Theo and Evangel are two people who seemingly are absolute opposites. Their focuses are completely different. Yet both claim to be seeking the same thing…a closer walk in their Christianity.
Theo is immersed in the Bible; the study of Aramaic, Hebrew and Greek; researching root meaning of words; ancient cultural norms and points of references. He pours over verses, tearing apart English words to discover how these words were “originally constructed” and trying to find the “correct” and “pure” translation of the Word of God. There are more Bibles, commentaries, dictionaries, lexicons and such then found in most homes. He enjoys the intellectual and factual stimulation that come along with these moments, he seeks more and more moments, and junkie’s-up for more.
Evangel is absorbed with being in the Presence of God; seeking the outpouring of the Holy Spirit; desiring to be “blessed” by the hand of God; and wanting more spiritual encounters and sensations. She enjoys the emotions and feelings that come along with these moments, she seeks more and more moments, and junkie’s-up for more.
In
Theo’s approach to Christianity may be a bit excessive but understandable. There is much to gain by having a strong understanding of Biblical text (exegetical hermeneutics); relating cultural and historical significance to passages and words; and being knowledge of Scripture.
Out
Evangel’s approach to Christianity may also be a bit excessive but understandable. To have a personal encounter with God is emotional and, at times, dramatic. Wanting to draw close to God is a natural desire as she discovers the Living God in her life, and wanting more and more such moments is normal.
The Mix
Some would think there is a dichotomy within our walk with Christ, meaning there are two distinct and perhaps opposing paths to follow. While Theo and Evangel is a bit of my own hyperbole for the purpose of this blog, we do see this to varying degree in the people in our churches.
What is needed is to mix a bit of both and to add a good blending of “practicing what we preach” in our own lives and into the lives of other Christians and to a dark, fallen, lonely world.
The Body of Christ needs each other, to lift, counsel, correct, and love.
The world needs each of us to lift, counsel, correct and love them, always showing Christ’s love, compassion, and concern.
We need to come along side with others…showing them the Word and the Walk.
6 comments:
ahh, indeed. as we walk along with Christ we experience both, but yet we tend to hold one side as more important than the other. I am personally built to be like a theo, but love to live as a Evangel, even though it goes agains what i normally do. I have had to learn that being one isn't excluding the other, and that living with Christ is so much deeper and real with both.
Thought provoking - it causes me to wonder about what Theo Evangel would possibly think of each other. Would they think things such as "That guy spends too much time alone with books! He needs to come experience the love and joy Galatians talks about"; or "She spends far too much time "on the mountain top"! The bible repeatedly speaks about the value of wisdom, and the need to "write these words on the tablet of your heart" - she needs to get some solid "head knowledge" about her faith, rather than spend all of that time singing and feeling squishy!”
The answer to me seems to be to do some of both and to recognize that different parts of the body have different functions for a reason! Multi-tasking within the body, all with the same ultimate goal and focus (serving and growing - in all senses of these words), allowing the whole to equal far more than the sum of it's parts! When I find myself looking at a person like Theo or Evangel - a person that leans far to one side, I remind myself that gifts and abilities are all given by the spirit as part of an incredible master plan. My job is then to figure out what it is that I am being taught at that moment, and how it will help me to serve and to grow.
I am grateful to and for the many Thos and Evangels that I have met in my life - they have given me very differing yet equally valuable lessons and tools that allow me to serve, grow, and play my part in the incredible Master plan! There are many great things that can be learned from those that think and act differently than I do - I feel it is my job is to look at others with love first, figure out how to use the new learning/awareness they have given me in a positive way that glorifies God through the work of the entire body. Always checking it out against the word, questioning all things so that I know if it is the voice of my shepherd or not. - It is tougher than you might think... sc
It's interesting to realize that both of them have one thing in common...they both are SELF-focused. Theo's MIND stimulation and Evangel's EMOTION stimulation.
Will the story continue to show how they interact with other Christians and/or non-believers?
“You’re not Christian, you’re Catholic”. I’ve heard it over and over again, and it provoked me to ponder what my friend meant by this statement. So, I asked myself, “What does it mean to be a Christian”? Who determines if you’re Christian or not?
While growing up, my mother, a liberal Buddhist with Christian beliefs, invited all sorts of friends and family to our home to preach and teach to my sisters and I about their various religions. We learned about Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Buddhists, Presbyterians, and Born Again Christians. It was always my understanding that besides Buddhism, the other religions were all Christian.
What made the Christian religions similar to me? I would have to say that they all believe in:
• Their Bible as the word of God. As such, their Bible contained all knowledge needed to lead a Christian to the path of salvation.
