Today in Sunday school I was making a plea for
non-Christians whose lives nevertheless simulate the lives of Christians. If they believe in and live by the
disciplines of love in all aspects of life that is certainly more meaningful
than if people claim to be Christians yet are devoid of these attributes. After all, it is easy to say “I believe in
Christ” yet live the life of a scoundrel.
An apparent dangerous question arises—if one can live like a Christian
yet not be a Christian where lies the necessity of Christ? My teacher Mitch Marsh immediately provided
the answer. Humanity alone lacks the
perception and strength to sanctify life—only the costly grace of Christ can provide
that. Without the intervention of the
Holy Spirit provided to us by divine grace, we lack the essential ingredient to
live a Christian life. Courage alone, intelligence
alone, conviction alone, even love alone cannot prevail without the spirit of
Christ. An inescapable test faces all of
us—what do we do in the face of persecution and temptation? For it is in the nature of the world that
evil (both within ourselves and starkly threatening us from without) makes hash
of human commitment. Only the grace of
God gives us strength, intelligence, direction, and faith to hold fast. There is no other option; we must derive strength
from outside ourselves or surely fail.
The conclusion is unavoidable—in the final analysis one cannot live like
a Christian without Christ. This is made
plainly evident under conditions of severe stress when we share in the passion
of Christ.
Print Page
