Sheep and Goats (aka Christian Integrity)

After a few weeks traveling through our organist Marlene's Holy Land experience, we're back to talk about Christian integrity. Specifically, what it means to be a sheep, rather than a goat. How do we live our lives trying to match our actions and ideas with what Jesus actually said? And if we're given the free gift of grace and could technically just repent on our deathbed, why should we really even care?

Let's start with that second question: why should we care? There are 3 easy (and somewhat selfish) reasons:

1.It reduces cognitive dissonance. Whether we realize it or not, it makes us mentally uncomfortable when we say we believe something (and hopefully really do believe it!), and then we act in ways that don't confirm those beliefs. It's like a little itch in the back of your brain- and your brain is always working to reduce that discomfort. And when it relieves your concern by telling you that the thing you SAY you believe isn't really that important- or it twists the definition into something easier- you slowly become less able to follow your beliefs. This slow slide into mushy values often continues until/unless something big jolts you out of it.

2. It reduces the harm we cause others. We're familiar with the phrase "Going to church on Sunday doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car," and we can all list hypocritical "Christians" we wish wouldn't claim the name (Westboro Baptist Church, anyone?). But as extreme as the WBC is, we can cause just as much of a stumbling block to others when we don't take Jesus' teachings seriously. It makes others question whether the things God asks are really that good- how can God be wonderful when even His followers don't want to follow what He says?

3. It increases our "God Moments." The more your life draws closer to the ideal Jesus presents, the more likely you are to REALLY see God in the workings of your life. You get to see some of the "hows" and "whys" that other people might miss. You get to start to understand your purpose here. Those moments are better than Christmas morning. Think about all of the uncertainty you have in your life- then think about how great it would be to know, rather than just guess.

Before we go any further, though, it's important to mention one thing: we will always have work to do before our ideals match our actions. We will never reach perfection this side of heaven- and that's OK. Really it's a good thing- it means that there is still something greater and better than anything we've experienced, which I think is a very hopeful thing. And if we could reach perfection on our own, there would be no need for Jesus. You're in good company, even when you're falling short of your own goals. We can be people of integrity AND hypocrites at the same time- it's about the heart and which side has the greater weight in our lives.

Now, as we explore how we give precedence to the goal of integrity, let's keep the following things in mind:

1. You need to actually WANT to follow Jesus. Bruxy Cavey has a great analogy for this one; John Owen (the puritanical preacher) said it this way:

Why do you think you want to be in heaven forever if you don’t even want to spend time with God here on earth? (paraphrased)

2. We will fail miserably at following Christ if we don’t have a clear idea of what he’s actually asking of us. This might require some study, but at the very least it requires some time set aside for reflection.

3. We are all called to the same goals in Christ, but the way that plays out can be different for each of us; there will be things that are the same for all of us (we can all agree that loving our neighbor probably means we don't torture them, but it might mean becoming a nurse for one person and becoming a philanthropic business person for another).

4. We are called to follow Christ, not other Christians; Christians don’t always get it right 100% of the time, so their actions have to be examined in light of the original call. That said, other Christians can also be really helpful examples to guide us in that walk.

5. Your life might be the only bible a person ever reads. You hold a very powerful position when you decide to become the hands and feet of God. It demands that you take your responsibility as a representative of Christ seriously. Just as your coach might require you to wear a shirt and tie on game days instead of your normal sweatpants (to be a positive representative of your school), Jesus requires that you subordinate some of your personal wishes/freedom in order to be an emblem of HIS team. The apostle Paul puts it this way in Romans 14 (talking about not letting food get in the way of love):

¹³ Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. ¹⁴ I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. ¹⁵ If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. ¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, ¹⁸ because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
¹⁹ Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. ²⁰ Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. ²¹ It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

  

Romans 14 goes on to nicely conclude our topic of the day:

^22-23 Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don’t impose it on others. You’re fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you’re not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you’re out of line. If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong.

In the coming weeks, we'll look at how certain people are living out their beliefs- both locally and globally, in big ways and in small ways. I hope they'll provide some inspiration as to how God is calling YOU to live out your faith!


5 Minutes of God Time Song: Nearer My God To Thee by The Piano Guys