Dear readers,
as the weather is rather chilly than sunny I suddenly thought about Christianity in my to write list. Born and grew up in a Christian family I have no intention to share about spiritual experience or doctrinal exposition here, yet I want to share plainly my opinion about Christianity nowadays. Basically it roots from an affliction as I see a shift in christian living and moral (people hate the word “laws”, you know) from an old man/woman who brings his/her Bible and goes to the church every Sunday, prays before eat or sleep into a modern image of young spirited people singing or playing loud electronic – or else hip hop or metal music with full band, jumping, clapping hands and claiming themselves as an overcomer. I know some churches pleading this as their worship style, but actually my first point is that Christianity has changed drastically in the last years that people hardly know what Christianity authentically IS.
Act 11:26 (NIV) 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
This is the very first time people called Christians which literally referred as the disciples of Jesus. A disciple follows His Master so that he can pattern after His Teacher. If we retrospect Jesus’s life of 33 years alone, what would outline it?
Matthew 3:17 (NKJV) 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Have you ever thought what impact might a prayer of admitting Jesus as your only Saviour, Lord and Master has in someone’s life? In most cases, not much have changed. The doctrine of sola fide or “by faith alone” which is one of doctrine of justification by faith in Jesus Christ and his righteousness alone has now been an instant way to be a Christian with its all-inclusive benefits. How ludicrous and eerie we are. Martin Luther stated “Works are necessary for salvation but they do not cause salvation; for faith alone gives life. .. It is as impossible to separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from fire!”. R. C. Sproul, a contemporary evangelical theologian, wrote “The relationship of faith and good works is one that may be distinguished but never separated … if good works do not follow our profession of faith, it is a clear indication that we do not posses justifying faith. The Reformed formula is, “We are justified by faith alone but not by faith that is alone.” for sure. A question to ponder was one of Paul Washer’s preaches titled “Do we bear fruit?”.
Secondly, there is a question I howbeit find crucial for a Christian –
Matthew 16:15-16 (NLT) 15Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah,d the Son of the living God.”
Who is Jesus in your own view? As I watched videos of sermons proclaiming God’s goodness and providential, it felt like a part of me thirst for God’s identity (which Paul Washer often called as the attributes of God). Wikipedia defined the attributes of God as specific characteristics of God. As we believe that our God is a good Shepherd, we should also meet and know Him personally so that “we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is Christ” (Eph. 3:15).
Until this you might feel that this essay is written only for “grown-up” Christians, hence I want to warn all my new brothers and sisters in Jesus. Do not be deceived. Beware of deceiving spirits and things taught by demons, Paulus said in 1 Timothy 4:1. Let us fixed our eyes and faith in Jesus.
John 15:16 (NIV) 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last— ..
In this godless era if your heart has ever believed that Jesus is God over all, have you not understood that God has chosen you to be His people, to share His inheritance and glorify His name in whatever we do, say or think eternally? It is God who started (y)our first journey with Him and He – in the guidance of Holy Spirit – will lead us in the narrow pathway and will bring us pass. Let us diligently read the Bible, evaluate every teaching according to His Words, pray and meditate His Words continuously and live a life for Christ day by day. For on the Judgement Day we all long to hear “… Well done, good and faithful servant! …” (Matthew 25:23, NIV).
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