Introduction
God at the Center?
It is one thing to talk about God/Christ at the center of life, the center of Christian existence, but the realities of this fast-track, constantly-changing, unpredictable world tend to send us off in every direction at the same time. We resemble the disoriented fellow who got on his horse and rode off in 4 directions.
Further, we live in a culture that sends us mixed messages about identity and worth issues. Our world is generally confused about who we are and what matters. On one hand, individualism is the highest good and we are expected to be self-governing solely with our own approval and rights. On the other hand, we are pressured to conform, fit in, and find self-fulfillment the same ways others do. We have a cultural expectation regarding manhood, families, personalities, and a host of other things. We are in a double bind between pursuing things personally fulfilling and doing things which appeal to others and are accepted as worthwhile and fulfilling. These pressures extend to our jobs and occupations: are our jobs to be enjoyable and self-fulfilling, must they reward our egos, must they also be socially acceptable. We defend the workaholic approach with ideas that God expects us to do all we can, enjoy fruits of labors, use talents wisely, etc. etc.
What is at the center of such a life? When life is too busy, what is at the center? When life is boring and humdrum, what is at the center? We give lip service to making God the center, but how long does it take in marriages, vocations, recreational pursuits, relaxation, leisure activities, civic involvement before human wants and desires become the true center? And even down at the church house--it is easy to talk about God's leadership and direction, but how often are decisions made based on who will be happy and fulfilled. It is easy to talk about God and Jesus as the reason for the existence of the church, as the center of our body life in the church, but what motivates the decisions and directions of the church and her activities, or lack of activity?
It is no easy thing to put God at the center--to love God with heart, soul, mind, strength. This old idea is yet illusive in human life and practice. Today we rethink how our individual lives and shared life in the Christ community can be brought back to the central core of existence we claim to believe and struggle to practice.
But there are still problems....
In teaching about Christianity, must make clear that following Christ will not solve all of one's problems, the health/wealth gospel is wrong, the poverty/sickness gospel is equally wrong. But we can find tools for living, as in a master-apprentice relationship, we can find opportunities for skill development. Life is not a merry-go-round, Christianity is not a set of restrictions.
Fill in the blank: Jesus is the real __________ of life. Many possibilities. From our title, he is the center. All else is "eccentric." He is the real source of life, he is the light of life. He is the peace of life, Lord of Life, Creator of Life, giver of Life, sustainer of life, redeemer of life, he is the source of significance, meaning.
John 10:10, he can to provide abundant life. He is the abundance of life. Jesus came to give life both spiritually and physically. Which of this is being referred to in the text? Both. Jesus provides abundance in our physical lives and in our spiritual lives.
Christianity does not declare the physical life unimportant, this is not dualism, but the spiritual life is the ultimate goal, John 6:27. This does not imply asceticism, gnostic dualism, Epicureanism, stoicism, or cynicism as viable options.
The presence of problems is the precise point of the challenges before us. The church desperately needs, in our problem-plagued world, the kind of leaders who put Jesus at the center. A major key to this principle is leadership. "Be like me" is the command of Jesus. Paul said, Follow me, imitate me. Elders say, be like me. Deacons say, be like me. Parents and teachers likewise. Ministers must echo, live your life like me. Follow my example--my diligence, my faithfulness, my attendance, my commitment. Be serious about this matter of following Jesus as I am serious. The church where leaders are not in attendance is in trouble. The church where leaders are not clearly following Christ will not grow.
The result of this truth
This fact does declare that Jesus comes to make cosmos out of chaos, order out of disorder.
Jesus, God and the HS hold the important things of life together--home-family-marriages-- Matt. 19:5-6; the church and various races--Eph. 2:14-15; God's people--Rom. 5:10; Christians through the HS--Eph. 2:21-22.
Jesus centers us by helping us order the things of life, this is priorities, what is important, what is spiritual, what is important to salvation.
I. Principles for making Jesus the center
II. Illustration/Application
Jesus as the Center in a biblical passage
Acts 2:36-38. Jesus is the center, 2:36.
Repentance/baptism
Required of all people
in the name of/by the authority of Jesus
