The Pointy End Of Christianity
February 12th 2007 10:15
Everyone please note; I didn't write this entry. A good friend of mine named James Inglis did. You can find his blog at www.blog.clafhn.com. Go over and pay him a visit, he's well worth it. Anyways, enjoy.
First things first - this title is borrowed from Josh. He said he'd hurt me considerably if I stole his line and didn't credit him. He brought it up in conversation and really got me thinking...
We emphasise all the benefits of Christianity when we preach - freedom, forgiveness, wholeness, grace, favour, prosperity... But at the end of the day, a lot of those are about ME and how they make MY life better. We sugar coat it to make it appealing, and in some ways, palatable. But there is a sharp edge that we are slower to share with people because it hurts. Some things hurt, but we can look through the pain and see the great results (for ME) on the other side. But some things have no such resolution...
That to which I refer is dying to oneself. When I die to myself - my dreams, desires, thoughts, opinions, feelings, emotions - I am not doing it because it feels good. Some try to emphasise the end result being so great, or they take some masochistic pleasure in putting themselves through pain. I'm having thoughts and feelings that are not sinful in and of themselves, but I know in my heart that following through with them is not in my best interests or the interests of others close to me. They're selfish, and meet a need that I feel I have in my life. Even if I didn't follow them through to conclusion, I could enjoy myself indulging in these thoughts and feelings.
As I die to myself, I cut these off in their tracks: I refuse to think the thoughts or feel the emotions. Somehow I know that it's in my best interests, but as I'm down there in the trenches of day to day life, I don't necessarily see this big picture. I don't have a carrot placed five steps ahead of me to keep me walking through. All I know is that a voice whispers in my ear, "Trust me, this is somethings you need to do." And to be honest, I don't always hear that. Sometimes you're just left with the dull ache of nothingness, as 'self' has been buried but is still banging on the lid of the coffin, begging to be let out: to be felt, experienced, lived...
This is the pointy end of Christianity - the end that pierces flesh and starts to rip out that which does not glorify God. That which does not promote the call of God on my life. That which does not build others up. I don't continue along this path of gradual martyrdom because it feels good, because that just isn't the case. I don't continue because God has directly told me to cut specific things out. I continue because of a haunting conviction that this is the right thing to do, that He will increase and I will decrease whatever the cost to me. Bringing glory to God has NOTHING to do with me or my comfort levels - it really is and always will be all about HIM.
First things first - this title is borrowed from Josh. He said he'd hurt me considerably if I stole his line and didn't credit him. He brought it up in conversation and really got me thinking...
We emphasise all the benefits of Christianity when we preach - freedom, forgiveness, wholeness, grace, favour, prosperity... But at the end of the day, a lot of those are about ME and how they make MY life better. We sugar coat it to make it appealing, and in some ways, palatable. But there is a sharp edge that we are slower to share with people because it hurts. Some things hurt, but we can look through the pain and see the great results (for ME) on the other side. But some things have no such resolution...
That to which I refer is dying to oneself. When I die to myself - my dreams, desires, thoughts, opinions, feelings, emotions - I am not doing it because it feels good. Some try to emphasise the end result being so great, or they take some masochistic pleasure in putting themselves through pain. I'm having thoughts and feelings that are not sinful in and of themselves, but I know in my heart that following through with them is not in my best interests or the interests of others close to me. They're selfish, and meet a need that I feel I have in my life. Even if I didn't follow them through to conclusion, I could enjoy myself indulging in these thoughts and feelings.
As I die to myself, I cut these off in their tracks: I refuse to think the thoughts or feel the emotions. Somehow I know that it's in my best interests, but as I'm down there in the trenches of day to day life, I don't necessarily see this big picture. I don't have a carrot placed five steps ahead of me to keep me walking through. All I know is that a voice whispers in my ear, "Trust me, this is somethings you need to do." And to be honest, I don't always hear that. Sometimes you're just left with the dull ache of nothingness, as 'self' has been buried but is still banging on the lid of the coffin, begging to be let out: to be felt, experienced, lived...
This is the pointy end of Christianity - the end that pierces flesh and starts to rip out that which does not glorify God. That which does not promote the call of God on my life. That which does not build others up. I don't continue along this path of gradual martyrdom because it feels good, because that just isn't the case. I don't continue because God has directly told me to cut specific things out. I continue because of a haunting conviction that this is the right thing to do, that He will increase and I will decrease whatever the cost to me. Bringing glory to God has NOTHING to do with me or my comfort levels - it really is and always will be all about HIM.
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