"If it works for you..."

Eutychus' Window ^ | 7/14/05 | Greg Alterton

[My2Cents]

We've all heard the phrase, "Well, if it works for you...", as a justification for this or that behavior or attitude. It's a reflection of the relativistic yet utilitarian values of our society. "It may not work for you, but it works for me...," and who are we to question the efficacy of "what works"?

The truth is, "If it works for you..." is a myth. I'm old enough now, and have observed enough of life and how others live their's that I know with a high degree of confidence that no one has an answer, nothing truly "works" for other people, except for those who are learning to walk according to the life that Christ imparts by virtue of his indwelling Spirit.

If people seem to have it together, I guarantee that this has nothing to do with their finding something that "works." It most likely has more to do with the fact they've piled up enough money that they've cushioned themselves from many hardships of life (they can buy their way out of many difficulties), or that the waters they're sailing on at the moment are relatively calm. But, in honesty, scratch the surface of anyone and you'll find pain, dysfunction, family problems, health problems, stresses and strains, anxieties, personality disorders, etc. and so on. I've never gotten into anyone's face about this, but if someone were to challenge the validity and truth of my faith, I'd simply tell them that I've seen enough of life to know that no one other than the Christian has an answer to the challenges of life, and if that person thinks that they have it together, they're either delusional, in denial, or haven't yet hit a sufficiently thick enough wall of adversity to break their bubble. Time proves who has the answers and who doesn't. Apart from Christ, nothing "works," believe me.

I'd be delusional myself if I claimed that most Christians (particularly in this country and society) have it together. There's too much immaturity and worldliness in the contemporary church to say that most Christians have it together. So, does Christianity "work," or is it another system based on wishful thinking? We need to remember that Christianity isn't a "system," it isn't a philosophy, it isn't a forumla, it isn't necessarily a way of life. Christianity is "Christ living in me," and living out His life through me. Christ is the one who "works," not the external principles or behaviors I apply to myself.

I posted an essay under "articles" on this blog entitled "Have We Lost Our First Love?" It's the text of the only sermon I've every given before a church, and frankly, it's the only message I think is worth giving from a pulpit. That essay lists some of the things that Christ is to us by virtue of our union with Him, and they are repeated here:

In the epistles, the apostles, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, reveal what Christ is to the believer. Jesus Christ is:

· Our access to God (Eph. 2:18)

· The source of God's affection and compassion toward us (Phil. 21:1)

· Our claim to blamelessness and holiness (Eph. 1:4; Col. 1:22; 1 Thess. 3:13)

· The source of every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3)

· The source of the character of God in us (Gal. 5:22 -23)

· Our comfort (2 Cor. 1:3-5)

· God's communication through us to the world (2 Cor. 3:3)

· Our completeness ( Col 1:28 , 2:10)

· Our death to the old self (Gal. 5:24)

· Our deliverer from the curse of the Law (Gal. 3:13)

· Our encouragement (Phil. 2:1)

· Our fellowship with God (Phil. 2:1)

· Our source of forgiveness (Rom. 8:1)

· Our freedom (Rom. 8:2; Gal. 5:1)

· The source of fruitfulness, success, and accomplishment in our life (Rom. 7:4; 15:18)

· The fullness of God in us (Eph. 3:19)

· Our experience of God's glory (Rom. 8:30 ; 2 Thess. 1:12)

· Our hope (Eph. 1:18 ; 1 Tim. 1:1)

· Our justification before God (Gal. 2:16 -17)

· The source of God's kindness toward us (Eph. 2:7)

· Our liberty (2 Cor. 3:17 ; Gal. 2:4)

· Our life (Acts 17:28 ; Rom. 6:8; Gal. 2:20 ; Col. 2:13, 3:3)

· Our experience of the love of God (Rom. 8:39 ; Eph. 3:17 -18)

· The one who manifests the power of God in us (Eph. 1:19)

· Our motivation and our ability (Phil. 2:13)

· Our peace with God, and our peace in every situation (1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Thess. 3:16)

· The perfecter of God's work and purpose in us (Phil. 1:6)

· Our connection to the power of God (1 Cor. 1:24 ; Phil. 3:10)

· Our power to walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:25)

· The source of effective prayer (Rom. 8:26 , 34)

· The one who brings the presence of God into our experience (2 Cor. 2:14 ; Eph. 2:6)

· The one who makes us partakers of the promises of God (Gal. 3:29 -4:7; Eph. 3:6)

· Our protection from the evil one (2 Thess. 3:3)

· Our protector in heart and mind (Phil. 4:7)

· Our redemption (Rom. 3:24 , 5:8; 1 Cor. 1:30 ; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14)

· Our rescuer from the darkness (Col. 1:13)

· Our rescuer from judgment (1 Thess. 1:10)

· The resident of our hearts (Eph. 3:17)

· Our resurrection (Eph. 2:4-5; Col. 2:12)

· Our righteousness (Rom. 5:17 , 10:4; 1 Cor. 1:30 ; 2 Cor. 5:21 ; Phil. 3:9)

· Our sanctification, or holiness (1 Cor. 1:2, 30; 2 Thess. 2:13 )

· Our security (Eph. 1:13)

· Our strength (even when we are weak) (2 Cor. 12:9; Ehp. 3:16 , 6:10 ; Phil. 4:13)

· Our supply for every need (Phil. 4:19)

· Our union with the Spirit of God (Rom. 8:9)

· Our source of unity (Rom. 15:5)

· Our victory (Rom. 7:24 -25; 1 Cor. 15:57 ; 2 Cor. 2:14)

· Our knowledge of the will of God (1 Cor. 1:24 , 30; Col. 2:3)

· Our source of wisdom and knowledge (1 Cor. 1:24 , 30; Col. 2:3)

· The first and the last – namely, our everything (Rev. 1:8)

Other than finding these things in Christ and making them real in our lives, what else do we need? Christ meets all our needs, literally. The extent to which the individual Christian is not experiencing these attributes of Christ in and through them is an indication of the extent to which they are either 1) ignorant of the blessings to be found in Christ, 2) too fearful of placing their lives into the hands of God, or 3) aren't resting in and exercising faith in Christ for these things.

Hebrews 4 reminds us that some did not enter the promised land because of their unbelief, and the author urges his readers to not fall short of the promises in Christ through similar unbelief. We need to encourage one another with the promises of "every spiritual blessing in Christ" that are our spiritual inheritance to be enjoyed in this life, and then urge one another to rest and hold onto those promises as if our lives depended upon it, because our lives do.

[Ff--150]

I know with a high degree of confidence that no one has an answer, nothing truly "works" for other people, except for those who are learning to walk according to the life that Christ imparts by virtue of his indwelling Spirit.

"I know with a high degree of confidence that" you don't know squat diddly, author.

Just for the h*ll of it, author, start donating money to the EVIL "televangelists" and keep of record of how much you send. Try to prove that the strange "luck" of unexpectly bills being paid off, people donating things to you, promotions, raises and new job offers, etc. are just flukes--accident LOL!

Something else that doesn't "work" [/sar] is that praying in tongues stuff. So, prove us wrong by getting up half-hour earlier and begin talking jabberwokie for 2 or three weeks. All the good stuff that will happen will be just happenstance--coincidences, author.

[Tax-chick]

Very interesting article.

[halieus]

Thanks for the post. Enjoyed the article.