• The Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father being God, the Son, being Jesus, and the Holy Spirit of God who gives life to all things and moves through all living things. Some may even say that the Trinity is the Creator, Redeemer, and the Sanctifier. Some Christians may believe the Trinity is One God in three persons or one in the same.
• Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was, at the same time, completely human and completely God, all in one person.
• Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, and on the third day, he was raised.
• Jesus Christ died for our sins and sacrificed himself for all of man.
• The sacrament of Baptism, where one professes belief in Jesus, renounces evil before the Church, and then is blessed with Holy water in the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. Through the sacrament of Baptism, salvation is assured as one’s belief in the Lord is confirmed.
• The participation in the Eucharist or Holy Communion, by accepting and receiving the blood and body of Christ.
• To live by and to share the word of God.
• To repent for their sins and to ask for forgiveness from the Lord.
• Doing good not to become a Christian but because we are Christian.
If what I believe in Christianity is true, though I may be a Roman Catholic “Christian”, shouldn’t I be able to be saved along side my brother and sister Christians? Or am I “not a Christian” as my friend points out, thus leading me to potential damnation and not to be saved? Who will determine this? I say, only God has the power to determine who will and will not be saved.
So, what is salvation and what does it mean to be a Christian?
Theologically speaking, a Christian is someone who has received the Lord Jesus as Savior (John 1:12), trusts Him alone for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 4:12), has put no trust in his own efforts (Isaiah 64:6) to please God, and repented from his/her sins (Mark 1:15).
But just the knowledge of this alone does not make one a Christian or guarantees one to be saved. Theology may define who Jesus is and what He has done, but knowledge only is not the key, nor the answer to being saved. Yes, we may be considered Christians who believe in the above points, but we as Christians need to have a living and open relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. As Christians, we seek to do the will of the Lord, to follow in His footsteps, and to honor and glorify God in all he does.
So, who is a Christian? Is a Mormon a Christian? Is a Catholic a Christian? Is a Jehovah Witness a Christian? I would have to say “Yes” most definitely they are all Christians. Just because they do or believe in things differently than other Christians, do they all not believe in the same basis of Christianity? Of course they do. Anyone who seriously, thoughtfully, sincerely, prayerfully considers them selves to be a Christian should be considered a Christian.
Yet, I am constantly faced with my friend’s exclusion of my faith, Roman Catholicism, as not being Christian. When provided the names of a Christian Church, my friend would comment or judge the church by their principles. He would then categorize the churches as sub-Christian, quasi-Christian or non-Christian.
It is not that my friend is intolerant of other faiths, it is because he is so passionate about his own. I do understand why he believes his Christianity is the “only true” Christianity. Don’t get me wrong, my friend is a great guy. He would do anything to help me, and would even risk his life to save mine, I am sure of this. But, my friend is filled with passion. His is a driven perfectionist. When he gets involved with a concept, an idea, or task, he takes it to the next level. He is like this in everything that he does, and it defines him as a person. This is true, especially in his religion and his beliefs.
My friend truly believes in his religion, his denomination and his church. So, of course, to him, his values and convictions are so strong, he believes passionately that his church is the one true and only church that represents all that is Christian.
But in this time of Muslim and Islamic Jihad, we, as Christian brothers and sisters of all denominations, need to unite together under our one principle belief, that Jesus Christ is our one and only true Lord and God, our Savior. We need to be united in our efforts to overcome the anti-Christian prejudice taking over our country and the world. We need to fight side-by-side against our persecution through out the Muslim world. We need to stand up and say our pledge, “One Nation under GOD”! We need to stop the slaughter of the unborn and the helpless. We need to more that ever pray for one another and truly be, not only in words, but in action, Christians!
Christian churches would respond to your above qualifications of being a "Christian" with a variety of agreement and disagreement. That is why there are so many factions or denominations of Christianity. People, by nature, tend to segregate themselves.
Personally, when I look at the actual teachings of Jesus, Christianty seems pretty simple. Seek and follow - Love God and love others - trust God. Now the process of seeking and following, etc. can be rather difficult, but the concept is simple.
That being said, I don't see your being a Roman Catholic hindering your ability to be a follower of Christ at all. And it sounds like you are a bit passionate as well. :-) Passionate for good things, however.
I agree with above said comments, with the exception of including Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses as Christians. From what I've read up on, both of those deny the divinity of Christ. Catholics I certainly classify as Christians, though I have had some heated discussions on some of the finer theological points on Mary and the Pope for instance. But let all who follow and worship Jesus be united as His body. :)
I would also throw out there as food for thought that even the demons believed in Jesus. They knew He was God and testified to it right before He silenced them and cast them out. But they certainly were not "Christians".
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