Lifestyle Coach
A life in Christ, is hard to describe, it's something huge, transcendent, yet very here and now. Something that gets expressed in as many ways as there are unique people, who sincerely acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
But in choosing the Christian way, you're setting out on a path that others have walked before, albeit in their own unique way. Wouldn't it be good to learn from their experiences and get someone to guide you through it all? Like an athlete might make use of a training coach, could you use a guide to Christian living? And if so, how would you go about finding one?
Targets
"Jesus gives a peace that the world cannot give"
Forget for a moment about how church-going people might look. It's what people think, pray and do, and what they receive from God, often in their hearts, that matters. Jesus says He gives a peace that the world cannot give.
And the eager followers of Christ, who encounter some of that peace, come from all walks of life: heroes and humble servants, teachers and students, victors and martyrs, loyal friends and true lovers, healthy people and poorly people, devoted parents and even children, entrepreneurs, soldiers, academics, gardeners, prisoners, scientists, labourers, farmers, rich people and even the homeless...
To all of them, Jesus offers the satisfaction of knowing who they are, and what their lives are for, with a conviction of God's love now, and a heavenly future. A conviction that can endure even the most dire circumstances. That's not to say that you don't try and fix bad things, just that if ever you're stuck and there's no way out, all is not lost!
But these people, wonderful and varied though they are, are not your guide. And neither am I. At times, they and their lives may point to some part of your journey, like a road-sign. They may even support you on part of the journey. But like a road-sign, sooner or later you pass by and move on.
"there's a successful framework we can all use"
Perhaps it's fortunate then, that there's a successful framework we can all use, in finding our way through life's many turns. It's not a blueprint, because we're all unique: just a general framework. And the right guide will help us access, understand and use that framework. It's possible for such a framework to exist, because truth exists, and because human nature exists. There are some universal truths that apply to us all. We have the framework as a useful gift from God.
The framework's useful, like a training plan and gym facilities are useful to an athlete. An athlete who takes time out of their training plan, sets themselves back. You need to stay inside the framework.
Setbacks
Of course, however hard we try, mistakes happen. We're not God. But the more we rely on His help, and the more we do things the way Jesus leads, within God's framework, the further up the real ladder we'll get. And the best part perhaps, is the Christian lifestyle contains a no-lose option. Providing we keep our eyes and heart on Christ, then Jesus won't let us fail. How many other lifestyles come with a no-lose guarantee?
Just be aware that Jesus taught the parable of the sower (Mark 4:13-20), to show that our gaze may well slip, and we may fail, if we don't root ourselves well enough in the rich soil of true faith. Remember I said that truth made the framework possible? And of course Jesus described himself as the Truth. So fixing our gaze on Jesus is part of the training plan. In this analogy I'm not talking about God as the guide, though of course He is the guide par excellence! But God is also our goal, the prize we're after! So it helps if we can find a guide that will help us get the prize.
"Jesus set up the Church for your sake"
In this analogy, rich soil refers to your exposure and commitment to the ways of God. The Church is a good if unlikely place to start to ensure that exposure. Jesus set up the Church for your sake. Like you it ain't perfect. But the graces that flow, and the authentic teaching it gives, come directly from Christ. That part is reliable, because Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to guide the Church in all truth (John 16:13). That means relevant truth. Relevant to your life. Jesus taught the fundamentals of faith living, but how to apply that to modern life, that takes re-application.
God is the ultimate guide, the Holy Spirit is our constant spiritual adviser. But we are not just spirit, but flesh and bone too. And we don't always listen in a spiritual way. God knows that, which is maybe one reason why He gave us the Church: to guide us in an overt and immediate way. The Bible uses the analogy where Jesus is the head and the Church is the body. What that means here, is that while the Holy Spirit is our ever present and perfect guide, the churches are supposed to function in service of that guidance.
One of the ways they can do that, is by providing a growing record or archive of much of the guidance God has already delivered. And indeed, one of the first things that the early Christian Churches did, was to write down the Gospels. Later, at the end of the fourth Century the Catholic Church selected the books that would make up the present Catholic Bible. But the Churches are not meant to only preserve the past. They are here so we can live out the life of Christ more fully, in the present. And one of the ways they help us all do that, is by acting as the touchstone for consistency and truth: consolidating that, into an accessible framework for living a grace-nourished life in friendship with God.
