Christian Vitality: the Focus of Faith
In June's issue of Perspectives, the newsletter for Ontario-based Canadian Perspective Christian Radio, Rev. Allan McQuarrie identified some misleading "proofs" of a successful church: big budgets, large projects, busy people. etc. He pointed out that while these external things may indeed be the "result of blessing", they're not necessarily "evidence of blessing". Rather, "God looks at the heart, not outward appearances".
Similarly, political or social activism could be the result of healthy spiritual life and a genuine response to Jesus' call to "feed the hungry" etc., but in themselves they are not necessarily evidence of this life and response. There's a trap in allowing "good causes" to become a substitute for living, inwardly and in an outgoing manner, the Gospel of Christ.
A person, congregation or entire denomination might be very active politically or socially, but they may be stunted in Christian growth unless their main focus is the Lord and the furtherance of God's kingdom on earth (by living and sharing the Gospel and by everyday ministries according to each person's vocation). "Without Me, you can do nothing", Jesus said. After all, even the dramatic New Testament miracles were primarily accomplished to bear witness to Christ and validate His message. They were not ends in themselves - "...the works which the Father has granted Me to accomplish... bear Me witness that the Father has sent Me." (John 5:36; cf. Mark 2:10, Heb.2:4).
In this journal we've often heard from Rev. Dr. Frank Uhlir how false ideas can undermine Christian life and witness. God's commandments are replaced by lawless amorality and situation ethics, scripture is judged according to acceptability, salvation becomes political liberation, unity includes all religions as equally valid; in short, man is glorified instead of God.
Such things happen in the church when our love of God grows cold, so we seek Him less and care less for His Word and His ways for us. We try to fill this God-shaped vacuum within ourselves with extra personal activity, megaprojects as a group, and social or political causes which may do some human good but rarely or poorly glorify God. We do not necessarily, by these things, let our light so shine that God may be glorified.
Because the kingdom of God is not of this world, it is not accomplished by worldly methods. Individual Christians might well be called to political involvement and bring with them unwavering principles of their faith. The Bible's advice for Christians to be good citizens in their earthly home includes prayer, an "other-worldly" intervention in political events; many churches in Canada held prayer vigils prior to the Quebec referendum.
Yet the kingdom of God is not a democracy. It is the victory of a little light on the hill, some salt in season, leaven in the lump, singing God's praise in the lions' den, weak foolishness of the Gospel overcoming power and wisdom of the world, so that the meek (not the strong) inherit the earth.
Where is the focus of our faith, the fountain of Christian vitality?
Politics is not our prime power. The articles in the Rod & Staff section of this New Life try to put politics in Christian perspective; while Westport Woollens offers (thin) blanket coverage of a sociopolitical trend towards lawlessness. Our modern "culture in decline" (- see Gleaning Forward -), having excluded God and His design for us, substitutes the ill-conceived regulations of political correctness and unlimited rights without God-centred accountability.
Social activism has its place, but is at best an expression of Christian conscience, not the source of our strength. And as suggested in the Pastorale section, conscience or virtue can be muddied, subverted, or pacified by elitist secular and church governments. Having ignored God's hand in Creation ("evolution"), society's regard for human life itself is aborted or euthanized. By ignoring His warmth and design for social order, families easily grow frigid and fracture into distant satellites without the binding gravity and guiding, enkindling light of the Son of God.
How are Christians, and the orbits we follow, different than any other religious people or enterprise? What are we, more than they?
The difference we know (by Grace revealed), the difference we live (by our response to Grace), is the one living God in whom we move and have our being, our breath and our cleansed blood.
This difference, this new life renewing our mind and heart, guiding our hand, step, and tongue, is the unique Person and Gospel of Life, the Truth, the one Way, who is Jesus Christ.