions. Our ways are screwed up not Gods. Thats why we are called to repent [turn around] and believe the gospel [Good News]. This simply turn around brings us into a living reality life in Christ. And this is His commands: to believe in the name of his son, Jesus Christ and to love one another as He commands us [1John 3:23]. Those who obey His commands live in Him and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us. We know it by the Spirit He gave us [vs. 24]. This is how you know and recognize the Spirit of God. Every Spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God [1 John 4:2-3].
This kind of lifestyle seems very upside down to me; I do not know about you. Pause a little bit: is the lifestyle upside down or we are? Mankind is the one who screwed up since the days of Adam. We disobeyed God and followed the dictate of a fallen angel whose pride and selfish ambition made him plan to over throw God in heaven. Determined not to spend a life long suffering alone in hell, he has been busy beguiling people. Adam and Eve were ashamed of their disobedience and went into hiding. Not giving up, God chased them and found them. Yet the second Adam, Jesus Christ passed the test and humbled himself before God and won Gods greatest crown, by behaving like God died for his enemies. Even when they spit on His face and crucified Him on the cross, He prayed for them. Prayer becomes the best response to spiritual opposition and hatred. Indeed, the recipe our enemies need is not hate but love; in love pray for them. This is the way of Christ. As followers of Christ, we are required to live His ways.
Reach: Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill @weefreeministries.org or P.O. Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272.