Evangelical Christians, especially your Southern Baptist variety, have taken a lot of pride in their lack of getting swept up in the religiosity of "Old Church". We don't have massive gothic cathedrals, brass furniture on the altar, priests in flowing robes with orate headwear, or anything else that someone might consider an image of "old church religion". There is something awesome in a group of believers realizing that their practice of religion isn't as important as their relationship with the God their religion points towards.
Sometimes I wonder if there aren't individuals who have seen the pendulum swing too far in the opposite direction. What I'm talking about is a belief that the works of your faith are totally irrelevant as long as you have good intentions. "I love Jesus, so who are you to judge how I live my spiritual life?" Oh, what a comforting defense of our imperfections... which is not rooted in the Bible at all.
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. (James 2:14-17)
Recently I was talking about this subject with another friend as he was helping serve our church and he mentioned that he isn't really a public speaker or a large-group teacher. He loves doing. I probably didn't say the right things or stumbled over what I wanted to say, but looking back on it I could only think about how pure of an expression of faith that truly was. It's not that his works meant he was a good Christian, but his desire to pursue good works was proof of the faith he held in his heart. The importance wasn't on whether he did the right type of service, but on the fact that he has a heart to show care and support to others... this is the heart of Christ and a good indicator of the work God has done on the inside of a man's heart.
The work man is doing on the outside is often a reflection of the work God has already done on the inside. (Man, that's quotable.)
Where this leaves us as individuals and a body of believers is that others need to be able to see the proof of God's work in our hearts by our actions. If we only exist to sustain ourselves, our traditions and culture, or our own reputation, then we are living for the things of man instead of the things of God. This is an area where I am excited about The Well's potential because we get to start out without any of the baggage of heritage and history. With that said, we will quickly form our own little traditions and when we do, the same lesson applies. The God we represent must remain more important than our representation through religious practices.
If people can't look at our churches, our households, and our individual persons and say "I see Christ in that", then maybe we have to spend time alone with God to just refocus and see if there is more work God needs to do in our hearts.
PRAYER
Father, you have given us so many blessings that touch our hearts each and every day. Convict us and encourage us to act with works that reflect the change you have already made on the inside. Give us the type of energy and heart so that others can look at us and clearly see "Jesus is there". This is our only desire is that through what we do, people can be pointed towards you and what your son did on the cross for all mankind. In your name we pray, Amen.
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