July 8, 2002
When one speaks of Christianity it brings to mind various understandings of the meaning of the word based on what we have been taught or experienced throughout our lives. It can be essentially a do not faith, or a do something faith in terms of our actions in life. Or it means a we must believe this or that understanding. To some it comes out simply as making Jesus Lord. By definition we then become his servants or more helpfully, slaves. But then, with such a commitment we make the next step to friends. Jesus himself said of to his most loyal followers, I no longer call you servants but friends. This is because the servant does not know what the master is doing but you have become friends because I have told you everything that I have heard from God. (see John 15:12-17)
But however you define it my understanding of Christianity must include the following: Christianity is embodied in the flesh by the personality of Jesus. This includes his basic faith in God, and the divinity he himself revealed. These made clear Jesus’ profound belief in a humans sacredness and possibilities and the challenge to base our life’s conduct on the principles which Jesus lived.
We are sure that our world desperately needs his faith and his way of life. The sobering thought is that without them there is no hope.
Help us define these words by our actions out of First Baptist
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
201 Oak St.
Mauston, WI 53948-1333 608-8474555
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