Today I was reviewing my DVD-recorded sermon on 1 Peter 3:8-12. In my sermon I had this quote... (Yes, I'm actually quoting myself...)
"Christianity is not a life of avoidance."
What do I mean by that?
1) Following Christ isn't simply saying "no" to places, people, actions, ect...
2) It can INCLUDE saying "no" - but that is not the core of following Christ.
3) A true Christ-follower is not characterized by what he/she AVOIDS!!!
4) A true Christ-follower is characterized by what he/she ACTIVELY PURSUES!!!
5) Christianity is a life of ACTION.
This action is Gospel-centered, humble, loving, unifying, missional, counter-cultural yet relevant, and commanded of us while powered by Christ ALONE.
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Which begs the question: What is your life pursuing? And, are you actually actively pursuing it?
Kaikai's daddy here,
I've heard much good about you thought I'd snoop on your blog a bit...
The Christian life is a pilgrimage, a journey, and therefore active. If a person stops on a journey, then it ceases to be a journey. That is why Abraham "tented" while on the Earth, he was on his way somewhere, he was moving and never lost sight of the city whose maker and builder was God. If a Christian stops moving and growing towards heaven and Christ (2 Cor 3:18), then he is making a home in this world rather than heaven, and his "Christianity" becomes suspect.
Christ's manifesto of a spiritual Kingdom (Mt 5-7) demands an internal righteousness, a heart that is right, as opposed to the legalistic external righteousness of the pharisees and scribes. And such a heart overflows with good works, like a wellspring from the innermost parts.
The great words of the Christian life, faith, hope, and love, are all active words. Words of doing. Hebrews 11 is filled with the stories of saints who believed...and DID things. 1 Cor 13? Love does things, things contrary to reason and feelings. Hope plows, threshes and partakes (1 Cor 9:10), and sets itself on the certain "substance" of the future.
Christ went about doing good (Acts 10:38). If we are not active with similar activity, then we are not his followers. We are his friends if we "do" what he commands. Do we believe that? Not if we don't DO it.
Do or do not.
To "know what to do," to "plan" or "want to do" doesn't count.
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