Christianity is far more than a religion, and even far more than a simple mental acceptance of something, as many portray it to be – Christianity at its Biblical core is living your life, day to day, moment to moment, by our actions, according to and in harmony with the Word of God and with the Spirit of God.
My goal in this first lesson is to do two things: help us gain an understanding of what a “lifestyle” really is, according to definition, and to persuade you and I that God Himself is not only interested and concerned with how we live our lives, but that it is of His highest interest what our “lifestyle” is.
The overall purpose of these lessons is to give us some helpful scriptural and spiritual principles for "lifestyle evangelism." Most of us have a basic idea of what evangelism means, but when we attach an adjective like "lifestyle" to the front of that, it will take on a whole new meaning for some. So for the purposes of understanding, my goal in this first lesson is to help us understand what a lifestyle is, and its vital importance in the kingdom of God and in your walk with God personally.
Now, to start us off, to lay a foundation of understanding if you will, this is the definition of lifestyle according to our friends at Wikipedia.org.
"Lifestyle is a term to describe the way a person lives, which was originally coined by Austrian psychologist Alfred Adler in 1929. The current broader sense of the word dates from 1961.[1] A set of behaviors, and the senses of self and belonging which these behaviors represent, are collectively used to define a given lifestyle. The term is defined more broadly when used in politics, marketing, and publishing.
A lifestyle is a characteristic bundle of behaviors that makes sense to both others and oneself in a given time and place, including social relations, consumption, entertainment, and dress. The behaviors and practices within lifestyles are a mixture of habits, conventional ways of doing things, and reasoned actions.
Now there's a lot of preach in that definition alone. Notice some things with me. Look at the basic. "The way a person lives." The way you live is not just how you act on Sunday, its the way you live each and every day of the week that contributes to a lifestyle. It is therefore possible to label oneself a Christian, go to church, but not actually live like a Christian. Not you guys, but people I know.
A set of behaviors, a sense of self, a sense of belonging. It goes on to say that a lifestyle is going to affect youtr social relationships, who you hang with and are influenced by, consumption; which is what you spend your money on, entertainment; well, should I say it or do I not have to? And dress. This is wikipedia. That's not even the Bible. But even the people at wikipedia had enough sense to recognize that a lifestyle carries with it distinctions in all areas of life - may I ask a what DISTINGUISHES the Christian lifestyle? The answer is in the definition - there should be a difference in all four of those areas mentioned. We are "called out from among them..." Any way, I'm not preaching, I'm just laying the foundation. Behaviors. Practices. Habits. Conventional ways of doing things. Lifestyle. Getting it yet?
You have heard the term "lifestyle" probably more than you realize. Here are some everyday examples of how the term is used.
How about "alternative lifestyle." Certain people float that term around to justify behaviors and ways of living that are not generally accepted as normal by the general public.
There used to be this show called "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." It was hosted by this guy named Robin Leach. The whole concept of the show was that Mr. Leach would go to rich and famous people's houses, mansions usually, to see HOW THEY LIVED comparative to the rest of the world, the nine to fivers like you and me. People watched because there is this innate attraction to people that live different lifestyles than the conventional.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, there was this song that used to come on the radio called "Lifestyles of the NOT So Rich and Famous." It was a country song. Not that I am endorsing country music, but just for the sake of an example - the song was about a certain way that certain people lived. People that don't have a lot of money to throw around. People that would not be unrecognized in the general public. Here's a lyric:
"Our idea of high class livin'
is sittin' on the porch on a cool night....
Our champagne and caviar
is an RC Cola and a moonpie..."
What was the song saying? Our subculture lives a certain way, has different habits and customs than you do, and here's what they are. On both ends of the spectrum there are no apologies made. Hello world, this is what we are, and this is what we do. If you don't like it you can change the station but that's not going to effect us or change us. Totally unashamed of their LIFESTYLE.
Now before you think this an essay piece on sociology or some such nonsense, let me make my point. There is, I believe, according the Bible that I read and study and pray over, a certain specified LIFESTYLE that is attached to being a Christian.
Here is the most damaging myth or false doctrine in Christendom today - its the attitude that says
it doesn’t matter how I live my life, God doesn’t care about how I live.
This is the most damaging doctrine in modern Christianity – that you can simply mentally accept that Jesus is your Savior, and be permanently saved, and never change the way you live – it’s the most unscriptural form of Christianity there is - Jesus is all about TOTAL LIFESTYLE CHANGE, watch:
John 10:10 - "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
What does that mean? It means that God cares about how you live; read it again, Christ is exposing his entire purpose in coming to the earth: “I am come…” why? That they might have life – what do you mean life? We’re breathing aren’t we? That’s not what he means, what He is really saying is that there is more to life than just existing, just breathing, just eating, just sleeping. He wants us have LIFE, and that MORE ABUNDANTLY. A more abundant life does not sound like he planu like He found you....well, somebody just said amens to leave yo. - -
Now that I've put myself out there, let's look at Christian Lifestyle in the light of the definition of lifestyle. Here's another definition, this is from the dictionary.
