CAREERS AND… OR CHRIST?
Being a Christian is not a hobby, religious affiliation or personal, private choice. It is the Way:
“Go through the gates;
Clear the way for the people;
Build up, build up the highway;
Remove the stones, lift up a standard over the peoples.” (Is.62:10.)
This is it the same “Highway of Holiness” that is spoken of in Is.35.
Reading carefully in Isa. 61 -62, we see that this is what we should proclaim and work for without ceasing – the Highway to Heaven. Thus often the New Testament calls Christianity “the Way”. (Acts 9:2; 18:25f; 19:9,23;22:4; 24:14,22)) Probably, this is because Jesus said that He was “the Way. “ (Jn.14:6)
“Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise the former devastations;
And they will repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.” (Is. 61:4)
Years of cultural and religious decline and corruption, due to man’s sinfulness and wanderings from God’s word and will, prophetically speaking of the Christian age, people who will be called by a new name (Christian) (62:2) will demonstrate the very righteousness and glory of God, like the brightness of a torch. About this fact the prophet declared that we cannot keep silent. In declaring this Way, we are speaking about the revelation of the very character of God in Christ’s church. Only by understanding this fact can we understand the truth about the prophecies of Isaiah.
The Restorationists of the 18th century, bold men like Thomas and Alexander Campbell, Walter Scott and others, all were part of God’s plan to bring man back to God’s perfect will for his life. Walter Scott actually wrote many brilliant short essays on the subject of “The Perfection of the Christian”, by which he explained is the adoption of Christ’s perfect character. With such insightful use of God’s word, these men were hot on the trail of restoring God’s perfect plan for the saints, for His church. Much work was done in untangling the messy knots of manmade traditions that had accreted over centuries like bothersome barnacles on a wooden barge. Particularly, the march out of Rome’s domineering influence took men farther out of this most pervasive and influential cults that has ever existed. (It is from this that Islam has fertile ground to grow as another complete cultus of man, but actually a Satanic counterfeit to enslave millions in a perverted and tyrannical law-based program.
What is obvious is that the perfection of the individual’s character in accordance with the standard set by Christ is the real thrust of the New Testament.
Heaven is the final destination point for those immersed in such a quest, since our goal is to glorify God by actually fulfilling His will for our lives under adverse conditions. These adverse testing conditions are called trials and tests in the Scripture, and each person much overcome to inherit eternal life. (Heb.12:1-3; Rev.21:7) Having such a reward stimulates us to sacrifice earthly goals and pleasures for heavenly joys that await the overcomer. Any dilution of our desire to have perpetual fellowship with our great God and Savior will disqualify us from gaining the prize. Nothing else matters!
So we see that the Christian life is a way to heaven, a high and holy way that no non-enlightened or Spiritless ordinary human being can travel. It takes real Spirit- power from God and faith that stems from our motivation of hunger for righteousness on part. Longing for something more than just a hum-drum physical existence with self-justifying religious ritual to make-believe that we will not end up in hell as we continue living our lives by the pattern of this world (which is under the controlling influence of the prince of the power of the air) (Eph.2:1-2), truth seekers knock and knock until they find the kingdom path of Christ Jesus. The aspire for reality - as defined by God - not settling for the non-real constructs of this insane non-believing world. (Such as secular humanistic evolution, Communism, Islam, or insipid, weak denominational counterfeits of the church) Asking hard questions, they demand reasonable, Biblically supported answers that might challenge and puzzle, but never mollycoddle or patronize. They chew truth like termites or beavers on wood!
Such people will see the all encompassing nature of discipleship due to their allegiance to follow Jesus no matter where or what. This is the point of this essay. When we are confronted with certain necessities made clear to us by the nature of truly following Christ, we must ask whether we can pursue, successfully (which means honestly), normal careers? Here are some of the realities of discipleship:
- Personal spiritual growth into the likeness of Christ, which is not an option but a necessity, takes personal time in renewal activities of the mind and spirit. These include a daily Bible reading schedule, prayers, memory work and attending training meetings regularly.
- “Social” activities of the saint that necessitate more time and effort, such as the assemblies of the saints.
- Family spiritual activities, such as family devotions, and just spending time with our spouses and children. Not just thinking that the five minutes of “quality” time on Saturday will do.
- Time for self – daily exercise to demonstrate and activate self-control and care for the temple of the Holy Spirit. Eating properly and bathing, sleeping, etc.
- Outreach to the lost. The fact that millions will perish in hell without us showing them Christ and mentoring and helping them grow after they’re immersed is a reality check when thinking of our priorities in scheduling.
Do we need more money or time? Many would say money. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus told the potentially richest donor (the rich young ruler) to His cause to sell everything and come follow him? (Mk.10) Why did Jesus not personally lead by example by making money a big issue? Yes, He often spoke of it, but when temple tax time came, He instructed Peter to go fishing, and extract the coin found in the first fish caught. He made a BIG deal of the widow’s mite, not the much bigger offerings that the rich contributed with so much fanfare. And He did say that you cannot love two masters, mammon and God, and that we should save up heavenly treasures, not earthy, and that It profits not a man to gain the whole world but loose His soul. Wouldn’t you agree that most of His parables about money are warnings to properly prioritize spiritual riches above the physical riches?
When God’s people think of careers paths to take, is the first question in their minds whether or not that career will allow them weekly assembly with a strong congregation of saints where they can serve and grow? Do they make sure that there will be time for Johnny’s birthday party and Sally’s operation? Will they be able to have the energy and time for personal Bible studies and for family devotions? Or has the brainwashing gone on so long that these things are considered all expendables due to the financial “realities”. That the “real world” means working while the family and the lost neighbors are lost for eternity so that we can pay the bills? (All to keep up our American standard of life, which means being mobile, eating out often, having the latest entertainment gizmos, and taking nice vacations to exotic and expensive locations?)
