Writing about Christian priorities reminds me of a time line. It should be straightforward for any one given person, but once all the time lines of other people are thrown in it becomes overwhelming and even incomprehensible. Fortunately, God is up to the task of managing all of these threads; he chooses to set us in a certain time and place to live. He sets forth some simple guidelines for us limited humans and is somehow patient with us until His appointed “end of the world as we know it.” Yet, that simplicity is constantly threatened by the imaginations of men.
Do not be concerned that I confuse simple with stress-free. Life in a fallen world generates stress in various forms. Some of it is unavoidable. There is sickness. People are selfish and regularly fight. Governments are corrupt. Persecution happens. Everyone dies. However, Christians, since this is the topic of our discussion, also create unnecessary stress by weighing down others with religious requirements or extra-Biblical guilt.
Much of the disagreement hinges on what is “required” of Christians. Or, in other words, what will they be doing if they really are Christians. What will their “works” be? The culturally acceptable list often contains items such as giving away a large portions of wealth (usually to foreign countries), spending time working for “ministry” organizations, telling every homeless person you see how to be saved, and generally exhausting time, resources, and energy. If you haven’t done that, the rather papal verdict is that you aren’t really “committed.” Making progress with this sort of checklist can easily result in a false sense of righteousness or lack of it, or even a false sense of salvation.
The Biblical version of Christian works is along the lines of I Thessalonians 3:11. “…and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.” The list of things we are to look for when considering whether or not to follow someone as a leader, or mature Christian example, mirrors this same idea. “He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity…(etc)” (I Timothy 3:4) “Having children who believe…” (Titus 1:6) “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 4:8) “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4) These things take time and the home is the center, as well as the point of evaluation. If a Christian isn’t mature there, he isn’t fit for taking part in other people’s lives. If other attempts to help people interfere with the primary concerns at home, God wants us to attend to those first.
Other important items on the real list of Christian qualities are things that can’t be faked. We are supposed to be patient, kind, and forgiving, for example, in our everyday relationships and contacts. The Bible says a lot about developing heart grown attributes like these which will be shown in our actions as we go about our mundane responsibilities.
So how do we reconcile this obvious emphasis with other places that say things about leaving families, giving to the poor, and taking up our cross? Quite simply. If our family makes us choose between faith in Christ and them, we choose Christ. There is nothing said about “sacrificing our families” as some way to honor God. If we come across people in need, especially other Christians, we wisely lend them assistance in an appropriate form. This often necessitates knowing them and being around them. We keep our eyes open, but we can be completely at rest in knowing that God directs our steps and knows everyone’s needs. We die to self in terms of self-will, yet live in joy in the life that God has blessed us with. All of this is low profile, giving all glory to God, and hopefully no one even knows “who that Christian was.”
A certain passage in Matthew 25:31-46 has been used a lot. The spin is that if we aren’t taking care of all of the poor, searching for them across all boundaries of the earth, and under every park bench, then we are falling short. However, if we look carefully at the King’s answer, we see He says “to the extent that you did it to ONE (emphasis mine) of these brothers of Mine…” He knows our limits; and He is specifically referring to other believers. Obviously, I’m not saying we only help Christians or that once we’ve helped one person we can check that off. But we should know what the teaching is referring to and what it is suggesting. If that one lost lamb was so important to Jesus in the parable, then we can not only take comfort in how much we each mean to him, but we can rejoice in one person helped.
I would like to offer two examples of faith and works. First, Abraham. He was counted as righteous because he believed the promise of God. This faith was given feet as he took his son up to offer him as a sacrifice, knowing that God would just have to raise Isaac again to fulfill the promise. This example of works is interesting because it doesn’t have anything to do with helping anyone. It was kind of scary, but take comfort in the fact that he had very specific directions.
Job had faith, so much that God wanted to show him off to bring glory to His name. Job comes through, has the benefit of a very insightful conversation with God, and is blessed with twice as much in earthly goods as before. He continued to live a faithful, prosperous life, beginning with offering sacrifices for his friends who had misrepresented God’s character and intent. We need to be careful about that, too.
The bottom line is that Christians have reason for and access to great peace. If a certain perspective, a choice, or attitude of ours results in stress or turmoil, it is highly suspect. If you see the need, but are not omnipotent, fall on your knees and talk to the One who is, but without trying to take His job.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I like it. =) This topic has come up during some of our gatherings and I still had some questions in my mind, which for the most part have now been answered.
I appreciate the multiple specific examples and quotes from the Bible
(Thank you for growing the flowers for me to take pictures of :])
Thank you for answering all the questions I couldn’t form into words.
