It seems anymore that, when confronted with a bit of freneticism, I’m comforted in God. Even more so now than I’ve ever been. This may seem like a “duh” statement, but it’s really a point of ponderance for me. When I was younger, it was like, “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. ‘Peace with God’ and all that kind of stuff. But I’ve got this.” That, and “Thanks, God. I know you’re there. Now I’m gonna go out and do it my way anyway.”
Now? Maybe not so much. And of course, this is a good thing. It makes me want to pay attention, and of course, align with the things God asks of me.
I’ve read the Bible multiple times — at least once a year for almost as long as I’ve been a Christian (33 years?), and I’ve noticed that there are certain passages in the Bible that clue me in to being a “good” person – a kind of Christian “how to.” I’m not talking straight up ten commandments stuff here, but maybe more along the lines of just the two: Love god with all of your heart and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. I see the latter especially in passages like Romans 12, which, paraphrased, tells me stuff like:
- I shouldn’t go along with everything the world tells me, but rather, I should let God transform my mind.
- I shouldn’t think too much of myself, but should think more seriously in my judgement of things.
- If God has gifted me to serve, then I should serve. The same goes for teaching and encouraging. I should use the gifts I’ve been given to give generously of myself to others.
- If I’m called to lead, I should lead with enthusiasm. If I’m called to forgive, I should forgive cheerfully.
- My love for others should be genuine – like the love I have for my own brothers and sisters.
- I should hate what is evil and hold onto what is good; outdoing others in showing them honor; rejoicing in hope; and being patient in difficulties.
- I should help others in need, being hospitable and blessing people even if they’re cursing me.
- I should rejoice with those who rejoice, sharing in their good news and celebrating without jealousy. And when people are sad, I should share the burden of their mourning.
- In all things, I should live in harmony with others, not being stuck up or wise in my own eyes, but associating with and giving honor to those whom the world would label “worthless.”
- I should do my best to live peaceably with everyone — I love that phrase, “in as much as it is up to you” — giving others honor and leaving the right to take care of any wrongs and slights to God alone.
- I shouldn’t repay evil with evil. As a matter of fact, Paul tells me with the last verse of the chapter that I shouldn’t let evil overpower me, but rather, that I should “overcome evil with good.”
Christianity has a bad rap in some circles, and I get that sometimes. So many who claim Jesus don’t live as they’re called, and non-Christians who see that really don’t need a lot of evidence to make their excuses. Still, knowing I have to be careful not to glom onto what Paul writes in Romans to the exclusion of some of the other things God has commanded (even right there in Romans), the acts of a Christian from Romans 12 are clearly there for me in black and white. Why would I complicate things when it’s pretty much that simple? Why would I let myself be the excuse to whom those who reject God point?
We all have the evidence of creation from which to begin, but that won’t necessarily drive people into God’s arms. As a matter of fact, in many cases it only makes things worse by leaving people without an excuse in the end. But, the actions of a Christian living as the Bible tells us in Romans 12 (and in other places equally as well), might help along the way. I can be comfortable in that.