Who among us in the population are Christians? The range of concepts and claims is mind-boggling. Those who do not claim personal relationship with Christ may be better oriented for their non-Christian orientation than some of the Christian population seem to be about Christian faith. This stew of many persons claiming Christianity is likely due to limited knowledge of the content of Scripture; to our tendency to shift meanings of anything to fit our own designs; to various cultural evolvements that include pagan concepts; and, to intellectual adjustments about matters of faith. This list can be extended. I read of persons who want to be included as Christian in society in the implication that there is a personal commitment of some sort that is efficacious. This morning the internet referred to a celebrity making extensive demands to her fans to provide exorbitant privileges and cost limits to gain her entertainment programs. Her ego, conduct, carnal influence, and misrepresentation witness contrast to the magnificent necklace (a cross) appearing in the photo of her in the program. Her name is related to a biblical character of great virtue. The contradictions offend the genuine Christian in that the culture of the Christian is at some competition with the life and values of the general society. That differential is an important matter because the witness of Christianity is to be of a certain sound. The celebrity offers an uncertain sound. God is not uncertain about anything. Christianity is not man-made. Scripture outlines its meaning.
American history is replete with contradictions that hound Christianity. Those in government are often rather political with Christianity, perhaps acting, even believing sincerely, in what they say about religion. Henry Clay stated: I have observed that those are the most happy who love, honor, obey their parents; who avoid idleness and dissipation, and employ their time in constant labor, both of body and mind; and who perform, with regular and scrupulous attention, all their duties to our maker, and his only Son, our blessed Saviour. As a Christian, I could not do some of the things that Clay did. Evaluation is rightly left to God, whose mercies are fully expressed in the offering of Jesus Christ. We also need to permit the factor of time, in that Clay decided for Christ and the church late in his life span. (Heidler, Henry Clay – pg.292)
The Clay statement is similar to statements made by Andrew Jackson. Both were men of the world. They hated each other, and made scurrilous remarks about one another – both fought duels, tended to rest their faith in the interests of their wives, used oaths, and deviant behavior, had strong egos, could drink to drunkenness, held slaves, and could skirt edges for acquiring personal funds. Both had significant affirmative qualities and talents related to their families, to a vision of America, of concern for their communities. Jackson built a small chapel on his property for his wife. Clay insisted on having a church in his town in Kentucky, but he didn’t join it until late in life. He delayed until near the end to receive Christian communion. Not so dramatically many influential persons live the pattern of life illustrated in Clay and Jackson. I choose persons from many decades ago so as not to lose the hypocrisy focus that persons may say one thing and live another – as relates to Christianity. We are seeking genuineness. Contradictions, hypocrisy, and the like exist in all value contexts. Violations are as plentiful as ever.
Christianity must be understood first in personal context. The individual begins alone with God to gain Christian status. Even the spiritual Church is introduced as meaningful after the personal resolution is engaged. The church can, like any institution, succeed or fail. The early record of some church failure in The Revelation makes that clear. Time becomes a factor in the equation. Most persons of Christian faith will live their Christian lives so to give to both self and society some proofs of who they are, under God. Christians are called to righteousness as biblically defined. It is a special life to be lived. Scripture guides that life, covering maturity in the intensity of effort by the individual Christian to cultivate righteousness, and perform service in the motivation of God. Honest persons acknowledge their imperfections, but know that whatever they are that, in Christ, they are not what they were and not what they will be. They seek to live in moral elevation. God sanctifies to this purpose. We are directed to live it. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020