Practical Christianity

Music artist Rich Mullins once said...

"Every time I go to a different culture, I'm challenged to come back and look at my Scriptures again, because they underline different parts of their Bibles than we do...I have a feeling that if we went all around the world and collected all the Bibles and put them all together, everything would get underlined...
"There are some basic truths that are big enough that we can find unity in them, but I'm not sure that truth is quite the way we understand it; I'm not sure that it has so much to do with statements of belief. Truth is alive; it is a person; and that person is Jesus."

What does it mean to live in a Christian manner?

In essence, of course, this means that we believe the Bible, God's Word, teaches us how we are to live our lives. All Christians believe this, but not all Christians live consistently with that belief. And, like Rich Mullins said, we tend to focus on different parts of the Bible. This is appropriate: we are all part of one body (1 Cor 12:12-26; Rom 12:4-5) and we are all working on the same wall (Nehemiah 3). As a result, we can learn from each other and be reminded that the whole Bible instructs us in everything we do.

God's instructions for living are abundantly set forth in Scripture, from the Ten Commandments, through the Old Testament wisdom literature, to the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament letters. There are also many stories of men who lived according to God's law (or not), and received the blessings (or curses) of obedience (or disobedience).

Of course, the best example of Christian living is Christ himself. "What Would Jesus Do?" is a common question nowadays, and it's a good question as long as we consider our answer carefully, and don't slip into simple platitudes. (For instance, we believe Jesus enjoyed a good glass of wine now and then.) Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." (Jn 14:15) He demonstrated His love for the Father in keeping the law, down to the last jot and tittle. To live like Christ is to:

  • Live a disciplined and holy life. Display the fruits of the spirit, and avoid the "works of the flesh."
  • Live in community. As a member of the Trinity, Jesus demonstrates living in constant, loving, sacrificial relationship with the Father and the Spirit. As our Savior, he demonstrated the amazing willingness to lay down His life for His sheep. We can learn much from His example!
Did you find this review helpful?
5 Items found Print
Active Filters: Library Binding
Double Dangerous Book for Boys
by Conn & Hal Iggulden
from HarperCollins
for 3rd-Adult
in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN)
$25.99
Earning Money
Living and Working Together
by Frederic Rossomando, Florence Leventhal, Marilyn Szymaszek, illustrated by Gioia Fiammenghi
from Franklin Watts
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
Guise of Every Graceless Heart
by Terrill Irwin Elniff
from Chalcedon / Ross House Books
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$5.00
Morning and Evening
by Charles H. Spurgeon & Alistair Begg
2nd edition from Crossway Books
Devotional Material for 9th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$29.99
Stepping Heavenward
by Elizabeth Prentiss
from Lamplighter Publishing
Femininity/Realistic Fiction for 8th-12th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)