Keeping one's focus...on Christ

So tonight I had a great conversation with a couple of friends and it was passionate, motivating & convicting all in one. We were talking about things such as faith and politics, as well as other areas of life, and how we are focused.

The point was made and I agree wholeheartedly, that too many Christians on the right primarily, though some on the left as well...end up elevating politics to a point that is higher then even Christ. I have probably been guilty of this at times too, and it's because I let my passions in that area distract me from what should be my primary passion and focus: growing in my relationship with Christ and sharing the gospel message with the world around me.

As a Christian I need to make sure that at the end of the day I can look at my words and deeds and be able to know they pointed to Christ and gave glory to Him alone. I need to interpret or view, everything I do, through the Word of God and illumination of the Spirit. EVERYTHING! From the time I wake up until the time I go to sleep...everything! A few years ago the popular thing was "WWJD" (What Would Jesus Do) and its basic thought was to keep in mind how Jesus would act if He were there in any given situation. While good in its intentions, I think it was lacking in substance of the reality of being a Christian. In Colossians we read "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority." The fullness of who God is, is in Christ AND we have been given fullness in Christ. The Bible also teaches us that we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit. We should not be asking "What would Jesus do?" as if He were some faroff notion, but instead..."Jesus, help me make my decision in You. What should we do in this situation so that it shines the reality of Your presence in my life right now?"
I say this in light of where I started this blog because it is in my passions in every area of life that the biggest passion needs to be shining the truth and reality of Christ in my life. God gives us all passion and abilities in life to use. He gives every person uniqueness of personality and talents that are but a mere aspect or part of His creative work. Some are talented artists., while others are statesmen. Some can connect with and understand wildlife/nature. while yet others can design buildings and cities. Some may be gifted to develop programs that organize people locally or globally and yet others may be gifted in entertaining and helping people escape for a short while.
Without God however, a person is unable to realize their full potential and purpose of their abilities and all to often end up using their abilities for evil and destructive purposes. Once a person becomes a Christian, God then adds to these abilities, spiritual gifts.
Without going into all the dynamics and details of spiritual gifts in contrast to abilities, etc...the point is to be made that they all are given by God and ultimately need to be seen and used through our focus lens of Christ, their creator...our creator. The passion that realizing and having these abilities can bring, needs to be focused like a lazer beam through Christ, so that all of who we are in HIM shines through to the world around us. And yes...a primary purpose and focus of a Christian is spreading the good news/the Gospel, which is Christ crucified and rose again! All of the gifts/abilities He has given us should be used to love people and share the good news, that they can have the reality of Christ in their life beginning now through eternity. Part of spreading the good news is helping the person/s realize their need for it. They, just like every person on this planet before them, with the exception of Christ, was a sinner and needs to be saved. They have a fatal disease and Christ is the cure. We can not...we must not, give up sharing the gospel and keeping Christ at the forefront of all we are about. We are all individuals and how we build relationships and with whom will be different for all of us, but one thing in common is that it is only through Christ that anyone comes into the reality of new life in Him. This reality is both in the here and now as well as the future.
All this to say...whatever you are gifted in and passionate about, make sure that you submit that passion into the fullness of your life in Christ. Make sure that your passion is surrendered to the giver of passion. I believe that in fact, when we do that...when we surrender those passions and abilities, we will find them become even more passionate and able, because we can never outpassion Christ or have abilities greater then His. But He that began a good work in you WILL carry on to completion in Christ Jesus. Stay involved where you are for only you can reach all the people in your life in the ways that GOD has gifted you, but make sure that your focus never leaves Christ. Ultimately it needs to be Him using our abilities and passions since He is the one who created them.

ok...I've rambled enough now and probably confused anyone who may attempt reading this. If I did...I apologize and let me know, cause I would love to hopefully make it clearer. Also...feel free to simply make a comment:-)!

What is the Christ & Culture Intersect?

In the last few months I have been a part of and heard many conversations about the connection between Christianity and culture...aka: The Christ and Culture Intersect! They have covered a large array of issues ranging from what the connection should be between Christianity and media...or politics...or social justice issues. These are obviously not all the issues that I have heard talked about or that could be talked about, but they are issues that should be talked about.

During my undergrad, I took a class that dealt specifically with the idea of developing a Biblical Perspective on Current Issues. It was a great class and really helped stimulate thinking on this issue. One thing I loved is that the professor encouraged you to think about this intersect, but did not expect you to agree with him on everything...which is good, because I disagreed with him on a few things. He did however, expect us to be able to defend our positions and make sure they were based on Biblical ideas and thoughts. In that principle, I want to give a couple of Bible passages that I think are very applicable as a base perspective in looking at issues, as well as developing opinions & actions based in reaction to them. The first is Colossians 3 (with a centerpoint being verses 8-17 & 23).

We first see some things that should not be a part of the discussions or our lives for that matter: "anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth; Do not lie to one another". I will make it my goal to avoid these things for myself and ask that those who want to post do the same. The goal of this blog is to promote, in a healthy way, the topics that are being approached. In a healthy diet, one of the top issues is to make sure that one is not ingesting harmful things...things that are unhealthy or poisonous both right away or ones whose side effects are seen over time. We need to conduct ourselves in ways that helping people to draw nearer to God and His Body, NOT build barriers. It is Ok to be passionate, in fact, I encourage it...but try to not use the above methods. Equally important to remember is that we are human and prone to resort to these ways many times...in that, Grace and Forgiveness needs to be remembered as well.

The flip side of the things we should not do is that there are things we should: "put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you". We need to make sure our diet is filled with things that help us grow in size and stature. We need energy food. We need to eat in ways that enable healthy growth (Patience..."slow down when you eat"...talk through issues).

Here is the ultimate way of thinking about it: "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."
It's the whole "What Would Jesus Do?" aspect in a way. Basically, in view of Christ's life and sacrifice on account of you and I, we need to live as if that is the most important thing. We need to let our lives and language be seasoned with Christ in every aspect of it.

In looking at the intersect of Christ & Culture we need to remember that we have an enemy in Satan who seeks to deceive and divide and he is extremely devious in his schemes. Another class I had during undergrad was one on World Civilizations. The prof had everyone memorize Colossians 2:8 "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ."

Recently we have seen the rise of Christian groups that are basically seeing & approaching God and the Bible through the lens of their culture. When they don't match up, they opt to adjust their view of God and the Bible. They are questioning THE standard of truth, rather then adjusting their view of the culture. As Christians, we are to view everything...EVERYTHING, though the lens of God and the Bible. When they don't match up, we need to question the culture NOT God.

Please...join along and feel free to express your ideas/thoughts and know that you can do so passionately. Those that know me, know that I am passionate about a few things but I try to stay informed on them, so as to discuss them intelligently. I don't expect everyone to agree with me, just as I will probably disagree with others at times...but that is how we refine each other, but we can only refine and build up each other if we do it in the above ways.

Feel free to state your own opinions and to also include articles, links, videos, etc...that you feel add to the discussion. Please make sure that you cite your sites :-)! No Plagiarism! I know there are times when it can be hard to articulately make a point, but that doesn't take away the validity of your perspective...feel free to refer to someone who makes your point in an understandable way.

I look forward to our discussions...or at least hope there will be discussions. I'm just hoping the that people will even come to this page at this point. :-)

~James