Right… But then the extra bit (which was the point of the video) is that when God specifically and clearly says “Go do X” – we should go do X, regardless of our own thoughts and doubts!
We must be good stewards of the opportunities God gives us – not as a legal obligation, but through obedience to the Holy Spirit. With only obedience to the letter of the “new testament law” and without obedience to the Holy Spirit, we cannot do God’s work and do not bear His witness or testimony – and are then powerless to walk the earth like Jesus did – with the omnipotence of God working through him. It’s bible!
Also, on the stress and turmoil bit – when iron sharpens iron, as proverbs talks about – there are sparks and stress – God places stress and frustration in one’s life at times as He did with Job. It’s to shape and form people and is not necessarily a bad thing
Thank you for this in-depth real-life look at stress and responsibility. I often begin to feel as though I am not doing enough ‘Christian stuff’ because my family takes up all of my time and energy. It’s refreshing to get a look at God’s plan for taking care of your family’s needs first, and with His direction using the overflow (if I have any!) where he needs it.
Also, if God is pleased with the service you can provide for just one person, there is nothing saying that that person can’t be connected to you in some way.
In response to Israel’s remarks:
As believers we are cautioned multiple times to test words and deeds by examining the Scriptures, the whole counsel of God. While I do not claim to have a complete understanding of what it means to by led by the Spirit, for He is higher than I, I do know that the qualities that are listed in the Bible to help us evaluate ourselves and others (i.e., Galatians 5 in addition to sections referenced earlier in the post) are crystal clear, as are the priorities. To say that someone should do otherwise because it seems right at the moment is foolishness. To say God “clearly and specifically” said to do so is questionable, at best. Choosing to do good in a certain way is supposed to be based on Godly wisdom that is already established. This is not about following any kind of law. It is about the freedom that comes from doing things God’s way, and about the encouragement and help we can provide to others when we are established in that freedom.
A lot of people are very liberal with the idea that God is giving them special messages when it is just thoughts in their own heads. They may be warm fuzzy thoughts and they may be things other people might like to hear. The circumstances resulting from follow-through may even seem good according to man’s ideas or view of the scenario. That doesn’t make them the thoughts of God. I think that God has a history of making His messages very clear. To claim something as from Him that isn’t distinctly and explicitly revealed as such is to misrepresent Him. It also perpetuates a false sense of maturity. Obedience to the Holy Spirit begins with acknowledging the pervasive truth of His Word. All can be accomplished by simply following It.
Mixing pursuit of social good with the gospel has been going on for a long time. However, the gospel is “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,” and he appeared to many to confirm this. (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). A speaker is wrong who distorts that message with claims that the gospel arbitrarily demands sacrificing things God has sanctioned . Living our daily lives in a daily way is expected and desired by God. Even in the midst of hardship, daily needs must be responsibly dealt with. A presentation that demeans hard work is contrary to a myriad of Scripture passages. As such, it undermines what God is teaching people about how to live their lives. Our goal as the church is not primarily to help the poor; it is often a result, but it is in no way over-riding or God’s final goal on this earth. God seems more concerned with how we are built together as the body and family of God.
Stress is the result of sin. I have already stated that it will be a part of life. Sometimes we may choose to take on stress for the sake of someone else out of love, hopefully only when we have the experience and judgment to do so. Sometimes we will make honest mistakes. Even more sure is that someone else will do things to us out of their own selfishness. When we trust God, we will come through such things well, but we are not told to create trouble, especially by doing things contrary to God’s wisdom. For instance, if we are careless with our resources, we can cause problems for ourselves, those in our care, or those who then might decide to supply our needs. In another arena, inattention to right principles of relationship between man and woman will at least wreck emotional havoc on whole families. For one last example, we should not thoughtlessly tease or express anger and then make excuses for ourselves. Even though God works all things for the good of those who follow Him, that doesn’t make the sin that He’s working with good. Since there are many examples of people learning without stress, that counters the argument that stress is necessary to learn. The Proverb stating “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.” seems to mean that one person in close contact with another should make them both more effective. It is a general statement and could easily mean that two wise men discussing things each gain wisdom from each other.
Getting back to Job – I must reiterate that God knew Job’s faith would bring glory to His name. Job was not subjected to these things to “shape” him. The only thing that he had reinforced was that God is sovereign. God completely commends him as “speaking right” of God. His friends were severely reprimanded for all the things they said that were corrective of Job. The whole display was for Satan to see Job’s faith. God was proven justified is His bragging.
God says through Paul that, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” I intend to take Him at His Word.
Heidi, I’m so glad you were encouraged. That is always my goal.