The Sole Purpose Of The Christian
This post is also featured on Columbia University's blog, The Witness.
John 13:35
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
Who is to blame for poverty, racism, and war? From a theological perspective, we understand that the plight of this world is the effect of the Devil. The true soldier, wrestles not against flesh and blood, but against the spirits in heavenly places (Eph 6:12). Now, to the untrained ear that may come off as spiritual jargon. But, to the Christian, this is a stark reminder that what we see in the world is an effect of what we don’t see. It doesn’t take a theologian to know that the Devil never sleeps. We can expect him to add evil into the world like the rooster that awaits the sun to crow. Sin isn’t merely an act, but a condition in which we live in. The air we breathe is toxic. The water we drink stunts our growth. Food that was made to nourish us and feed our beautifully sewn bodies, literally, kills us upon consumption. Through Adam’s act of disobedience, sin entered our hearts. Because of this, humans are innately apathetic and selfish. Instead of spreading the wonderful truths of Christ, our actions reflect the evil in our hearts; which, inevitably, result in poverty, racism, and war.
It is Christians’ responsibility to counter poverty, racism, and war. God calls us to reflect Him–to reflect God our lives must be a continuous outpouring of love, peace, and justice. No longer can we sing daily of how God’s love for us overwhelms us, and drowns us, and blankets us; yet, we only offer droplets of His love to others. With the increase of love all three evils can be diluted. In light of Black History month, let me share with you this quote. James Baldwin said, “The universe, which is not merely the stars and the moon and the planets, flowers, grass, and trees, [but the world consists] of other people, and if love will not swing wide the gates, no other power will or can.” While time won’t allow me to comment on all three evils individually, I do plan to speak about how we, as Christians, have dropped the ball on our greatest need—love.
Christians, leaning over to reach the world have fallen into the patterns of it. We live in the most progressive age that has ever existed, yet we still find ourselves in a morally decrepit country. Martin Luther King, Jr. insightfully comments on how, as a country, our moral progress has lagged behind our scientific progress. He says, “We’ve learned to fly the air like birds, we’ve learned to swim the seas like fish, and yet we haven’t learned to walk the Earth as brothers and sisters.” Gentleness and kindness have been replaced with dogmatism and bigotry. Men made in the image of the living God, are murdered like mice in experiments. Women are objectified as sexual objects. Humans are locked in cages, with no intention of rehabilitation. We obdurately (stubbornly refusing to listen to others) hold to opinion, rather than seek to understand one another’s perspective. So, we remain bound by our pride and ignorance and apathy; and, selfishly, withhold the unconditional love Christ calls us to lavish onto others. Our treatment of each other reveals another subtle enemy–besides the Devil–ourselves.
So, we remain bound by our pride and ignorance and apathy; and, selfishly, withhold the unconditional love Christ calls us to lavish onto others.
One could assume that the wealth of knowledge we have access to should increase our proclivity to love. We have full access to all the Scriptures written in our native language; God’s Spirit rests in our hearts, and we have to remind the world of this truth through our actions. Yet, in spite of this, we suppress our knowledge of a Christ-like-love. We have diminished an unconditional Christ-like-love and redefine love as short-term sympathy, with no long-term empathy. Love has been demoted to crass materialism and to a conditional mindset. We have grown to love out of repetition, rather than a sincere concern for one another. Therefore, phrases like, “God Bless” or “I’ll pray for you” have been watered down to Christian jargon and after we utter these words, we forget we even said them. United Way, Red Cross, St. Jude, NAACP, and other social service organizations have outdone Christians in a pursuit of love, justice, and peace; while, the most renown Christian organization—outside of the Church—is Chick-Fil-A. Although it should, knowledge of scripture does not do enough to make us more loving. It is the first step, but following education, we must take direct action to make the world a better place. Once we know better, we should do better.
Brothers and sisters, we must be intentional about the dissemination of justice, peace, and love. Love is mankind’s most potent weapon for personal and social transformation. If we are to show the world how beautiful our God truly is, we must love. Christians must mortify their selfish natures, traditions, and cultural boundaries in order to make Christ beautiful and wonderful to the world. But, how? The Bible exhorts, “Honor one another above yourselves. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” ( Rom. 12:9-21). This view reinforces the ideology that no one can be told they are loved too often. The Christian should delight in this way of living, to show the world that justice, peace, and love are obtainable in this life.
Love is mankind’s most potent weapon for personal and social transformation.
As we strive to love one another and the world, may we never forget the patience and grace and mercy our God has shown us. Mortify selfish desires by asking yourselves, daily, “What have you done today to spread the love of Christ to people”? Let this righteous reminder tug away at our sinful hearts, revealing the new hearts God has blessed us with. Again, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, “We are called to be people of conviction, not conformity; of moral nobility, not social respectability. We are commanded to live differently and according to a higher loyalty.” God’s Spirit rests in our hearts, and we have to remind the world of this truth through our actions. The Holy Spirit has gifted us with a great gift of perseverance, may we use it to diligently reflect Christ until the Lord comes back. It is my prayer that this piece allows us, the Christian community, to push the first domino in the chain that leads to true brotherhood. If not us, who will? May you be encouraged.
“The heart is supposed to follow the head. You can’t love something with your head that you hate with your heart.”