Today we live in a global, technological, information and consumer age, with massive inequalities and colliding cultures. Christians have to re-apply Jesus' teaching to the fast changing scene of modern life. As part of their role of service to God and people, the Christian churches have to act as a focus for consistency in this 're-application'. Consistency of best practise in right and wrong. To do that, they all call on the Holy Spirit to help them. And He does.
Strategy
The Holy Spirit delivers, but sometimes sadly, individual churches reach different conclusions from one another on contemporary moral or faith issues. How does that fit with God passing on the singular truth? Bear with me through a little controversy: we Catholics say the guarantee of the Holy Spirit was given to the one Church that Jesus set up, and not for individual initiatives that try to re-create an ideal version of the church:
Matthew 16:18 "you are Peter; and upon this rock I will build my Church" (my emphasis)
"God answers all who sincerely call on Him"
I don't think the Holy Spirit shares the truth with some churches and denies it to others. Actually, I'm pretty sure God answers all who sincerely call on Him. Did you think I was going to say He only talks to Catholics? No! Rather the problem is that the truth can on occasion be counter-intuitive and counter culture. If a given group of decision makers even subconsciously allow their own thinking to colour the decision process, then their church may go off-track. But the Bible says that Jesus' Church provides the reference point for truth in our world:
I Timothy 3:15 "the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (my emphasis)
A sure guide
"The Holy Spirit delivers the guarantee"
The guarantee works not by having the Holy Spirit dish out truth - which He does anyway, freely to all who sincerely seek and co-operate with the will of God. Or at least as much of the truth, as He judges they need at the time. No, the guarantee works not by gift, but by prevention. The prevention of mis-interpretation. The Holy Spirit delivers the guarantee, by muscling in on the decision makers, if they're about to get it wrong. I touched on this in the Flock and Shepherd pages already:
Luke 22:32 "But I have prayed for thee [Peter], that thy faith fail not: and thou, being once converted, confirm thy brethren"
If you like, that's almost an exception to the general rule of free will. We all have free will, but the universal Church of Christ, when in (Peter-like) leadership mode, is not free to deliver false teaching. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would stay with His Church for ever:
John 14:16 "And I will ask the Father, and he shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you for ever"
If Jesus held to all these Gospel promises, then the Church He set up will be ancient, with an unbroken handing down of faith, and consistent teachings on right and wrong. It shouldn't be too hard to work out which one that might be.
Protestant churches certainly have lots of genuine Christians living very close to Christ, and you don't have to look too far to figure that the Holy Spirit often finds the company of protestants more conducive than us Catholics. But the faith and moral teachings of Protestant churches are not guaranteed in the same way: evidence the division.
"who among us is able to experience, learn and contain all that God might have to say and teach?"
I realise some people will be irritated by the structural presentation of the Church on this page. The Church is primarily a people not a structure. But this page is about getting guidance. Whilst it's true that the Holy Spirit guides individuals - who among us is able to experience, learn and contain all that God might have to say and teach? And who among us has the spiritual sensitivity and solidity to be sure, never to add anything of our own interpretation? And who among us would be reliable in discerning and passing on every vital detail?
That's where the collective aspect of the Church really clicks in: a people united in one God. Jesus provides the spiritual life-blood of this collective entity that is the Church. But structurally, the Church serves us in working with our earth-bound limitations. Through that structure the Holy Spirit delivers Jesus' guarantee, explicitly, overtly, even on printed pages. He does this without impinging our personal freedom, or requiring our immediate perfection. As always, God is ready to meet us where we're at.
Working out
"it's always easy to break a good habit"
If the Holy Spirit is the ultimate guide for Christian living, then the Church is the gym. At the gym we receive guidance - learn about our training plan, and work out. We do this so as to live a healthy and full life. But we come back to the gym from time to time to build up our fitness some more. And maybe to give back to others, some of what we've gained ourselves? If someone wants to be really fit, they'll go to the gym a lot.
Sometimes it requires an effort to go and work-out (the Catholic Church has branches in most cities, towns and many villages throughout the world *). But it's always easy to break a good habit. Indeed, not everyone likes going to the gym, and not everyone wants to go to the Catholic Church. You're free to choose.
(* with the exception of some countries with repressive regimes)
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