The goal of Christian living: A series of paradoxical truths–What’s the purpose of being a Christian?
Some people may wonder why be a Christian and what the purpose of being a Christian may be. A point might be made that it depends ho you ask. Where we will get the answer from? If people are going to be surveyed on facebook you might get answers about what you have to do and ideas that must be believed to be a Christian, i.e. doing something–believing things in a certain way.
However, an important question to ask is what assumptions does God‘s perspective bring to the discussion?
“What Jesus promises is not a gimmick to give you goose bumps nor a mental attitude that has to be pumped up at pep rallies. No, Matthew 5 describes God’s radical reconstruction of the heart.”(Lucado)
If heart reconstruction is what Christianity is about; then, if the opinion of Jesus a tenable position, then what the goal of Christian living?
In The Applause of Heaven, listen to what he says is His perspective.
“Observe the sequence. First, we recognize we are in need (we’re poor in spirit). Next, we repent of our self-sufficiency (we mourn). We quit calling the shots and surrender control to God (we’re meek). So grateful are we for his presence that we yearn for more of him (we hunger and thirst). As we grow closer to him, we become more like him. We forgive others (we’re merciful). We change our outlook (we’re pure in heart). We love others (we’re peacemakers). We endure injustice (we’re persecuted).
What observation can I take away from this?
Christianity is not about doing something or ideals held, it is about being something.
The perception of Jesus is that a Christian is invested character traits that result from a relationship to Him and bring happiness “Blessed” The inner attitude –belief and results in behavior.e, repenting, humility, servant-hood, surrender, appetites, compassion, holiness sanctification, making peace, and tenacity under fire–shapes the outer life.
Christianity is about becoming something–it is a process and takes time.
Patience: precedes piosity and condemnation. It was the religious crowd that had the wrong approach–who condemned those who did not conform to the rule and idea of religious tradition of the day–becoming a Christian in character is not conformity to an appearance, ritual, or culture, and becoming does not happen overnight. Character traits are developed in a life lived against the wind in a refining and reflective process of listening to God, internalizing truth, and being changed in a process of development.
Observation: Today is a day that it can begin anew and what happened yesterday is yesterday. Quit trying to do something, conform to someone, and be something. Let relationship with God shape character and empower a life that is a sweet smelling fragrance going up before God that is well pleasing. It is a place to start.
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I really enjoyed this. Thanks!
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