Just what is this Christian
thing, anyway?
Dr. Walter D. Huyck Jr., D. Min. D.R.S.
www.thischristianjourney.com
In our culture today there are many who, for
reasons of their own, do not hold to the beliefs of their parents. Most were
raised in churches of various denominations. They probably attended Sunday
School and Church regularly. But now they have become the skeptics of our
culture.
While I am certain that the reasons given by
these skeptics will be many and, for each individual, thought valid. I hope you
will take this opportunity to consider Christianity for what God truly intended
it to be.
Of all the criticisms I have heard from these
skeptics in the past the one unifying attitude that I think I could detect in
most of these people is disillusionment. Perhaps watching their parents or
relatives go to church on Sunday and live in presumptuous sin throughout the
rest of the week caused some questions to arise. Maybe, they watched an
unscrupulous Pastor use his church to satisfy his greed or lust. Some may have
been literally abused or seen a friend abused by someone they thought was a
Christian. I think most just never really recognized the actual movement of God
in their lives or homes.
We Christians proclaim that God is alive and
well. We say He is still in control. We announce that
He loves everyone. But there is so much pain
and evil in our world and its hard for most of these critics to reconcile our
Christian proclamations with what they see in their daily lives.
So the question arises, just what is this
Christian thing about?
Christianity is not about secular utopia.
What I mean here is that God's Word never
claims that this present world will ever reach a perfect state. I can see some
folks boiling up within themselves over this statement. They might ask, "just
what do you think heaven is all about?" Yes, we look forward to heaven one day,
but even heaven won't be here upon this imperfect world.
The fact is that God, in the Bible, warns that
things are going to get much worse before they get better. We find things in
Scripture like:
This know also, that in the last days perilous times
shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without
natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of
pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying
the power thereof . . . (2 Tim 3.1-5)
The Bible also warns that toward the end of
the church age there will be a time described as the great tribulation period
and states that it will introduce mankind to the worst time in all of human
history.
The truth is that becoming a Christian does
not immunize a person from terribly trying times. While the new birth guarantees
to deliver people from the great tribulation, it often introduces them to more
immediate, sometimes life threatening circumstances. For there are many
Christians in our world who are suffering persecution as I write.
No, Christianity is not about secular utopia
at all.
Christianity is not about Religion.
I can just imagine the many eyebrows that this
statement will raise. The driving principles of the New Testament do not lead to
religion. Jesus Christ did not intend for the Christian Church to establish a
religion. Instead He intended for His people to lift the Church to new heights.
He wanted Christians to develop a living organism that is referred to as the
Body of Christ (1 Cor 12).
Yet it seems that many Churches in our day
have indeed turned the Body of Christ into a cold, heartless religion based on
age old traditions that have often lost their recognized purpose. This lukewarm
or even ice cold state of many Christian Churches has helped to build the
opinions of many skeptics. While I do not believe that these Churches are
expressly responsible for the attitudes of these skeptics, however, they should
recognize that they have contributed much toward their hard hearts.
It is important to realize that there are
whole denominations and religious systems in our culture that call themselves
Christian, but they are far from the Body of Christ. These have also attributed
much to the confusion, disillusionment and skepticism found in our communities.
With all of the religious confusion that's flooding our culture today just what
is the sincere seeker or questioning skeptic to do?
I hope you will read on as I try to express in
seriously inadequate terms what God truly intended this Christian thing to be.
As He expresses it in His Word.
Christianity is about walking with God.
Christianity is not about a bunch of rules and
regulations. Instead the Bible and Christianity is about helping each individual
develop a personal relationship with Almighty-God, in Jesus Christ. Now, as I
mention this relationship I presume that something has revealed itself in your
mind, however, my guess is that you are thinking of something other than what I
am trying to express.
When I think of my personal relationship with
God I am thinking of a presence that can be felt. I am thinking of real, heart
to heart, two-sided conversation. I am thinking about the type of nurture, care
and concern that only the dearest of friends might be able to effect. I am
thinking about something sweeter than the enduring relationship developed during
a honeymoon, and more lasting than a relationship that has stood the test of
time like a couple celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary. I am
describing a sharing dedication of faithfulness and earnest love.
No, this is not something that I have just
conjured up in my mind through a process of meditation or eloquent brain washing
techniques. It is more tangible than the other relationships I hold dear in my
life. It is closer to me than my relationship with my wife or children. It is
the relationship I have with God through Jesus Christ.
You should also know that this relationship is
God's revealed intention for each and every individual in our world. In John
17.20-21 we read:
"Neither pray I for these alone, but
for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all
may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be
one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
In these verses Jesus Christ reveals that His
desire is that we might be one with each other, and, more importantly, we should
be one with God. Notice what Jesus said in Revelation 3.20:
"Behold, I stand at the door, and
knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him,
and will sup with him, and he with me."
Notice that Jesus states that His intention is
to come into a person and then to sup with them. This indicates an intimate
relationship, a real and personal presence.
It sounds almost impossible to the unsaved
individual. Can God really come into a person and literally have a real exchange
of ideas, thoughts, and desires. Could it be possible for a person to actually
experience personal encouragement from God in their time of need? Is this really
what this Christian thing is really about?
My friend I must tell you as loudly as I can,
that YES you can have just this type of relationship with God through Jesus
Christ. There was a time that I thought this relationship thing sounded just a
little to incredible. But I assure you, my friend, when I asked Jesus to come
into my life and establish a personal relationship with me, He kept His Word
(Rev 3.20), and He came into me.
Now, there is no way for me to open up my
chest and show you that He is there. All I can do is give you my word that He
is. Jesus Christ dwells within my heart. Since He first came into me He has
taught me many things. Some of them I took very wrongly and went way off on a
tangent. Then He nurtured me back to the intended goal. He has given me counsel,
admonishment, and even chastisement at times. Yet the fact remains, He is here
with me even now.
The best news I can share with you at this
point is that God wants to walk in a personal relationship with you, and its
really simple to establish. If you would like to walk with Jesus Christ, daily
then go to the Accept Jesus Now page and see just how very easy it is.
What Wonderful News!!
You Can Walk With God Too!!
