A Means to an End
If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all His mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. 1 Corinthians 13:2-3 MSG
Insight
This summer, I had the privilege of serving at a Christian summer camp in Littleton, NC. In conversation, I often asked the campers who already had faith in God, “How do you want to grow in your relationship with Jesus?” I heard the same kind of answer over and over again: “Well, I really need to read my Bible more… I should pray more often… I should definitely attend church more regularly…”
In Christian circles today, we often measure the strength and vitality of one’s faith based on how regularly they engage in spiritual disciplines. We think a “good Christian” is simply one who reads their Bible every day, attends church weekly, prays before every meal, and regularly participates in a small group. However, we don’t just evaluate the faith of others using this “rubric.” We tend to define the quality of our own faith by how well we check off boxes on a religious to-do list, too.
Spiritual disciplines are not a bad thing. They are essential to the Christian life. Through spiritual disciplines, we grow in our intimacy with God and our knowledge of His character. However, it is dangerous to believe that increasing our completion of spiritual disciplines is the primary objective of our faith. Spiritual disciplines are a means to an end; they are not the end goal of following Jesus.
The goal of Christianity is not to become more religious. The goal is to become more loving.
We could read our Bible cover to cover twenty times a year. We could attend every Connect group our church offers. We could tithe on every penny we make. We could spend 2 hours in prayer every morning. We could go through all the motions of being an “outstanding Christian,” all while missing the point. If our completion of Christian disciplines does not make us think, speak, and act more like Jesus, we haven’t achieved anything worthwhile. Reading scripture, praying, serving, and regularly engaging in our faith community should radically transform our worldview and priorities.
Mature faith isn’t demonstrated by how many “religious things” we do. Mature faith proves itself when the fruit of the spirit is visible in our lives and relationships (Galatians 5:22-23). Our faith is evidenced when love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control characterize our words and actions.
It’s not enough to simply go through the motions of a Christian life. God desires for us to experience genuine transformation in response to encountering His Word and His people. Spiritual disciplines are a waste of time if they don’t form us into more generous, forgiving, others-oriented people.
Reflection
Is your participation in spiritual disciplines changing your heart and actions?
In your eyes, what defines a “strong faith”?
Prayer
Gracious God, thank You for giving me so many tools and avenues through which I can grow in my relationship with You. Let the disciplines I participate in truly transform my heart and change how I approach others, especially those I find difficult to love. Don’t let me go through the motions of a Christian life so that I can look “religious” and “righteous” to those around me. Remind my soul that the goal of walking with You isn’t to “do” more. The goal is to be Your hands and feet in this fallen world. The goal is to make Your Name great. Father, make that my primary objective in this life of faith. Amen.
Port City writer Kate Redenbaugh wrote today’s devotional.