Week 37—Sunday Galatians 1:6-9
“WHAT A TRAGEDY WHEN CHRISTIANITY
BROKE WITH CHRIST”
A Hindu said at the close of one of my meetings, “As the speaker has gone on, two thoughts have been going through my mind. One was, what a tragedy it was when Christianity broke with Christ. And the other was, what a world awakening would come if Christianity and Christ should come together again.” Is the Hindu right? Has there been a break between Christianity and Christ?
Many would answer, “Yes,” and point to this, that, and the other as the points of break. Some would say that the point of break is at the place of the Bible, so we have the Bible Presbyterian Church and the Bible Church Missionary Society as attempts to mend that break. Others would say it is at the point of the church, so we have church-centric movements and emphasis. Others would say it is at the point of the person of Christ. “We don’t mention Jesus Christ in our denomination any longer,” said a Christian in Holland, “for we feel he belongs to the past, outgrown.” Others would point to evangelism as the point of break. “Conversion,” they say, “has been replaced by religious education.” Still others would point to the ministry as the point of break. “Your ministry isn’t valid unless you are in line with apostolic succession.”
Each of these might feel that they have found the point of departure with Christ. But I am persuaded that the real point of departure is at the point of turning the Christian faith into the Word become word instead of the Word become flesh. That is the real point of departure with real results in the consequent effectiveness of the Christian faith in the world. The Christian faith is organized for the most part around the conception of the Word become word. Its “services” are verbal services, ritual; its preaching is not practicing but proclaiming; its religious education is learning about, instead of living out.
O Jesus Lord, we come back to you to learn again your Way. For your Way is a Way—a Way to walk upon. May all my words become flesh in you today. And may the Kingdom be seen in me today. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: Show me where I have broken with you and I’ll mend it immediately.