Practice...If you've had any interest in basketball or sports media in the last 10 years, then you probably remember Allen Iverson's press conference rant from 2002 on this topic. You mention the word around me, and to this day A.I.'s voice pops into my head mocking the reporters, "We're talking about practice!" This topic is our focus this week, coming from the theme presented at the young peoples' retreat I was on this weekend and re-iterated today in a conversation with a friend and her dad.
When we think about the Christian life, there are certain principles and practices that are meant to be included. Matthew 25:31-40 teaches believers metaphorically about their duties. The sheep who inherit the kingdom of heaven are those who feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, visit the sick and in prison. In John 3:21, we find Jesus teaching that those who do what is true come to the light so that their works may be seen as from God. Good works are not the basis of our salvation, but they are the response we are called to give because we have been assured of our salvation.
Looking at these two passages and throughout scripture, we find that we are called to a responsible faith. The faith we exhibit calls us to step up, calls us to live differently because we know better than the traps of sin. Responsibility is given to those who have shown they can handle greater duty; generally this means that it is given to those who have best practiced the things which are not yet fully theirs. To go back to Iverson's differentiating between practices and games, in the Christian life we don't have that luxury. The way we live is never in secret, we rarely get re-dos's.
When we decide to change our form, to change our practices, others are going to see.
Perhaps the hardest responsibility is given to the Christian who works not in the institutional church, but in the factories, on the construction site, in the political realm, in the hospital, or anywhere else. Each day we are all called to live as the light in our place; this must be done consciously because its easy to let our faith go into the shadows of church and home. Our practices , revealed to us by God in the scriptures that we read on our own and that we hear preached from pulpit, must reflect that we believe in a God who cares, who saves, and who loves. God has given us strengths that secure us, but also weaknesses that he has intended for us to develop. Our field, our court, our course is the same one we use for practice and games; let's give our best and consistently seek God's aid which he has promised.
When we think about the Christian life, there are certain principles and practices that are meant to be included. Matthew 25:31-40 teaches believers metaphorically about their duties. The sheep who inherit the kingdom of heaven are those who feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, visit the sick and in prison. In John 3:21, we find Jesus teaching that those who do what is true come to the light so that their works may be seen as from God. Good works are not the basis of our salvation, but they are the response we are called to give because we have been assured of our salvation.
Looking at these two passages and throughout scripture, we find that we are called to a responsible faith. The faith we exhibit calls us to step up, calls us to live differently because we know better than the traps of sin. Responsibility is given to those who have shown they can handle greater duty; generally this means that it is given to those who have best practiced the things which are not yet fully theirs. To go back to Iverson's differentiating between practices and games, in the Christian life we don't have that luxury. The way we live is never in secret, we rarely get re-dos's.
When we decide to change our form, to change our practices, others are going to see.
Perhaps the hardest responsibility is given to the Christian who works not in the institutional church, but in the factories, on the construction site, in the political realm, in the hospital, or anywhere else. Each day we are all called to live as the light in our place; this must be done consciously because its easy to let our faith go into the shadows of church and home. Our practices , revealed to us by God in the scriptures that we read on our own and that we hear preached from pulpit, must reflect that we believe in a God who cares, who saves, and who loves. God has given us strengths that secure us, but also weaknesses that he has intended for us to develop. Our field, our court, our course is the same one we use for practice and games; let's give our best and consistently seek God's aid which he has promised.
Nice post. I like the general theme of 'practices' but that our Christian life is not a 'practice,' but real life. I particularly liked this line: "Good works are not the basis of our salvation, but they are the response we are called to give because we have been assured of our salvation."
ReplyDeleteI've heard that seminary is sort of like 'practice' for the real world of ministry - a place where we can make mistakes without hurting the 'team.' Do you think that makes sense with what you are saying about rarely getting re-dos in life? Where does grace come in?
I'm looking forward to following your posts.
Thanks for the comment Stephen. I've wondered about that saying along the lines of if I think it's true or not, as well as if it should be true or not. I think for seminarians, seminary can be a good place to begin getting our theology "in line". It's good that we be challenged by other views, and hopefully have our foundations strengthened. That being said, I think no matter how much grace a professor or a teaching church congregation can give, the consequences of our actions/sermons/decisions in those contexts, both positive and negative, will still affect those we study or worship with. Mistakes can be made, but I think we have to be consistent in how we address those by way of accountability and careful communication.
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