Focus more on being than doing

I've been thinking of the importance of self examination in the life of the believer, the lack of attention we give to our inner landscape manifests itself in cold barren lives. The Church of God can become dry and religious, God's people can have a FORM of Godliness, but not experience the life and power of the Holy Spirit.


I would like to share what some believer's have observed about the essence of true Christianity.

Frederick Whitfield observed--- Christianity is not merely a "theological system"--but a person. It is not only a redemption--but a Redeemer. What a difference between casting ourselves upon a system, however beautiful--and upon a tender, loving, compassionate Savior!

The Apostle Paul---"I want to know Christ!"

The Greeks in the New Testament---“Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

Theological systems, ceremonies, rituals, church, can never make us alive on the inside, it is only when we allow God to speak to our hearts through His indwelling word. The Christian life is KNOWING CHRIST, it is a relationship with Jesus and nobody can be dead on the inside when they are living in communion with the God of the universe.

One of my complaints about the way that we "do church" is that the leadership in the churches emphasize work, ministry, getting involved, doing, doing, doing. Our churches keep us so busy with doing that by the end of the day most Christians are just worn out.

Now notice, I said that our churches place to much emphasis on doing---I didn't say that any of those things are wrong, or that believers should not be engaged in the work of ministry. The key word is "emphasis," it is the message from the leadership of the church---"if you're busy doing ministry in the church, then you must be growing spiritually, and that may or may not be the truth.
 
The Church needs to change the scorecard on how it measures spiritual growth. The church needs to redirect its emphasis away from work (doing) and more towards Christians "being." Christ can't be formed in us by doing, Christ can only be formed in the believer as the believer takes the time and listens to the Holy Spirit's promptings and nudges.

The believer allows the Word of Christ to dwell in him richly in all wisdom, and as the word of God takes residence inside of the believers life, God begins the process of conforming us into the image of Christ.

This is a process, and for this process to happen the believer must practice the spiritual discipline of spending time with God. Some of us stay busy for a reason, we don't want to hear what God is saying to us. It is a humbling experience when we are listening to God and He begins to put His finger on certain areas of our life.

Since the fall, we have always wanted to do it our way, Like the song says "I did it my way." Doing it (life, ministry, church, whatever it is), our way is the essence of the fall of man.

Pay attention to your inner landscape, think of the christian life more in terms of "being" than "doing." Let the focus of your life be; "that you may KNOW Christ."