Do we think of getting careers so that we can have more money to give away for missions, local evangelism and good deeds in benevolence to spread the gospel, as the first priority? Are even these noble goals really honestly able to be pursued if we neglect the spiritual essentials to growth and evangelism for ourselves and our families?
The old illusion is that we can have our cake and eat it too. Not so. We must make hard choices in order to properly prioritize. Maybe abstaining from marriage even if we feel capable, In order to have time for a demanding career that would leave no real time for a family. If you “feel led” very strongly to be in a career that demands much traveling, such as an airlines steward or want to enter a government position in the FBI or military for instance, you should realize that the pseudo-followers of Christ are not doing any memory work, they are not attending all the assemblies of the saints, they are certainly not doing family devotions or “family nights”. They are cheating themselves and their families, and the lost around them, by making their careers first place, rather than the kingdom of God.
Now it is not my intention to accuse anybody of ungodly lifestyle, just to warn. I realize that in whatever position a person is called as a Christian, he must content himself, at least for awhile. (I Cor.7) Yet there is a difference to being called whilst already a slave of the world and choosing to deliberating become one and have our kinds perpetuate that choice for the sake of ephemeral future financial security. Where is the necessity for faith when we choose to do everything the world does to ensure having what we need? Can we really serve God fully while jumping through the hoops of the rigid expectations of success laid out by our culture? No, of course not, we must honestly answer.
The must be a paradigm or priorities shift. Dry morsels with water must become more attractive, when accompanied by spiritual life, by real practicing righteousness, then meat and potatoes without spiritual growth. Family closeness must be more valuable than designer logos on our kids clothes, or having the latest toy to give them. Big screen TV time must bow to in-depth Bible devotions and discussions as our kids grow up. Being able to have the time to meet with neighbors and drink a cup of java will opening up spiritual conversations much outweigh having a nicer yard than them! Carpooling might replace buying new cars for lazy teenagers to indulge themselves in.
Before we personally pursue or push others to pursue careers requiring years (4 -7 )of expensive college education, do we ask the whether they can also marry and have a happy, holy family also, or rather live a celibate life that long. Single blessedness is not for everyone, and maybe even not for most. ( I Cor.7) Now a person might be technically, a virgin and celibate, but as far as God is concerned, lustful looks do kill. (Matt.5) Or worse, be legally, in a Clinton-Lewinsky sense, be somewhat “innocent”. But none of that will stand in heaven’s courts. One must be pure in heart to see God. Otherwise, we are guilty. Thus marriage is God’s remedy for sexual immorality, when well-cultivated with love. So Paul instructs Timothy to have young widows remarry, lest they’re overcome with desires. (I Tm.5:14-16) Should we expect young people to pursue careers while ignoring the normal desires they have for marriage and children? Are they “up” for such a challenge? Remember, anything that is not done by and from faith is a sin. (Rom. 14:23) Aiming for a career without counting the cost is a recipe for disaster.
If you are reading this essay and have already embarked upon a career path, or already have one, I am asking you to honestly evaluate yourself in Christ. Honestly assess whether or not you are growing spiritually, because you have the time and energy to pursue spiritual goals and achieve them. Such as memorizing a certain amount of scriptures, even a whole book; reading daily certain portions in a meditative, reflective and prayerful way; praying consistently for a certain stipulated time period in the Spirit (from your heart and according to insight from scripture); evangelizing the lost; attending the assemblies and encouraging the saints; family functions and devotional life. All of us are different. Some are virtual supermen, like the world class elite mountain climber, Reinholt Messner, who conquered all 14 mountains peaks over 8000 meters tall. ( But then again, he left his younger brother, Gunther, behind to die on the first 8000 + peak, Nanga Parbat, which has always haunted him.)
I don’t know, each of us has different gifts in the body of Christ. (I Cor.12) Yet each of us must be brutally honest without inspecting ourselves to see where we are in our faith walk with God. Many times the New Testament writers warn us to not be deceived. One form of self-deception, helped along by the world in a major way, is that we can do it all, that we can have it all. Play now and pay later is the mantra of modern, debt-ridden Americans. But somebody’s got to pay, sometime, for our profligacy. Should we spend all of our grandkids inheritance now enjoying spelunking in Mexico, surfing in Hawaai, and skiing in Colorado. What career is worth losing our kids? Or our marriage? Or more importantly, our close fellowship with God through Christ? Americans live the most weirdly dysfunctional social lives today of any people on this planet, it seems. Self has prevailed over community. God calls us to community. (See my last essay: The Sweet Serenity of Surrender.) Living in isolated gated communities where neighbors are not even hardly known, or rented duplexes, all we want is to be left alone to live our own lives as we so choose. Yet this is not how we will evangelize this lost world. We must engage and take time to save children and win over adults. Time is the more valuable commodity of the 21st century. Choose well, so that you will have time to pray, fellowship, evangelize and grow in Christ. No cheating allowed on the highway to heaven. Only honest, humble truth seekers who are willing to submit to the Lordship of Christ in all areas of their life and honor Him above all else. Can you say that you have chosen that path? If so, then you will have a clean conscience, a happy, holy family, and will be winning others for Christ. If not, then take faith, friend, and trust the words of Jesus: Seek first the kingdom of God (church) and His righteousness (the perfect character development of Christ), and all these things (necessities of daily life) will be added unto you. (Matt. 6:33)
Peace!