What if Christianity were to disappear? Would it matter in the behavior of people? Do you really need the religion of it in order to have the behaviors of it?
Scripture uses lots of BIG language: be PERFECT; be HOLY; do ALL in the name of Jesus. Very strict standards. All our abilities, time, and influence now belong and are consecrated to the honor of God and are employed in his service, not for our own gratification.
God wants all of us. For HIS use. Can Christian behaviors without that purpose still accomplish the same good?
DESIRE FOR PRAISE
We fail to realize how burdensome our sins are to ourselves and to God. Particularly the desire for human praise. Are our motives behind Christian behaviors for the praise of man, or the praise of God? Can we distinguish between true and substitute Christianity by our motives?
The desire for human admiration and applause is perhaps the most general passion and the most commanding authority. It doesn’t spare age or sex or condition of man. “It takes 10,000 shapes, the most artful disguises, and winds its way in secret when it dare not openly assert itself. It is often the master passion of the soul.”
Thus, a Christian should be suspicious when he is lavishly praised by the world. And when it comes unsolicited, accept it “as given by Providence for a present comfort and a reward for virtue....Watch for opportunities of doing kindness “ to turn them “to good account...and to the glory of God.”
Use a praised reputation for good: To remove or lessen prejudices. To conciliate goodwill. Step forward with benevolent and useful schemes. Seek the cooperation of men of goodwill.
"The Christian principle will operate uniformly whether approved or not. More than mortal firmness must nerve it in order for it to prove genuine."
MOTIVES FOR DOING GOOD
What about those who do good things, but not because of Christian love? Even amiable qualities of benevolence and usefulness cannot substitute for the supreme love and fear of God. The first commandment cannot be abolished in preference to obeying the second commandment. It is a body without a soul.
Only Christian practice can flow from Christian principle. God is to be obeyed as well as worshiped “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23). In lacking faith, they cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20).
SIN – DENYING
GOD’S SOVEREIGNTYScripture considers sin rebellion against the sovereignty of God. Every different act of sin equally violates His law. If persevered in, it denies His sovereignty.
The main distinction between real Christianity and substitutes for Christianity is the differing place given to the Gospel. To the real Christian, the Gospel constitutes the center in which he gravitates, like the sun of his system, the source of his light, warmth and life, not like distant stars that twinkle with a vain and idle luster.
“If the affections of the soul are not supremely fixed on God, and if our dominant desire and primary goal is not to possess God’s favor and to promote His glory—then we are traitors in revolt against our lawful Sovereign.”
