Please excuse run-ons and excessive use of parentheses.
What is it about the Christmas season that elicits a sense of good cheer, giving, charity, and joyfulness?
Is it the fact that in all that shopping and commercialism, we need to ease our guilty (sub?)conscious by throwing in an extra pair of mittens for the local clothing drive?
Is it that as we stuff ourselves from one holiday party to another, we are more aware of families not-so-far-away that have empty plates and empty stomachs?
What about the rest of the year? I’m pretty sure God’s call for our care of the least of these wasn’t seasonal.
I was able to be a part of an online book club community this fall that read Crazy Love by Francis Chan
Warning: This is not a read for the easily-offended or the lukewarm Christian…or maybe it should be. He does not beat around the bush and has a conversational writing style. If you care to know, I thought he was spot on, right on the money, <insert your favorite colloquialism here>.
One question (only semi-related to what I’ve written so far) he posed (you’ll have to get a copy and read to know the rest of the great questions he posed), that has bounced around in my brain (feels like there’s lots of empty space to bounce around in there lately) for the last couple months is…
“Would your life look any different if you were NOT a Christian?”
In other words, does your faith in a God who sacrificed everything to send His Son to be crucified, had the power to raise Him from the dead, and the grace to let that pardon our sins cause you to live your life any differently than the Jane Doe down the street whose greatest hope for the future lies in her failing retirement account?
Would the Jane Doe down the street even be able to identify you as a person of faith?
As Christians are we always (no just in November and December) thinking giving, charity, and joyfulness?
Do we give sacrificially and not just from our abundance (or expiring, less-than-tasty canned good collection)?
I pose these questions not because I have the answers or think I have it all figured out but because these are the same ones that I’ve been asking myself. I’d like to challenge you to do the same.
Good works by no means define Christianity. Anyone can do “good works”, Christian or not. However, someone who claims that they have faith, but does not do “good works”, does not have faith (James 2:14-17). It is not about the good deeds, but the faith. Our faith should then drive us to the actions. And not just “good works”, but a life that is defined by serving, sacrificing self and not pursuing the things that the culture pursues.
Calling yourself a Christian and being a Christian are two different things. And as a note, it is pretty much generally the rule that those who claim that “being a Christian doesn't make a difference” are not themselves Christian. It is kind of like someone who is a really good programmer in college that thinks experience doesn't matter.
Good works by no means define Christianity. Anyone can do “good works”, Christian or not. However, someone who claims that they have faith, but does not do “good works”, does not have faith (James 2:14-17). It is not about the good deeds, but the faith. Our faith should then drive us to the actions. And not just “good works”, but a life that is defined by serving, sacrificing self and not pursuing the things that the culture pursues.
Calling yourself a Christian and being a Christian are two different things. And as a note, it is pretty much generally the rule that those who claim that “being a Christian doesn't make a difference” are not themselves Christian. It is kind of like someone who is a really good programmer in college that thinks experience doesn't matter.
I could help answer that question posed by Francis Chan. I am the least of things what you'd call a Christian by a purist definition. I imagine believing in God would be a consideration here. However, I do find that my life is beautiful. I believe that all life is sacred and precious. I would have to deduce that my feelings of good will and my drive towards being a kind “soul” and loving humanity would not be any different if I believed and if I called myself Christian. Perhaps, as Candice says, a life lived for Christ is more exciting. But I will have to settle with “a life lived for life, for humanity, for our world – our only home” is a life worth living, nevertheless.
Christianity or no, I think all lovers of good, all caretakers and saints will still perform their acts of kindness and love …
What is worth dying for if not something that feels righteous?
Great post Melissa! This is a topic that has been on my heart and mind for a few years now and I pray that my life does look different. I am not content to live like Jane Doe down the street… a life lived passionately for Christ is SO much more exciting!!!
Randy has read Crazy Love and given away several copies and I think it will be my next read! I have read several books like that where you can't NOT do something after you have finished reading. Thanks for this post!