June 11, The Relationship – Question #4

Do you truly own your Christian identity, or are you living vicariously through the programs of the church?

Galatians 2:20

The above question involves difficult but necessary reflection.  A 2013 Sojourners website article offered thirteen questions “all Christians eventually ask themselves.”  The second question listed asked, “Do I own my faith?”  Author of this article, Stephen Mattson, elaborated on the question:

Is your faith the result of a cultural or family tradition — something you were raised with — or because you know it makes your girlfriend happy, or because your seminary scholarship depends on it, or because you live in a religious society where it’s advantageous to be a “Christian?”  Deep down, what do you really believe? Is following Jesus your decision, or are you vicariously living out Christianity because of an allegiance to someone — or something else?[1]

In almost thirty years of pastoral ministry, I have observed that a common default for many followers of Jesus concerns dependence upon organized Christian programs at the dismissal (unwittingly or not) of personal discipleship.  Now, obviously we need the church, and we need to be involved with as many programs as possible that encourage our commitment to Jesus.  And, as revealed in both the Old and New Testament (Psalm 84:4; Hebrews 10:23-25), the Bible raises high the value of gathering together.  Fellowship with other believers is an absolute necessity, and vital to one’s discipleship.  Nonetheless, the Scriptures also emphasize the personal experience and personal journey of faith in Jesus Christ.  

Romans 12:1 references our individual spiritual service of worship.  Romans 12:3 references the allotment of faith each is given (from the Greek term, meros, meaning the measure of faith to fulfill the assigned responsibilities).  Galatians 6:5 reminds us to bear our own load (an emphasis in the original Greek for personal responsibilities).  Many other verses join these as God’s standard of conscientiousness with our personal spiritual responsibilities.   Therefore, although we are vitally connected to and dependent upon one another in the Body of Christ, we have a personal responsibility.  And, we are personally accountable.  

In Galatians 2:20, Paul wrote in the style of an argument and opposed those who continued to claim faith in Jesus yet persisted in the view that one is justified by works of the law, referencing the law of Moses.  Paul, also wrote in the first-person plural, “we”, and conjoined all former adherents to the law with himself as he discounted any element of the Jewish system of the law as a means to becoming fully justified to God: 

“yet, we know that no one is justified by the works of the law, but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ . . . and we have come to believe in Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 2:16) 

Following this argument in the first-person plural, Paul shifted to a personal testimony of His faith in Christ (Galatians 2:18-20), culminating in the statement that truly summarized Paul’s life of faith: “I have been crucified with Christ.”  From the context of speaking into a culture of those who tempted to hold to the works of the law, Paul’s ultimate argument was His own life of faith in Jesus Christ.  He exemplified a defense for the Gospel through His own personal statement of a life lived for Jesus. 

Therefore, as one discovers from Paul’s testimony before the Galatian churches, one’s personal experience with Christ becomes the best defense for the truth of the Gospel in a world saturated with pluralistic views of faith.  Although the communal is vital, necessary, and instructed by the Scriptures, the personal stands incredibly vital as well.  

So, how are you doing with your personal walk of faith?  Is your identity as a follower of Jesus built primarily upon the identity of organized faith (participation in faith programs, attendance to faith-centered events, etc.), or is your identity built primarily upon your encounter with the Savior who died in your place so that you would live eternally.  If someone assessed your life, would their conclusion be, “what a good person”, or “what a religiously active person”?  Or, would they see in you evidence of a love for God and others that can only come from a supernatural encounter with Jesus Christ?  

So, never question the necessary communal aspects of your Christian faith.  Attend worship services and participate in faith programs.  But, never allow your public life to be the only expression of your Christian faith.  In fact, all public expressions of faith should speak of a personal encounter with Jesus.  

Do you know Jesus personally?  Have you surrendered your life to Him through repentance, and have you received by faith His gift of salvation?  If so, live out your faith publicly, for through your witness – lived and spoken – many will come to know the Gospel of Jesus.   But, if you are basing all of your Christian faith on church attendance, or any other function, personally turn to Jesus.  Reconcile your life to His wondrous love and grace, and receive Him by faith.  And in doing so, become a witness like that of Paul: “I no longer live, but Christ in me.” 

Today, do not live solely by your involvement with church programs.  See your life as personally belonging to Jesus.  Feel the personal responsibility to seek Him daily.  See yourself as one who has been changed by Jesus and live out the relationship with confidence in what He has done.  I guarantee you that because of this, your involvement in the communal aspect of the church will drastically transform into an experience like you have never imagined.  

Blessings.

READ

Read Galatians 2:15-21 and be encouraged in your personal life of faith.  

[1] Stephen Mattson, Thirteen Questions All Christians Eventually Ask Themselves, (Sojourners, June 15, 2013).