FROM ZEALOUS ADVOCATE TO RELUCTANT ATTENDEE TO DELIBERATE ABSENTEE

"From zealous advocate to reluctant attendee to deliberate absentee."

Someone other than me threaded these descriptors to illustrate the evolution of the unaffiliated Christian. In a series of prior posts I have tested terms like 'de-churched' and 're-churched' to describe the believer voluntarily disassociated from the local church. The expression tracks the emotional and convictional movement of a person who has been enthusiastically involved in local church ministries and over time for reasons irrelevant to this comment, begins to attend sporadically, declines service opportunities, reduces the tithe/offering in order to support ministries outside the church. Then one day, after consideration, this person stays away from church, never to return.

A point that some of my readers make, is that community/family/body of Christ and a consequent accountability is essential to the corporate entity that we have together become as new creations. We are all called to holiness. One of the ways by which this transformation predictably occurs is by being transparent and answerable within a localized gathering of other believers, some of whom are approved to shepherd and care for us. The concern in part may be that the unaffiliated Christian without this mutual accountability may spiritually depreciate.

The concern is valid. What will the unaffiliated Christian do to remain a zealous promoter of the gospel, filled with the Spirit, pure, godly. Can this health status be maintained unaccompanied? Why don't you tell me. A married couple can cheer lead one another. Even they do better in the company of other Christians. Some readers say this is the way God intended for his church to function in the world to emit light and to flavour companions. I suppose that is church.

RETHINKING GODLINESS

One might expect that a former pastor and teacher now past his apportioned three score and ten years of life, would not only possess a superior understanding of godliness, but also would be living within a state of godliness. I concur with the expectation but I question that it can be assumed that a pastor or any Christian is living life that way because so much can be feigned, pretended. A senior often moves slowly, speaks infrequently, smiles tranquilly and perhaps conceals a world of hurt and trauma and fear and perhaps anger.

I admire writers but I am also weary of writers who multiply titles with trite formulaic approaches to subjects as profound as godliness. 10 disciplines of a godly man.  10 characteristics of a godly man. 10 steps to a godly life. I reject or strongly react against this methodic, mechanical spirituality. I refuse a suggestion that having accomplished the ten steps one receives a virtual graduation certificate. I prefer to understand the pursuit of godliness as a constant way of living in relationship with God.

I want to be a godly man. That is at least the starting point. If I am going to be godly, godlike, then I appreciate that I need to be with Him. I need to know him and let him know me in the sense of talking my life to him. Of course I understand that knowing God requires learning what he has told me about himself in scripture, and yes I know talking to him with regularity is prayer. I want to disassociate rules and guilt from my definition of godliness. That would seem to me an advancement, a superior understanding of godliness. I desire a steady and developing confident daily life of conscious interaction with God’s Spirit so that I know I am in step with him, and from that righteous centre-point I trust, think, act, talk, read, write and help others. I can then even try new things, step out in faith, surprise myself and be surprised by God. In the course of this everyday holiness, God’s attributes become evident in me and God is reflected in me and He is pleased.

ACCOMPLISHING TRANSFORMATION

The purpose of the Christian life is like the purpose of creation: that one should be like God and enjoy all the powers which He has placed within His much loved creature child. Romans 8:29 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He (Jesus) might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Godliness, or Godlikeness has always been the standard toward which God wanted the human to live. That is, God fashioned the human in his own image, after his own likeness. To overcome the impairment of that image due to personal wrongdoing, this Image-bearing has been made possible through reclamation, redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ. The recovery or restoration takes place like a transformation, much of which takes place here and now as we are living life. It is a lifelong process. Changes will be made throughout our lives. That’s not even the entire story. What is truly neat about this transformation is that Christ himself lives within us by virtue of His Holy Spirit inside us.

Three big theological terms tell our story, Regeneration, Sanctification, and Glorification