Three "C" Words

Over the past several years I have considered writing a book with the working title Christ-like Living in a Pornographic World^©.  Notes have been accumulating (if I can find them) and thoughts abound (if I can remember them)!  What does Christ-like living mean and look like for this generation.  Ultimately, I’m not so sure it’s too different from other periods in history but I think we tend to think it is more challenging from what I have observed.  Here’s a few short snippets of some of the ideas…

Three “c” words come to mind that seem to describe many in our world and in our churches.  Those words are compartmentalized, consumeristic, and conflicted.  God’s Word is always our source on the subject of how to live the Christ-like life.  It offers input on these three areas of life as well as some contrasting views of what life can be like.

We all have some idea of what compartments are.  Try thinking of your home…it is merely a construction with compartments which have designated uses.  In this case it is good thing to have a place that is quiet to sleep and somewhere else where food can be prepared.  Compartmentalized thinking is another story.  When we allow ourselves to live life one way on Sundays and another way during the week and yet still call ourselves Christians we demonstrated a divided heart and tend to make excuses for our actions.  While no one is perfect in every way, someone living with a divided heart chooses to cease seeking forgiveness and restoration when failures do occur.  The story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) gives us a glimpse into what compartmentalization sometimes looks like as well as the results if wholeness is not sought after.  Check out Peter 2:2 – “Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.”  In Acts 11:19-26 we read that the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.  Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible offers the following description of what a Christian in his explanation of these verses.  He says “Hitherto the followers of Christ were called disciples, that is, learners, scholars; but from that time they were called Christians. The proper meaning of this name is a follower of Christ; it denotes one who, from serious thought, embraces the religion of Christ, believes his promises, and makes it his chief care to shape his life by Christ's precepts and example. Hence it is plain that multitudes take the name of Christian to whom it does not rightly belong.”  What a sad commentary on the name Christian! 

Consumerism is the norm of the day it seems.  Whether at church, school, or work, there is a need to be entertained.  We sit back and wait for what “they” will do for us.  While we are waiting we surf the internet or play games on our smart phones.  Could it be that the rich young ruler we read about in Matthew 19 was not only living a compartmentalized life but also a consumeristic one?  He didn’t like what he heard so he went away.  2 Timothy 4:3 tells us “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”  Obviously from the scripture this is not just related to items we purchase but also to attitudes and desires.  We want it our way but we see in God’s Word that He demands it be His way!  Read through Isaiah 58 for example.  Here we find God’s people worshiping and fasting the one true God.  There’s a problem though.  Look at verse three.  “‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it?  Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’”  God’s response through Isaiah follows.  “‘Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.’”  If you read further you will find five “if” statements followed by their promises.  The way to God’s heart can only be found in His way.  That might seem like a circular statement but all of scripture points to the fact that He demands we worship Him and serve Him according to His design.  It’s an active, intentional, engaged, servant life that leaves no room for sitting and waiting for the next act.

The final “c” is conflicted.  Doesn’t it make sense that if we are compartmentalized and consumeristic that we would be conflicted (and conflict-filled as well)?   Now don’t get me wrong…I believe conflict is a natural characteristic and an expected condition of the human race and can even be healthy.  It is when we don’t work through it that we see its devastating effect on our lives.  Christians are admonished to remember what causes conflict.  James 4:1-2 asks the question and gives us the answer as well.  “What causes fights and quarrels among you?  Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?  You desire but do not have, so you kill.  You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.”  What a sad commentary James writes to the church of his day…a message still applicable today.  Paul seems to indicate in Galatians 5:16-18 that conflict has its root in the fleshly or sinful nature.  That’s no newsflash but it is a marker of our spiritual state.  If we are conflicted in our desires then it indicates that we need to take a look and make sure we are walking “by the Spirit” because then we “will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”  In other words, if our self-ish desires are in control then the Spirit is not.  That inner conflict will then affect every relationship in our lives. 

This all sounds pretty depressing doesn’t it?  Well, there is an alternative.  Three more "c" words come to mind.  We can trade compartmentalization for congruency; consumerism for commitment, and conflict for contentment.  How?  By living a fully Christ-like life in accordance with God’s way we can become congruent.  Congruent means we are the same wherever we are.  We are consistent, compatible with ourselves, realizing our imperfections and allowing God to show us how to make them right.  We are Christ-like on Sunday morning and on Saturday night.  We live our life intentionally looking to God for direction and wisdom in all areas.  We don’t make excuses or randomly decide how we live doesn’t matter in special cases.  It always matters.  God always sees.

Submitting our whole selves to Him and determining to seek His presence over our own preferences increases our commitment.  In this day of “don’t tell me what to do” it is sometimes hard to find real examples of commitment.  There are fewer marriages that last 50 years.  Pastors move more often.  Companies watch the bottom line without much regard for the affects their decisions have on their employees.  “Christians” decide the Christ-like life is not worth the cost.  And yet, God’s Word is clear.  Luke 14:25-34 talks about the cost of discipleship.  That cost is “everything.”  The time frame is forever.  We must be committed to God’s will and way.  We cannot sit on the sideline and expect to be recognized by Him when we meet Him face to face.

Choosing unity and practicing peace brings a life of contentment.  Don’t you like the sound of that word?  There is peace and rest contained in it.  It is an option even in the midst of the chaos of this world.  Psalm 133:1 says “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.”  Jesus prayed for the Church’s unity in John 17:22-23…”that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity.”  Paul exhorts the Ephesians in chapter four verse three to “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”  This seems to be a choice point for all of us and it carries much importance for not only the Church but the individual as well.  One of the ways to contentment is through times of solitude with our Savior.  Charles Swindoll, in his book So, You Want to Be Like Christ? Says “We live in a world of noise where many are often fearful of silence.  Even a few moments of silence in a worship service can put people on edge. But it is in silence that one discovers himself, others, and God.”  He goes on to say “In fact, without silence and solitude no one is able to become deeply intimate with Christ.”  A choice for contentment, as well as congruency and commitment, demands we take time to be in God’s Word and in prayerful, silent communion with Him on a regular basis.  It is not something that we can muster up on our own.  It is only through His power and strength working in us.

There is no doubt that God wants to do His great work.  He proclaims that His house is to be a house of prayer.  Whether the house we are referring to is a church building or our bodies, His “house” will only be His house if it is full of prayer.  Desperate, humble, repentant prayer is the only way that God can bring congruency, commitment, and contentment into our lives and grow us up into what He dreams for us to be.  Will you accept the challenge?