JRM Sison Chapter - Teachings - Basic Christianity

   Life. A four-letter word that is so simple to read yet so hard to live. The reason is not as to why but as to how. How do you live life? There are so many ways to do it but only two major paths that lead to two destinations. The two major paths are simple way of life and complex one. The two destinations are peace and confusion.

     Christianity is not God’s gift to man. It is a contract between God and man to have a healthy, wonderful and loving relationship, as Father and child. This contract is not about complexity but simplicity. Life that is simple is a life that is beautiful while a life that is complex is a life that is awkward and downright frustrating.

     As a newborn Christian, life in Christianity started so simple. Simple in a sense that you loved God, accepted His Son, Jesus Christ, as your God and Saviour and began to serve in your local church. So simple that you always feel the moving of the Lord in your life. But didn’t you notice that as time goes by, as you grow older in faith, you tend to slack on your ministry, you can’t see clearly the goodness of the Lord and what you see are the problems that are pouring in your life. Why is this happening? The answer is quite simple: you have forgotten your first love.

FIRST LOVE: THE BASIC OF ALL BASICS

                            Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Rev 2:4

     First love never dies… so they say. But most people forget their first love in a flurry of their busyness and attention to something (or someone) more important. Don’t you know that first love is experienced only by those who are simple, both in mind and faith? What do you think made these people lost their first love? Is it that easy to lose? The answer: they began to live a complex life.

     To define complexity, let us study what it is not. Complexity is not about simplicity. Complexity is not defining words in a sentence (described in a paragraph or even a novel). Complexity is not eating roasted chicken or lobster with one’s fingers but with utensils. Complexity is not arriving to a yes or a no answer to a yes or no question. Complexity is not answering the question briefly but answering it with a sermon (the question by the way is to ask about the time).

     Complexity therefore is not traveling on a straight line but on a curved or many curved lines. Complexity is not about seeing but browsing. Complexity is what it is; complex, hard to understand, hard to describe, but easy to get stuck on to.

     First love is mastering the basics. And once mastered, to go back again.

     Dr. Larry Solmerin, our teacher in our masteral class, mentioned that “God loves the young faith”. Young faith, it occurred to me as a faith of simplicity (basic faith) and not a complex one; because a complex faith leads to an aging faith with so many obstacles and dark corners. Young faith focuses on simplicity and this simplicity leads only to worship and that kind of worship is what God wants us to do. Jesus said in Matt 18:3 Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Little children live a life of simplicity. Little children quarrel a lot with each other but give them little time and they play again together. Adults quarrel less with each other than little children (for they believe that it makes them immature) but once they do, give them little time and they’ll kill one another!

     Jesus saw this problem and foresaw the things to happen; how a young Christian stumbles because of living a life of complexity. How then could we live in simplicity? Go back to your first love.

     Basic Christianity begins on BELIEVING on Jesus Christ. Acts 16:31 states, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” The center of Christianity is not religion but Christ (IAN - I Am Nothing without Christ).

     The second step to go back to basics is be ACQUAINTED with Jesus. We must know the God whom we trust. We must know His commands to claim the blessings and promises of the Lord. And it is only through His written Word, the Bible, can we be acquainted with Him.

     The third step is to allow the SPIRIT OF GOD to move freely in our lives, empowering us for the things to come. Only through the Holy Spirit can we understand what the Lord is telling us.

     The fourth step is to have one’s INTEGRITY on Christian faith; having high moral principles or professional standards. One’s attitude must stand firm, to continue the pursuit of righteousness. One must fight the 'spirit of compromising'; Christians must never compromise their faith with the standards of the world.

     The fifth step is to be CHILDREN OF GOD (Matt 18:3 Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.) It is not acting or behaving like a child but having the attitude of a child in regards to faith and relationship with God and man. It is not being childish but childlike.

                                                              JESUS, THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING

          Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

     My brethren, don’t look on the problem else you drown in the problem. Don’t look on other persons else you make them your gods. Don’t look on yourself else you become selfish. Focus unto Jesus, lay hold on eternal life and be blessed and fruitful for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (Joshua 1:9).