I have been writing about various aspects of what it means to practice Christ. In talking with a non-Christian friend of mine, he made the following observation:
In my humble opinion, modern Christianity is vastly different from Christ. Sometimes it appears to me that Christ and Christianity are not connected at all!!!
These are not the words of someone who has an axe to grind against Christianity. Indeed, there are Christian leaders today who are making very nearly the same observation. In my friend's case, he actually has a lot of admiration for Jesus and his teachings. He went on to observe:
The principles of Jesus are universal; Love thy neighbour like you love thyself; Turn the other cheek; forgive your enemies. I doubt how ma[n]y people, be they Christians or any other religion or even atheists can claim to truly follow these principles. Once again, IMHO, people who can claim to fully follow Jesus, be they called Christians, or otherwise, are very very rare in this world.
What would Jesus say about this? The following verses come to mind:
He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37 – 40
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. Matthew 5:43 – 45
"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34 – 35
“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me." John 17:20 – 21
In citing these John 13 and 17 verses, Francis Schaeffer, in his book The Mark of a Christian, observes:
In John 13 the point was that if an individual Christian does not show love toward other true Christians, the world has the right to judge that he is not a Christian. Here [in John 17:21] Jesus is stating something else which is much more cutting, much more profound: we cannot expect the world to believe that the Father send the Son, that Jesus' claims are true, and that Christianity is true, unless the world sees some reality of the oneness of true Christians. (The Complete Works of Fancis A. Schaeffer: A Christain Worldview, Volume 4, p189)
But Jesus did give the mark that will arrest the attention of the world, even the attention of the modern man who says he is just a machine. Because every man is made in the image of God and has therefore aspirations for love, there is something that can be in every geographical climate -- in every point of time -- which cannot fail to arrest his attention. What is it? The love that true Christians show for each other and not just for their own party. (Ibid, p. 190)
So where does that leave us? Are my efforts to practice Christ out of reach? Is this something that can only be realized by a few? If the millions of professing Christians have failed so utterly, then what hope do we have? Yet there is hope.
My daughter and I were talking recently. She made the observation that "a Christian is someone who is a follower of Jesus. If we are not following Jesus, we are not Christians." Part of me wants to say, "yes but..." because I (and my daughter) know that it is a mistake oversimplify when it comes to matters of faith. Only God sees what is in a man or woman's heart. However, in the most fundamental sense, she is right. Perhaps if more professing Christians would take being a follower of Jesus' life and teachings more seriously, then the world would see within Christians something more authentically representative of Jesus and his teachings. Perhaps some who are seeking to follow Jesus will be surprised to discover that they are a Christian!
Being a follower of Jesus is a life long process. It starts with the realization that inspite of how far out of reach it may seem, it is something we want to do. We can have hope of success because it is not up to us to be successful. God enters into our lives and decission, and therein lies our hope.
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 1 John 4:13 – 1 John 4:17
As I write this, I have been listening to Misty Edwards in the IHOP Prayer Room. She is singing her song, "Let Me Love You More." She sings:
"Cause when it's all been said, and when it's all been done
When the race is run, well, it all comes to love."
At a moment when she is singing in the Spirit, God sings back:
"I'm after your heart. I'm after you.
You are not a failure; just keep coming after me."
The following verses seems a fitting way to end this post.
Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for your goodness’ sake, O LORD!
Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees. Psalm 25:4 – 10
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