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Christopher Powers is an author of books for church members’ spiritual growth. His writings help readers understand Christian behavior and the means by which believers should commit to faithful living.
At its core, much of the Christian faith is rooted in journeys–from Adam and Eve’s journey from Eden, Abraham’s journey to Canaan, the liberated Israelites’ journey from Egypt, and Christ’s journey across Judea and through life, death, and resurrection. Each of these forays towards and across unfamiliar places was transformative, deeply so, not only for the body but for the spirit. To be a Christian is to be constantly growing and learning while still engaged with scripture, in prayer, and among the faithful. This is all in frank acknowledgment that it is the love of God that guides you.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
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UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR
Thus, understanding Christian behavior must begin at the heart of things: learning how to love as Christ loved. According to him, loving God with one’s heart, soul, and mind–all in wondrous unity–and loving one’s neighbors as one might love oneself are the two greatest commandments. This dichotomy of love–to love God and to love others–is the foundational principle of Christian behavior and why Christians look towards journeying–whether physical or metaphorical–as an important and transformative aspect of being Christian. It is love that fuels the journey, and it is in the journey that you are transformed.
Loving Thy Enemy
When God says to love one’s neighbors, He does not mean to love only those neighbors who love you back or those who have been good to you. To love one’s neighbors is precisely what it should entail: to love one’s neighbors, even if those neighbors are your enemies.
Now, this principle might be difficult to practice. It is not easy to love those who you would hate, after all. Yet, God calls upon all of us to bury the hatchet, move across our self-imposed boundaries, and reach out to others. Jesus further reinforces this idea by emphasizing praying for your enemies and not only loving them. With love, there should always be action.
This radical call for universal love is a challenge to the human inclination towards retaliation that can corrupt the heart and the soul. There is no stronger evil than to be full of hate and to be blinded by it. By telling us to love despite hate, Jesus encourages a spirit that knows how to understand and values reconciliation above all else.
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Becoming Christ-like
As a Christian, it should not be a surprise that it is a facet of the faith to become more like Christ. Is it not in the moniker we hold to ourselves as Christians?
Of course, when one wishes to become more like Christ: this does not mean that one arrives at a state of sinless perfection. That is unattainable–if only in this life–and it is not the purpose of Christ’s teachings. Nowhere in scripture does Christ himself beseech us to follow exactly in his footsteps. That would be unfair for us who are only human and are not with a Divine soul.
What it means to be more like Christ is more to be on a never-ending journey, in the effort to reflect his character in thoughts, words and deeds. It is to follow in his journey with the acknowledgment that you may not reach the finish line.
When you profess your faith in Christianity, it is to accept the Holy Spirit within you and be guided by its call–and it calls upon us to align ourselves with Christ.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
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A Guide to Faithful Living
Understanding Christian behavior requires the recognition that Christianity is founded in love for God and neighbor. To be a Christian involves a continuous pursuit of holiness, marked by humility, integrity, and responsible stewardship.
To be a Christian is to be on a journey of becoming more like Christ, one step at a time, guided by grace and motivated by love.
Christopher Powers’s Behave as a Fisher of Men is available on this website for purchase. If you want to learn more about Christian behavior, order a copy now!
