Taking the “IF” Out
The purpose of this piece, and frankly most of my writing, is to motivate us into living in a way that God intended when man was in the “garden”. Notice the operative word has to do with God’s intention for our lives, not man’s response. Man’s response is, of course, legendary and well documented.
Since the Christ doesn’t show up as fully man, fully God biblically for several millennia from the garden times, allow me the license in using the term Biblical Christianity even when citing Old Testament references.
I believe that Biblical Christianity is a lifestyle, again – intended from the start. It is a way in which God is honored. A way in which our relationship with God is our first joy. Our reverence, respect and behaviors always reflect that relationship. In our human condition, this is not easy. In fact, it wasn’t even easy when we were in the garden, was it?
While free will is very understandable from God’s perspective (I wrote thinking I knew something about God’s perspective), it sets up both the greatest challenge to living here as spiritual beings in a human body and the greatest joy for God as the Creator. Rather than compulsory worship of the Creator, our true worship is pure, uncoerced and holy.
What is it about us that we, that is our entire culture, are not unashamedly marveling at how good God is? Maybe that is easy for me to say, I live a blessed and very comfortable life. So much of the world does not. I do believe, as others have said, no one escapes issues of some sort. Whether self made, “other” imposed, or just a result of where in the world you were born, everyone has issues with which they must contend.
How is it that we are not all zealots? Even though the word zealot is negatively construed as something “over the top”. Frankly, showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective, is the definition of zealot. Not crazy or out of control, which seems the popular connotation. And this seeming reticence is not new.
Revelations 3:14
14 To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God’s creation.
15 I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other! 16 So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth!
Lukewarm Christianity has almost always been so normal that true Biblical Christianity seems radical! Had believers not allowed this Laodicean type of lifestyle to occur in the first place, I believe marginalization would never have occurred. So, to be fair, this is not just some modern, present-day phenomena. In reality, I wonder if true Biblical Christianity has been more than an individual pursuit. The answer has to be “no”. We gather in churches, meet in groups, pray in corporate settings, but it always comes down to each person. Have you ever noticed that in the letters to the seven churches in revelations that John says God has something against them all in one way or another? Even the churches God commends, he holds something against them.
Some might consider my rant this morning as naïve. I have my head in the clouds, and my feet are not on the ground. From a cultural point of view that might be how it appears, but from a spiritual point of view I would turn that perspective around and say those who would think me naïve enjoy ignoring history. Jesus was a real person. Historical, verified accounts of his life, death and resurrection are documented and witnessed by several hundred. I mean, think about it. Back then there was no print media, certainly all the ways to get information now was unconceivable. Yet what would be the correlative percentage of the 500 who saw Him in His risen state all at the same time before He ascended?
Rather than go into a full apologetic, let me just say we must take “if” out of the equation. It seems the human race lives like “if” there is s god. I say, what more do you need? He shows Himself all the time. There is none so blind as he who will not see, as Matthew Henry said in 1596. “If” is only for those who are afraid they can not live up to God’s expectations, those who do not understand the concept of forgiveness, and deny the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
Clearly there is much more to this, but we will wait for another time to explore it.
