Is Christ Centered a Matter of Perspective?
As a follower of Christ, our ideas & goals, our decisions & directions should always be to centered around Christ. Shouldn’t they?
“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…” Matt 6:33
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…” Heb 12:2
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” John 14:6
I’m not even sure how to blog about this topic, because it is so unfinished in my mind. I can’t seem to get my head around it. The thought process is this: If Christ is the center of our lives, then why do we spend so much time away from the center? Instead of going to the center (Holiness), we constantly try to get as far away (world) from the center, but still close enough to be considered in the center. Does that make sense?
We like to push away from the center and see who goes with us. If other Christians are with us, then over time that edge becomes the norm. The circle of Christ somehow becomes wider and we feel safe “in Christ.”
Eventually someone else pushes further outside and looks around to see who is with them. As long as fellow believers are there, then they feel safe and can continue on as a “Christ Follower.”
The circle continually gets larger, but at the same time we are going further and further from Christ. We claim that we are close…but are we?
Now if someone ventures too far outside and no one goes with him, then he becomes exposed and possibly an outcast. Ted Haggard can tell you more about this place. But I digress…
Sometimes I think we push away from the center with our finances, relationships, and responsibilities. I also think churches can push away from holiness with their music, sermon titles & marketing.
So here’s the deal. One of the great things about blogging is that I do not have to have the answer. Therefore I’m presenting this for discussion and I’d like to get your opinion. Let’s discuss it.
That's the danger of using any rule of life outside of the scriptures. The scriptures are our only rule for life and conduct. Not ourselves, our friends, our pastors or the world.
When our kids say "Well so and so can do it or so and so can watch it.", we don't accept that. How often do we say to ourselves "They saw that movie so it's ok if I do." or "All the other churches are using this kind of music or that kind, why don't we?" Do we hold ourselves to a different standard than we hold our kids?
What saith the scriptures? That's the question we need to always ask ourselves.
May God help us to make it so.
IntenseDebate Notification <DIV dir=ltr align=left>Agreed Joe. But scripture is silent on many, many topics. It is in those areas that we seem to push out rather than in. While it doesn't seem to make sense in the big picture, that is what believers are doing. We push outwards on “gray” areas and as long as our brothers are beside us, everything seems okay. But is it?</DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us>
I think I understand what you are talking about. But just to make sure, can you give me an example of where on would "push outwards on a gray area"?
You mentioned movies or music previously. Those are good examples. We push outward on our expenses & finances. We push the envelope with our language, our character & our morality. Churches are doing this with cross-over music & edgier programs designed to attract people on the fringe.
At the same time, I don't want to be misunderstood. Going out onto the fringe is necessary to reach the lost. We can't sit in a circle with walls around it because that is not what Christ did or called us to do. But in the midst of going out onto the fringe, we sometimes decide we like it there and decide to stay. If others stay with us, then we think that becomes the center again.
I'm probably talking in circles, but know that God is showing me something through this and I just need to sit on it and learn from Him about life on the fine line & our need to live in the world, but not be of the world.
Agreed Joe. But scripture is silent on many, many topics. It is in those areas that we seem to push out rather than in. While it doesn't seem to make sense in the big picture, that is what believers are doing. We push outwards on "gray" areas and as long as our brothers are beside us, everything seems okay. But is it?