Christianity Is A Lifestyle

Many Christians will proudly tell you that Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship (with God). Fair enough.

But I will go on to say this: Christianity is not merely a relationship; it is a lifestyle. For it is easier to have some beliefs in certain qualities and characters of God, as compared to actually living out our life by obeying his commands. For that is the ultimate expression of our faith: If you love me (Christ), you will obey what I command. (John 14:15)

Christ is not merely a teacher of truth, he IS Truth. Therefore, to be a true Christian, one do not merely hold some intellectual opinions or dogmas about Jesus; one lives them. Did Christ not say, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." and "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:53-54)? Unless we internalize the Way, the Truth and the Life, we have no part of him in us. Unless we live out our Christian life existentially (existing within Christ's teachings and acting accordingly instead of merely observing and believing in a detached manner), we are NOT Christians.

And that, is one inconvenient truth to many self-professed Christians. To add works into "faith only" requires an active participation on our parts, which will bring us directly into conflict with the world. Na, people would rather just lay back and believe that we will be saved by merely believing in Jesus, for it's oh-so-inconvenient to actually live as one and to step into the battlefield against the world.

And that my brothers and sisters, is the ultimate deception. Such beliefs are even more dangerous than any active atheists or pagans can come out with: for the ultimate defeat comes not from without, but within. Sadly, the threat has alrealy infiltrated deeply into the psyche of Christendom. One must therefore not only resist temptations from the world, but from the culture and norm of the Church itself.

True, it is highly possible for people who has taken this choice to walk a lonely way in their struggle to live a life worthy to be called a Christian, espeacially when one can't find much support even within the Church itself. But if one perseveres till the very end, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

Remember, God's grace is sufficient for us!

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

- James 2:26

The Gospel Analysis and Comparison Project

I've finally take the leap: I hereby abandoned whatsoever dogmas and doctrines I have ever hold concerning Christianity, and start from scratch again to reconstruct the Truth by first reading it from the bible (with no outside intervention including commentaries, friends and pastors), and then trying to make sense out of it by synthesizing them. And throughout the process, I will keep Kierkegaard's instruction in mind: I will not study the word like a scholar would, constructing an elaborate structure of rules and doctrine but inhabit in my own world and totally detach myself from all of it, but to fully internalize these truths by turning them into actions instead of mere thoughts/beliefs.

So to start off, I will study up the very foundation in which Christianity is based: the 4 gospels. I've already started off with John, and I will report my findings concerning each gospels as I go along.

Ah, a fresh beginning... I can hardly wait!

Chronic Stress

After going thru so much stressful time in med school, i realize i'm gradually growing accustomed to it as stress progresses into its chronic phase. Sometimes i really wonder whether i should cheer for my 'triumph over the hardships' or mourn for the perversion of my psyche...

But one thing's for sure: i'm gonna burnt out completely if this constant stimulus persists, and i'll undergo a mental breakdown which will make me a total wreck. Now i can finally understand the temptations of sex and drugs to elevate oneself from stress...

Ok ok, i better stop here before i start to disturb my readers... >=)

A Recommendation

Here's a blog post from someone whom I have a lot of views in common, Timothy Neal from Australia:

Not for the kids?.. Looking for a simple Christianity

As for the address proper to his blog, it's http://existentialchristianity.blogspot.com, otherwise you can access it by clinking on the 'Existential Christianity' link under the 'Favourite Hangouts' section of my blog.

The author also categorize all his significant posts as well, which you can access under this link. Having said all that, I have to confess that I'm a big fan of Timothy Neal's posts on Existential Christianity! ;)