The Constant of Christ

First, a shameless plug for a really excellent online bookstore for works on Christianity. Christianbook.com has repeatedly impressed me with their selection of books about faith, Christianity and the Christian way of life. It is an online bookstore in the traditional sense, you’ll find Joel Osteen, Billy Graham, and others, but what makes it especially helpful to me are the academic and reference works available, usually at amazing prices. Check it out, you’ll find something to buy, enjoy, and learn from.

I purchased the Complete Sermons of Martin Luther from Christianbook.com. An excellent find and typical of the kind of material I am looking for. There are seven volumes to the set, which I purchased for about $35.00 (plus shipping, of course). This is an excellent buy and an eye-opening read. There is a lot of material here and a cover-to-cover reading is practically impossible, so I would simply try to find a top of interest and read what Luther had to say about it.

Today's Post: The Constant of Christ

Sometimes we struggle with our faith, thinking it isn’t what it should be, it’s not strong enough, we’re being weak in our faith. Martin Luther has an interesting thought on the subject:

Thus we see that Christ makes no distinction between weak and strong faith, and rejects no one; for weak faith is also faith, and if it only continues, it will ever grow stronger. He [Christ] came into the world to receive the weak, and to carry and sustain them. If he were as impatient as we are, He would at once say to us: “Depart from me, I will have nothing to do with you; for you do not believe as you ought.” Who could receive help from him? But the great art of Christ is to know how to deal gently with the weak, not to knock them about and impatiently drive them away. Even though today they may not be strong, it may happen in an hour’s time that they grasp the Word more richly then we who regard ourselves as strong. (Luther’s Church Postil, Vol III; Twenty-First Sunday After Trinity; p275-33.) 

Let’s look at this: Christ makes no distinction between weak and strong faith, and rejects no one. How often do we struggle with our faith; we’re not doing it right, we’re not doing it enough, we’re getting it wrong. Luther says there is no difference between weak and strong faith. To me, that makes a clear and powerful distinction about Christ and his relationship with us. In our studies we find ourselves working and learning to place our faith and love in Christ. Luther says the reverse is also true: Christ places His faith and love in US! The clear Unconditional Love of Christ. It is His gift. Now, think about that. His commitment to us is as strong as our commitment to Him. This is love at its most perfect. He "rejects no one."

Luther continues: For weak faith is also faith, and if it only continues, it will ever grow stronger. This is particularly powerful for me. Take note of Luther's statement about "weak faith is also faith." This is important. On days when our faith may not be what it should be, maybe we're too busy and we simply are not thinking about our relationship with God and our faith, this does not mean that faith goes away. Faith is a constant. Once Christ is in your life, he is there, within you. So, on days when your faith does not feel as strong, try not to worry, you have made the commitment and the commitment is constant and on-going. What Luther says next is more important. "If it only continues, it will ever grow stronger." Now, think about this. Remember when your relationship with Christ and your walk toward faith was new? If your experience was like mine, you could feel the "new" of it, and it was a learning, growing process. Step-by-step, day-by-day. I started my walk toward faith in 2004 by watching Joel Osteen and reading his books. I was saved in 2007. I am just now, (four years later!) beginning to feel a daily "touch" by God and getting a grip on how He is leading me, learning to listen, and learning to let go. It really is a Journey.  

Another interesting point from Luther is his remark about how “impatient we are.” Seems that even in Luther’s time, everyone was in a hurry. But Christ stays with us, He is here to hold us up when we fall, when we fail, when nothing seems to work. I think the point that stands out for me the most is Luther’s comment about the “Great Art of Christ.” It is art. Art in its finest form. Luther continues: Even though today they may not be strong, it may happen in an hour’s time that they grasp the Word more richly than we who regard ourselves as strong. My understanding of this is even though we may fail and fall, we always have the Word to get us back to a proper place with a greater understand of what the Bible is saying. I'm getting more out of my reading today than I did four years ago.

So, keep reading, learning, thinking, praying, trying, living. Because the Unconditional Love, the Constant of Christ is with us on our daily journey.

Which Way Is The Way?

Church has really changed over the years, hasn't it? It seems we've lost a lot of the "old traditions" of church and church-going. One thing that stands out in my mind is that people actually applaud in church now. When I was a teenager, you wouldn't dream of applauding in church. It reminds me of the old Andy Griffith episode where Andy, Barney, Opie, and everyone else are in church. Someone is introduced to speak and Barney innocently starts to clap. Andy stops him in the caring way that he had. 

It introduces an interesting topic brought up by a friend of mine in Ohio.  (She has a blog called Illuminating the Grey.) Church is simply boring for younger people, perhaps under 40. It seems this generation (is it X or Y?) is looking for something else in church and the "way is used to be" doesn't interest them. No problem there, things change. But for me, I like "old church." And churches. When I pass through small towns, I tend to look for their churches. They are usually the beautiful white churches with the tall steeples. Typical of small town churches. Today's churches look more like a Wal-Mart. 

The music has changed, too. Personally, I prefer the old gospel music ("In the Garden," "Softly and Tenderly"). It seems deeper and richer. I get more out of it. Today's Christian Music (as one of the radio stations here calls it) doesn't do a thing for me--and I've tried listening to it. Sounds like all the other junk music out there. But I suppose I'm typical of many people who find themselves in their mid-50's. I spend more time wondering "Where did it go?" rather than "Where am I going?" It's the "going" that takes adjustment. 

I don't want to be "entertained" at church. That's why I haven't gone in so many years. Today's church reminds me of a pop concert more than a church service: loud music, noisy crowd, etc. I like quiet in church, a peace, a reverence, a calm so you can actually listen to and hear God. 

But I suppose whether you choose the "old way" or a "new way," either one is fine, as long as it leads to "THE way." Whether you spend your Sunday's in a church singing and clapping, or on the back porch with your Bible in quiet study and thought, as long as you spend some time with God, that is a good thing. It is where He wants you to be. No matter what generation you are. 

Opportunity

It is interesting to me when God places a not-so-obvious opportunity in front of us. This morning I was in the bookstore (no surprise there!) and it wasn't long before a woman came up and asked if I could help her. I said certainly, and we walked over to the magazine section where she said, "Could you get a magazine for me? I just don't know why they put them up so high!" It was a copy of Good Housekeeping. She wasn't very tall, and she simply didn't have the reach to get it. I was happy to help her and she was delighted to get her magazine.

I think God gives us the opportunity to bless others when we don't even know it. I thought about getting the magazine for the woman, and it was easy to pass it off as just getting something for someone. I think it is bigger than that, and we as Christians need to look for these opportunities. They can be something as simple as getting the door for someone (especially seniors), picking something up for someone when they drop it. Doing something for a neighbor (Our neighbor flies the flag almost every day. Sometimes the wind will knock it down. I love the flag, so I will roll it up and put it on his porch. Anything for Old Glory!) Simple stuff, yes, but in the big picture, it plays an important role in building our faith.