Devotionals

My understanding of Biblical Christianity

by Lorraine Taylor
04/10/20
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In my understanding of Biblical Christianity and the natural by-product of serving in is not about counting numbers, the next event, projects, listing off spiritual accolades, boasting of one's church, or oppressing anyone.

In my view, ministering Christ is not about putting others (pastors, leaders, teachers, authors, speakers) on some spiritual pedestal, impressing others with dogma, what we 'do' or belonging to some club mentality.

When I interpret Bibical Christianity and ministry I can sum up the meaning by the following  questions.

'If I am serving the purposes of God in my life, in my neighborhood and my community and the outer lying world?"

Am I serving the purpose of God regardless of; 'title,' regardless, prestige, position, and regardless of worldly 'success'?

Bibical ministry is not boasting, taking credit for what 'I' did, or becoming prideful in my ability. In following biblical mandates, my service or ministry is administering the love, mercy, and grace of God ---- serving right where I live.

Ministry is administering the authentic gospel spreading the radical message of Jesus, who came to earth to model another way of being. As a believer I am called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to abide in a lifestyle modeling Christ as walking, talking, breathing, being the living gospel in the good, and in the bad of life.

Serving Christ and the radical call in minstering is fierce, intense, at times overwhelming, and often unclear, but in each step where grace-abounds!

Ministry is not some superfluous or pious outward appearance of righteousness or some scripted form or method to be applied.

Biblical Christianity and the natural by-product in serving is bearing the cross of Christ amid sorrow, pain, and suffering; our own and others.

Ministry is other centered-focus and living a lifestyle from Christ as my sole source of sufficiency.

When my life is over, and I pass from this earth through the fires of glory, I can take no human idea, act, or deed with me that will matter to Christ.

Am I dying to self to conforming to religion and dying to cultural influences? Am I dying to others' expectations and approval seeking forms or performance-driven agenda's? Am I dying to what a 'church body' or institution expects?

Am I serving Christ wherever I place my feet? None of that matters, and none of that matters in this life.

If I am bearing Christ's cross and living biblical Christianity and biblical Christianity appears nothing like the culture in today's institutional churches or the way of religion or views of the religious elite of this day.

The one question I must ask myself is"Am I fulfilling the intended purposes of God for my life?

Am I continuing to abide, adhere, and intentionally center my heart, soul, and mind in the God-given ordained destiny, inside and out?

Am I being in His way and according to His terms ---- who He has called me to become and am I following God's-strategies, God's-direction, and am I clothing my inner realm with a God-conscious way of being?

Am I fulfilling God's ordained plans and intentions in my life regardless of if anyone notices; regardless if anyone approves and regardless if anyone pays me or recognizes any of it? 

Am I fulfilling God's created destiny for my life even when I don't understand or even when I don't think I am enough and even when I have no support, encouragement or praise from another?

The simple question I must ask that has a profound impact and even deeper implications on my everyday life is;

Am I doing what God has asked of me, and am I doing it as unto Him with my entire thoughts, attitude, intent, and with sincerely motivated desires?

Perhaps in today's cultural climate in churches, these are questions worth asking on a continual basis.

Since we are all under God's construction and moving forward on a continum, our need to evaluate and assess if we are living a marked life as disciples of the way of the cross should be a necessary step. 

Are we using our standard in how we should live out our faith, the way of life Christ modeled? 

Perhaps we can each ask ourselves if the measure of how we live is in the standard of how Jesus lived?

I must ask if Jesus as life is moving and being through mine as the way, the truth and the life!