We started classes here at W & J on Monday (yes, Labor Day). My first class of the year was also my first religion class that I have taken here. It is Religion 201 -- The Old Testament. It should be an intriguing class.
The professor is "somewhat" liberal when talking about Scripture. It has been a challenge to hear him speak on some issues, which I will delve into here a little bit later. I have been warned previously about this professor, most notably by Ryan. I am still trying to go into the class as open as I possibly can though, and I am extremely excited to be able to take a closer look at the Old Testament, where I am not nearly as strong.
One of the reasons that this class should be a challenge is because the professor has brought up several good points already this week.
The first point that he brought up is this: "If you are to believe something as truth, yet it does not change who you are, then is it truth at all?"
I think that there is a lot to be said about this, especially on our campus. There are many students who would say they are Christian, who might even proclaim Jesus as the Christ, yet are not changed by this fact. Do they really even beleive what they are saying then? It is impossible to believe in these Truths and not have them radically change your life.
Let's just take a look at what Jesus said about some of this:
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" -- The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 16:24-26
We are called to change by Christ himself. If we want to find our life, we must lose it for His sake. This is a radical change. We cannot go on living in our current lifestyles -- we cannot continue to live in our sexual immorality, our greed, our filthy language, our selfishness. We must learn to allow the love of Christ to reign in our hearts. We need to become compassionate towards our neighbors.
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' -- The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 25:40
Again, this shows the radical change of caring for our brothers more than ourselves. We again are commanded to do this:
"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul adn with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." -- Christ speaking, The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 22:37-40.
We are all called to this change; we are all held responsible for this change. In order to live as Christ lived, then we must begin to allow these Truths to change us.
Why haven't you changed? Where is it that you need to change? Where is it that you need to "lose your life to Christ, that you may find it?"
1 comment:
I've been reading through Colossians and having a heck of a time applying it - it can just be so easy to dismiss Paul's writing as too "Christianese" and not down-to-earth enough. The hard part is that Paul's reality is the one I need to be living in, even through the challenges and difficulties. Seems like that's where the change begins: when the Bible isn't an academic sub-reality but when it transcends the world in our minds and becomes the lens through which we sense what is around us. I pray that your OT class brings Scripture to play more of that role in your life.
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