Christian Meat for Christian Muscles
Part 1 - Faith, Love, Jesus, the Kingdom, and Christian Values
by
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From the article ‘Faith is a Paradigm Shift’. With age comes wisdom, they say, and with wisdom comes shifting viewpoints, away from the strictly material and worldly, to the enrichment of the inner life, and our relationship with God. In her novel, Heart of the Family, the aging matriarch Lucilla determines that her remaining days should be spent ‘making her soul’ fit for its meeting with God. But in fact, at any time during life, the faltering human spirit can experience a paradigm shift that will change its course back towards its Maker. From very small incidents to those of far greater importance that affect many people, from losing a job to losing thousands of fellow countrymen in a national disaster; the human spirit is often faced with circumstances that demand a change in thinking. When everything is swept away except those you love, the lesson is obvious and very much taken to heart. The plasma TV, the car, and the expensive furnishings were not worth the lives they might have taken with them. A parent who clasps a child close, knowing that everything else has gone, except that child that God has spared, sees the priorities very clearly. But a paradigm shift need not be commensurate with such dramatic events. Sometimes there need be no event at all, but a chance encounter, or remark, or a moment, bringing sharply into question society’s values which have always been blindly followed, yet which never brought real peace of mind. It can be as simple as deciding not to follow the stamping commuter crowd up the railway station stairs, but standing back to let them all pass. Suddenly that desperate clutch of hunched backs pounding its way to the grave reminds the observer that this joyless pursuit of career goals is missing one vital factor - the opportunity to stop and reflect, and thereby the opportunity to ‘make their souls’. A picture of a starving child on a charity poster, a homeless man with a cardboard sign, a pensioner’s meagre basket of goods at the checkout - any of these can cause a person to stop and reflect, “there, but for the grace of God, go I”. But if the reflection goes no further that a smug reassurance that God is on the side of those who have got it together, the soul making moment is missed. When asked if Jews should pay taxes to Rome, Jesus showed his questioners the face of Caesar on the coin, and asked who it represented. His questioners agreed it was Caesar, and Jesus replied that it then must be his gold. “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar ’s, and render unto God the things which are God’s”. Too often, people complain to God about things which are little real concern to Him. The paradigm shift occurs when we realize it is the soul which matters most to God. Not all humans experience the kind of paradigm shift that sees them accepting poverty and privation so they can serve others in need. Not everyone is a Mother Theresa. But many humans do come to realize that a life which serves only money leaves them ill equipped to render anything at all unto God.
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About the Book
The Bible is full of pivotal verses that are very well-known but not as well understood. Unless one attends Bible college, the full benefit that comes from studying the scriptures will probably not be realised. How then can the average Sunday church attendee become “strong in the Lord” which is every Christian’s birthright? The topics discussed in this book (faith, love, Jesus, the kingdom, and Christian values) will help provide the spiritual nourishment to encourage growth and strengthen the inner man. Take for example, the concept of faith that is central to spiritual life. It is a gift from God, but what is it, doesn’t everybody have faith of one sort or another? It’s impossible to please God without it, but how well are we using it for that purpose? It is the substance of things hoped for and the key to answered prayer; but is our duplicitous nature preventing our faith being effective? Perhaps if these questions were truly resolved in minds, we would know for sure that we are living in faith. Then there is the topic of love. Love is a generic word that is experienced throughout all stages of life differently. Yet love is the measure that Jesus said would distinguish Christians from all others. Does Christian love need clarification? Do we appreciate the relevance of the example of how to love that Jesus displayed for us? Applying ourselves to Christian values is the way to a treasured life, but it does not come without challenges. The godly precepts governing holiness, unselfishness, sexuality, truth and honesty, are contrary to the ways of the world. Are we taking advantage of every opportunity to defend and promote these differences, or would we prefer society’s alternative value system to be motivating our children? Jesus is our Lord and Saviour, but what does His Lordship actually mean to us? How familiar are we with His incredible life, His claims, His parables and miracles? Would a fresh look at Jesus help us to be able to keep our focus on Him? Are we clothed in Him? Are we living in Him? Is there something He wants to say to us to keep us from straying off the narrow path? Some of Jesus teachings are hard to swallow, like: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:54) A better understanding of Jesus in the settings of the gospels, will help to explain why Jesus say some bizarre things. The kingdom is our destination. Let’s embrace the glorious everlasting Kingdom that Jesus promised to us; by refreshing our understanding of its entry criteria, the attitudes that embody it, and the resources that support it. With a more complete understanding of these foundational things, we will have more confidence to live as God desires, and confront those in the world who need to know Him.
About the Author
‘Christian Meat for Christian Muscles’ was written by a number of authors under license to Sandtorock through the Helium.com organisation. From the dozens of submissions received on each title, the articles that appear in this book were selected as the best. Every writer has a unique style and brings their own knowledge and experience. The result is a smorgasbord of food for thought on matters central to the Christian experience and Christian growth. Part 1 of ‘Christian Meat for Christian Muscles’ discusses faith, love, Jesus, the kingdom, and Christian values. Part 2 of ‘Christian Meat for Christian Muscles’ discusses wisdom, self esteem, character, prayer, and the promises of God. Your feedback to the authors would be appreciated by visiting sandtorock.com where you can also contribute your own reflections and comments on each title.