Contrary to the belief
Christianity is a crutch or a belief system of “blind faith,” little do our accusers realize, Christianity is a
thinking person’s religion. It requires us to use thought and reason for
dedicating our time of service to others. It requires we think about our
willingness to use gifts God gives each individual Christian according to his
or her faith. Our money, our daily walk in life away from our church home
during the week. How we treat others requires much thinking in light of
teachings in the bible. Christianity requires us to read and think about how
Jesus would want us to decide on a matter other than our personal opinion.
Ultimately Christianity requires us to think about what apostle Paul called
“running the race to win the prize”. That living a life based on humanism and
selfishness will not result in winning the prize of heaven on the last day (1
Cor 9:24-27).
When asked by an expert in the
Jewish law as to what commandment ranks above all others, Jesus quoted
Deuteronomy 6:1-3, which is the passage that Jews use to distinguish themselves
from their pagan neighbors. Yet, Jesus added something to it. While verse 5 in
the original reads “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and
with all your soul and with all your might,” Jesus added the phrase “and with
all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Jesus put a huge importance on the use of our
minds.
Christianity is fact based in
history and eyewitnesses play a huge part in its message. The disciple Luke
(the doctor) tells us that when he began writing his account of Jesus life to
Theophilus, he sought out “those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses” and
that he himself “investigated everything carefully from the beginning” to provide
the exact truth" (Luke 1:1-4). This means Luke collected the data, thought about
his findings and shared them as a fact of history.
Christianity is a literate
faith, relying on the teachings of the apostles in the scriptures. Apostle Paul
told Timothy to “do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a
worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2
Timothy 2:15-16). This required Timothy to work at discerning the text to avoid
“babble and lies” that leads to ungodliness.
Thinking and meditating about “worship
as a lifestyle” requires daily thought and life decisions utilizing the tool of
the word of God. So how does a Christian “think” about his Christian faith in
real life terms? Again, the inspired Apostle Paul teaches that people need to
“renew their mind” to prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God
(Romans 12:3). Renewing the mind just doesn’t happen by osmosis, forced
feelings or wishing it so. The mind needs to be fed daily with the word of God
given us through His Spirit, and prayer (2 Timothy 3:16). Then taken to heart
translating godly guidance into practical daily decision making in a way that
is right and godly. Here are some examples:
The wife is working late
tonight. Without asking will I take the initiative and cook dinner?
If we have ailing relatives
unable to care for themselves, will I offer my home and resources to help them?
(Matt 25:45)
My neighbor’s car is broken
down with a burnt-out motor starter and no money. Am I willing to make myself
available and ready to spend $75 or whatever to get him a new part to fix the
car so he can go to work?
A young man needs some funding
help to finish his last semester of class in order to graduate. Will I step in
and think of his future over mine and help him graduate?
If I have the gift of
consoling a person who has just lost their loved one, am I willing to put
myself out there and give up my time and emotion to a stranger who is in dire
straits over his or her loss? Including the possibility of becoming a part of
her life to help her get through the difficult time? Phone calls, visits, meals
etc. (1 Pet 4:12-13)
If I have the gift to teach,
am I willing to make myself available to whomever needs instruction on the
gospel of Jesus Christ when they ask me? Am I willing to defend the gospel to
my adversaries when called?
Part of the problem even in
some church congregations is, they want to show a big splash, a big bright
shiny billboard of good works in the name of God - in a worldly way. What I
mean by this, are the splashes done in a way that appears like a TV commercial rather
than heart to heart with compassion and understanding? Is it effective, loving
and caring or is it circus like and cold? Have they really “thought” out how
the style they have chosen may miss the mark? Service to others in our walk
with God requires thinking and action in our individual Christian faith from
the heart into the mind. And God gives each one of us the tools to do so in a
way that helps Him increase His church in this world one soul at a time. Remember,
the 12 were discipled one at a time by Jesus, then they set in motion the Lords
church beginning at Jerusalem, then into the world.
Jesus and the world are
watching. Are we by faith thinking?
Philippians 2:1-5
Philippians 2:1-5
