I write this first to the world that they may hopefully understand Christianity and why I so joyfully believe in the God of the Bible. I do not write this to try to change you, but rather for your curiosity and to give you a new perspective to consider. And second, I write this to those in the church, in the hope that they might find the fulness of joy missing in most Christians’ lives.
One of the greatest misconceptions of Christianity is that it’s a chore. It’s rules and regulations you have to follow and you have to do it perfectly and the rules are stupid and repressive.
Let me ask you something. Would you like a relationship where love means patience, kindness, gentleness, and never being dishonored? One where your partner is not selfish or easily angered and doesn’t hold onto the past? Someone who always protects you and trusts you?
How about having a partner who thinks the way you do, wants to put your needs in front of theirs and values you more than themselves? Would you like to be in that kind of relationship? I sure would.
But what what if there are a lot of rules attached to that relationship?! What if they demand that you act a certain way?
Well, let me ask you this. What are rules for? Are they not for promoting behavior that is physically and emotionally profitable to oneself and other people?
For example, which of these do you consider negative behaviors, either physically or emotionally harmful to oneself or other people: murder, adultery, theft, lying, greed, malice, slander, strife, jealousy, hatred, fits of rage, selfish ambition, arrogance, drunkenness, quarreling, or betrayal? (1)
Which of these do you consider positive behavior: love, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, patience, generosity, self-control, mercy, compassion, encouragement, honesty, respect, or humility (as in not thinking of yourself more highly than you ought)? (2)
I think most people would agree that the first list are negative behaviors and the second list are positive behaviors. What kind of world would develop if people followed these positive behaviors and considered their friends’ interests (as in their basic needs) as important as their own? If they served one another with the talents and abilities that they have? (3)
This is what God exemplifies and asks for. Christianity is about relationship.
But this is a utopian idea that would never work because people are inherently selfish and it’s impossible to do the best for all people involved in all situations… right?
Well, that’s where God steps in to help. Not to control. To help. God promises that the closer we grow to him, the stronger we will be in positive behaviors. (4)
But there is another thing God asks. There is one more behavior God sees as negative. In fact, he sees it as the most negative behavior possible. Sexual immorality. The most controversial topic in Christianity. If God promotes love, why doesn’t he give people the freedom to love how they define it? Hear me out. Wait till you get to the rewards part before you give up reading now.
It basically comes down to this. God ask for all our hearts, minds and souls. He wants us to be faithful to him as we would be faithful to a beloved spouse or partner. He wants us to commit to him and him alone for the rest of our lives. In the Bible, sex outside of his design, is adultery. Anything we do outside of his design seriously damages our relationship with him and separates us from him the same way it would seriously damage our relationship with our spouse or partner. The God of the Bible is a jealous God. He is not a polyamorous God.
It doesn’t seem fair or right until you know the rewards. He promises with that commitment is ULTIMATE fulfillment. Imagine being with someone who meets every need you have in such a way that every day you are filled with love, joy and peace beyond anything you have yet experienced. Imagine being so satisfied that no trial, persecution, suffering, betrayal or circumstance in life can break you or take away that love, joy and peace. Imagine true contentment that is so great, you are filled with thankfulness every single day.
That’s what he promises and I can tell you from personal experience, that’s what he delivers.
God is love. He is not just full of love, he is the embodiment of love. He didn’t create love, he is in essence love. Love cannot exist without God. Love, as defined by God, “is patient [and] kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs... It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (5)
It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to develop a relationship with God, just as it takes time to develop a relationship with people. But when we commit to God with our hearts, not just out of resigned obedience, the more we will be filled with love, joy, peace and thankfulness. God cannot fill our hearts if we fill them with the world. He cannot fill our hearts if we do not give them fully to him. But when we do, as we grow in relationship with God, we will be filled more and more with his Spirit, until we are so satisfied that nothing else matters. (6)
That is the God described in the Bible and that is the God I follow.
(1) Matthew 15:19, Mark 7:22-23, Romans 1:29-31, Galatians 19-21, Revelation 21:8.
(2) Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 3:12, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 2 Timothy 4:2
(3) Philippians 2:1-4, Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 4:10
(4) Ephesians 3:16, Philippians 4:13, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 2 Thessalonians 2:17, 3:3
(5) 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
(6) John 14:27, 15:10-11, 16:33; Romans 15:13, Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 3:17-19, Philippians 4:7, Colossians 2:7, 1 Peter 1:2, 8, Jude 1:2, 2 Thessalonians 3:16
(6) Philippians 4:11-13, 1 Timothy 6:6
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