A comment on my last post commented that I had stated what “not” to do, but asked what Christians “should” do. This is an important question and an obvious fault in my last post. Thankfully, as this is a blog, my views can be expressed and considered through the totality of this blog and not just one post.

So the question:

I would like to make a comparison.

Non-Christian academics who consider themselves biblical or Christian scholars often like to try and make the case that the New Testament contradicts itself. They make rash assumptions about the intent of the writer and consider each book on it’s own. One contradiction is that of salvation by grace and faith, and salvation through works. They point to James to support the latter and some of Paul’s writings to support the former.

However, as I know, and some of you know as well, salvation is through Jesus Christ alone. When we submit our lives to Christ we are “born again” or given a new heart. It is through this saving knowledge of Jesus Christ that our lives are changed. Good works are not the pathway to salvation, but the result of salvation. You can tell a tree by it’s fruit.

Keeping that in mind…

The heart of the problem I referred to in my last post is not one of action, but one of the heart and mind. The question is not “what mission are you on?” but “are you thinking missionally?” I believe God makes clear what mission he wants us to be on in our lives.

The problem comes when we start taking our orders from elsewhere. I may be a Democrat, but I am a card-carrying Christian. My devotion should not be confused. If you are too attached to your wallet, politics, comfort or culture to be attached to the Word of God and it’s truths, then you are not aligned with God’s will.

The problem is one of the heart.

So do not worry about whether you’re doing enough “stuff” or if you are sufficiently aligned with God’s will…A good general rule is that if you can be honest with yourself and know in your heart that you are open to accepting whatever Mission God gives you, then you are on the right track.