The Keyword is “Since” Not “If”
As a follow up to my previous post it’s important that we remember that everything we are called to do as a Christ follower is in the context of “since” and not “if”. What’s the difference? If we have the thinking, “if someone is doing ‘x’, or not doing ‘y’, they can’t be a believer”, we are basically inferring that someone has no faith or belief in Christ because of their actions. That’s a pretty big leap, and a sure fire way to further the view that Christians are righteous, judgemental, hippacrits, essentially modern day Pharisees.
As we dig into the New Testament we’ll find it’s very clear that as a result of being, or “since” we are, Christ followers there should be a lot of things that begin to take shape in our lives. It’s those changes, the living differently than the world, that is what begins to speak to people. It causes them to want to understand why we are different. This is what I was getting at yesterday. The way we live our lives has an impact on the Kingdom of Heaven, and our rewards there after we leave this life, but doesn’t not mean we don’t believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior.
What use is there for the gift of God’s grace if we just stick it on a shelf and ignore it?
