Moral of the Story

There is no doubt that as a Christian grows in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ we should begin to sin less and see changes in our life and behavior that fall more in line with an acceptable moral standard. However, the one thing we must avoid in all of this is comparing ourselves to other Christians and unbelievers.

"Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present. We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you." 2 Corinthians 10: 11-13

I happened to read where another Christian was concerned with the apparent behavior, or lack of moral standards, her Christian friends were displaying. Apparently, she believed that her unbelieving friends, not only were aware of this apparent "non-Christian" behavior, but they seemed to behave in accordance with a more acceptable form of morality in her eyes. As she put it:

"We should surround ourselves with people that are healthy for us obviously, in our friendships, and also associate with people of faith and worship regularly....but what is our perspective when you begin to see a pattern....a pattern in which the people you know, backpack with etc...have a higher moral code and sense of integrity than some of the Christians you know? This should not be. It is an embarrassment to the Body of Christ. Our unsaved friends are quite aware of the gaps also. Jesus said You will know them by their fruit."

I have often wondered aloud how exactly should a Christian act? Now, it has been my experience that asking this question has been met with responses that Christians shouldn't sin or that by simply asking the question I was somehow condoning sinful behavior. Of course, I don't condone sinning nor am I promoting it, but I do recognize the reality of it. And, furthermore, no matter how hard a person tries not to, they are going to sin. But, if you are going to have a "moral code" to live by, you must decide what that moral code is. Hence, I have included below my response to this lady's concern with the morality of her Christian friends.

"Perhaps the key to your dilemma is found in your acknowledgement that you "will know them by their fruit." The fruit we bear is not the byproduct of our efforts, but rather we bear the fruit of the Spirit.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is... (Galatians 5:22a)"

This may come as a shock, but Christians don't live by determining what is right and what is wrong and trying to live accordingly. To me, that is what is meant by a moral code. How much good are you doing and how much bad are you avoiding? When you think about it aren't we guilty of making the same mistake Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden when the Serpent tricked Eve into eating the forbideen fruit?

"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:4-5

We are trying to be like God by attempting to live by a "moral code." We may not say it in those particular terms, but it is the same nonetheless. We have all heard people say they are trying to be more "Christlike." Well, Jesus is God, right? And in order to live this way we have to determine what qualifies as good and evil. And what is that? It is life under the Law. The Law was not designed to make us righteous, holy or blameless. But, rather it's purpose was to show us our sinfulness so we would turn to Christ by faith. In turn, a Christian lives a life of faith in the indwelling Holy Spriit who guides a believer from within.

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us... (Titus 2: 11-12a)"

A Christian lives a life of responding to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When we are doing that, the Holy Spirit is not going to lead us into a life of sin. And that is the goal of the Christian life; learning to trust the Holy Spirit in our lives. And when we are trusting in, and relying on, Him, He will produce the fruit that we bear for God.

"...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22b)."

We cannot muster up these attributes in and of ourselves. In fact, the fruits of the Spirit are reminders of just how it is that God deals with us. We, in turn, are able to share what we have received from God with the people we meet each day. When we bear these fruits to the world, those we encounter will be effected by it to the point that it may lead someone to Christ. Remember, for example, we can't express patience or kindness to someone unless they are being impatient and unkind towards us.

"...to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age...(Titus 2:12b)"

And when we are bearing these fruits, it is not out of obedience to laws or moral codes, but in response to the leading of the Holy Spirit. God already had a moral code in place for us to live by. It was the Law. The Law was God's contribution to man's best efforts to be like Him. And, as we read throughout the Old Testament, we see story after story of mankinds failure to live up to it. Perhaps your backpacking friends appear to have a "higher moral code and sense of integrity" simply because they have a set of laws they have agreed to try and live by that appear more acceptable, and doable, than the ones your Christian friends have adopted. Both are mistaken."

The bottom line in all of this is that Christians seem to believe that because we have faith in Christ we always act perfect. That is an unrealistic expectation that I believe leads to a person throwing up their hands in disgust at the perceived non-Christian behavior of their Christian friends. As difficult as it may seem to admit, you don't have to be a Christian to lead, what many would consider, a moral life. There are more than enough religions and personal codes of conduct available to modify ones behavior. However, the difference between a Christian and a non-believer is not their behavior, but how God sees the one as compared to the other. God is judging people on a basis of a new life in Christ not on the basis of sin and death. When we stand before Him the only thing He will ask is "are you dead or are you alive?" Of course, He will already know the answer. "Have you accepted my Son as the only provision available to you to enter My Kingdom?"

"And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." Hebrews 10: 10-14

There is no moral code available that will perfect us. But, in Christ, we are already perfect in the site of God. As we learn to trust Him each day with our lives, that perfection will shine through us to the world. And it isn't so much that we don't sin, always make the right choices, say the right things and always have clean thoughts. What happens is that when we interact with others, on a personal level, they begin to see the fruit of the Spirit we bear for God being shared with them. We freely give to others that which we have freely received from God. When we compare ourselves to others only one of two things results. We are either better than the other person which pride. Or we are worse than the other person which is self-condemnation. Both of them have their origins in the devil. What we need is a proper self-image rooted in the truths of our identity in Christ. The more we understand how God sees us and who we are in Him the less we will try and live our lives by standards we cannot uphold.