If you know me, you know that The Princess Bride has long topped my favorite movies of all time list. One reason I love the movie so deeply is the abundance of quotable lines that fit so many situations in life. Even marginal fans of the movie recognize the catch phrase of criminal mastermind Vezzini, who incredulously says “Inconceivable!” when he cannot believe what he is seeing. His sword fighting Spaniard Inigo finally remarks, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” Indeed.
Lately, when it comes to Christianity I wonder if many, including myself haven’t “lost the plot” in what the word Christianity really means. Or at least we have veered far from what we should be doing as followers of Christ, in favor of what we intellectually believe about Christ and Christianity. Let’s face it, we (the larger body of Christ/Christians) don’t exactly have a great reputation in the world right now, and it’s not nearly all the fault of the media twisting the facts. Globally, Christians are getting much right, serving the poor, taking care of orphans and widows, spreading the gospel, etc. However, there is still great work to be done in changing our reputation to what we stand for, rather than what we stand against here in the American church.
There are many more to be sure, but I’ve identified five things that we as Christians must not only believe, but more importantly do, if we are to fully impact the world as Christ has commanded us to. Also, I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that there is a need for nuance that I will not have time for here, so keep in mind these are not intended to come across as shaming or finger pointing. They are meant to be a gentle pastoral nudge back to the simplicity of the gospel. A call to action over apathy. A call to move to do, over a continual filling of knowledge that leads nowhere. So here goes…
1. We must define the word “good” the way that God defines good. (Romans 8:28)
Perhaps there is no other verse as oft quoted or misunderstood in all the Bible as Romans 8:28, “All things work together for the good of those who love Him, and are called according to His purposes.” (Emphasis mine) One thing is for sure, we will never come away happy with God if we try to define “good” our way and not His. We cannot see the end from the beginning, so things we deem good and bad, may or may not end up actually being such when all is said and done. We are simply promised that God (Who is good) will work all out for good. Lastly, a word of warning: please don’t use this verse as a weapon on someone deep in the throes of grief, or fresh in the shock of loss. They simply need your presence right now, be short on words and long on listening. Later on they may need the reminder, but not now. Beyond that circumstance, this is what a follower of Christ/Christian must do…
2. We must deny ourselves daily, pick up our cross, and follow Him. (Luke 9:23)
As Christ followers we are each called to know Him and make Him known, but each person is asked to do something a little bit different along the way. It takes all kinds to reach all kinds. We are all called to die to our fleshly desires, pick up our cross, and follow Him. Sometimes we will be asked to believe that God is good, even when what we are experiencing doesn’t feel good. We can’t always trust our feelings, but we can always trust God. In the Christian life we will encounter trouble, Jesus Himself says it in John 16:33, “in this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.” Salvation is the starting line and discipleship is the “long obedience is the same direction.” (Eugene Peterson) In this life we will have trouble, heartache, pain, but we are promised to never be alone in it, the Master is with us through it all. He even has gifts for us along the way, but they might not be what you think…
“Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
3. We must recognize that suffering and sorrow are gifts from the master that keep us dependent on Him. (Luke 7:23)
How could God ever say that suffering and sorrow are “good” gifts for us on our faith journey? The age old question for many is why does a “good” God allow “good” people to suffer? Again, we cannot be the determiners of what is good from our limited perspective. Who among us is “good” apart from Christ?! No, not one. He sees the end from the beginning! One reason among others that we suffer and experience pain is simply the consequence of sin in the earth. But also, He grants us suffering and sorrow as companions along the way because the end result is beauty. We cannot experience true joy without sorrow, and with suffering comes compassion for others. Each of these gifts keeps us in a state of dependence on our Master, crying out to Him along the way. In this world we will have trouble, but take heart…He has overcome the world. All our needs are met in Him, and only Him, so the gift is that we be in constant need of a God with infinite supply. “Until all we want, and all we need is found in You.” (Song “Found In You”) Our good Father has also built into our neediness the gift of a need for each other. We aren’t meant to be alone…
“I have learned to Kiss the wave that tosses me against the rock of ages.” – Charles Spurgeon
4. We must be connected in community with other believers. (Acts 2:42)
I’m sure there are many reasons why, but an unfortunate reality is that the standard for what it means to be a Christian has been set for many as church attendance and tithing. Both of those are vital components of the Christian life, but they are incomplete without community and service. It’s akin to flying in a one winged plane, we need both congregation and community, or we are imbalanced and missing something needed for our usefulness to the Kingdom. Discipleship rarely, if ever takes place in a crowd, it must be a smaller setting full of intention. The small group setting allows for deeper dialogue, nuanced on-going conversation, Life-on-Life encouragement, and compassionate accountability. (And remember, compassion is a fruit of having suffered…we are able to minister from the ministry that we have received) We need to lean on others in times of need, and we need to bear one another’s burdens. (Gal. 6:2) We are not meant to do Life in isolation, and we see this as far back as the garden of Eden when God said, “it is not good (there’s that word again!) for man to be alone.” (Gen. 2:18) This community we are called to in and of itself is also complete unless it moves us from inward group focus to…
“If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb
5. We must move from an inward focused community, to an outward focused community. (Matthew 28:18-20)
The church was never intended to be a country club meant only for the upstanding of the community that behaved with decorum and paid their dues. Unfortunately, I’m afraid many in the body of Christ have begun to act that way and we are reaping the consequences. Attendance alone does not a healthy growing Christian make, we have been commanded to be and do much more. Any organization that becomes too inwardly focused will eventually implode on itself. We must be about the great commission, making disciples and teaching them everything that Christ has commanded. This will require us to put knowledge into action outside the walls of the church. This is not easy work, and it is not always easily measured, but we are called only to obedience, the results are God’s department. Will we continue on in a work we may never get to see the harvest of this side of heaven?!
When it comes down to it, will we trip over the rock of ages and be indignant, or will we in humble submission say “whatever may come, yes Lord!” Would it be that we carry the burdens of others as we all seek to follow the way of Christ, the way of suffering and sorrow, the way of the cross. The way of Jesus.
Similar posts you may enjoy:
The Gospel According to The Princess Bride
Friendly Fire: Deconstruction, The Christian, and Christian Music