"Lifestyle – manner of living, the way of life characteristic of a particular person, group, or culture" – there’s that word again, culture.
-So here’s the question: is Christianity just a set of beliefs that we accept and agree with mentally, or is there a LIFE-STYLE that represents what REAL Christianity is all about? Does it really matter, and does God really care about how I live my life? The answer, with any surface knowledge of scripture is YES. I aim to persuade you that not only does it matter, but it is of HIGHEST importance to God how you live your life.
-There is a certain way, biblically, that a confessing and professing Christian is supposed to live, by definition. – Guess what – it’s the whole Bible, and it takes a lifetime to master this lifestyle – but, we should at least start with some basics, some scriptural framework if you will.
Romans 6:4 - KJV
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
1 – Death – the true Christian lifestyle really doesn’t start with life, it starts with death. A physical death? No – a spiritual death – that’s what repentance is – death to the old lifestyle – here is a great definition of repentance: a Biblical definition:
Luke 13:3 - Amplified Bible
These are the words of Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh - this whole thing is about Him:
"I tell you, No; but unless you repent ([a]change your mind for the better and heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), you will all likewise perish and be lost [b]eternally."
Let's break that down. There's no real Christianity without repentance, no real salvation without repentance. First he said 'change your mind for the better.' So what is repentance, what is this command from God Himself - CHANGE the way you think.
Then He said 'amend your ways.' AMEND. Here's a synonym. CHANGE. What ways? They 'ways' that you live - your LIFESTYLE...now your catching on.
The way I think, the way I act, and my attitude, all must go through a death and renewal process for the repentance to be lasting and complete. Right, even on down to the way I think.
Now back to Romans 6:4.
-“we should walk in newness of life” – Our new life should be new, different from the old one – this change is a process called sanctification. A lot of churches don't ever preach about sanctification anymore. Just believe. Just accept. Just sign here. Just shake the preachers hand, put in a few dollars in the offering every now in then, but DON'T GO DO ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES SOMETHING CRAZY AND FANATICAL LIKE ACTUALLY CHANGING. People will think you've lost touch with reality.
Here's some more Bible about lifestyle. II Corinthians 5:17.
“If any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold, all things have become new.”
1.) "In Christ." We are baptized (in Jesus' name) into Christ.
Romans 6:3
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?"Its a watery grave, its a death. DEATH to the old ways of living - LIFE to the new way, GOD'S WAY for my life...Burial is what you do to something that's already dead. Something dies, you bury it. Somebody repents, you baptize them in Jesus' name.
2.) Old things are passed away. My old habits. My old pet sins. My old places and people I used to hang out with and be influenced by. The old things I used to watch and listen to.
Romans 12:1-2
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
A living sacrifice – a sacrifice is something that its purpose is to die out to a higher purpose – look at II Corinthians 4:10
"Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
Look at the key points. What are we doing? "Bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus." What is that? Its taking up OUR cross, dying daily to the flesh, doing what the Holy Ghost wants us to do, not what our carnal, sinful impulses tell us to do. What was the dying of the Lord Jesus? - a sacrifice, or I should do it more grammatical justice, THE sacrifice. He was the lamb slain "from the foundation of the world." When He was living, he had one ultimate purpose: Calvary - to die out to the higher purpose of redeeming sinful man back to a holy God...let it sink in...the purpose is the same; redeeming sinful man back to a holy God, but the body is different, now its the church: a living sacrifice. Hallelujah.
When we die out to the flesh, the Spirit is manifested, the Spirit of Jesus Christ the living God! He is manifest to a lost world when we die out to our flesh...when we DIE, HE LIVES, and that is what our lifestyle is, HIM living through us. Only a fool would submit that it requires no change and no effort.
Here’s another one, watch, remember, the whole point is: LIFESTYLE, how do we define it:
Galatians 2:20 - Amplified Bible (AMP)
"I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
Christ had a purpose to the sacrifice, the purpose was that all men might be drawn unto Him, that the gap between God and men could be mended, that by faith in Him people could escape being lost.
Now, that same Christ is alive in me, by way of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and dictating my life – the PURPOSE has not changed, the vessel has changed.
Purpose – to seek and to save that which was lost…
Galatians 5:24-26 - Amplified Bible (AMP)
"And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.
25If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit [a]we have our life in God, let us go forward [b]walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]"
I know you're thinking 'well he didn't say too much about evangelism.' If we will endeavor to live according to the will of the Spirit of Chirst and His holy written word, evangelism and soul winning will become natural byproducts of our LIFESTYLE. Live it!
Bro. Mike Easter recently preached a powerful message at our church on the very subject of dying out to the flesh, if you have yet to hear it, here is the link - as Lavar Burton used to say - "don't take my word for it." http://lifetab.org/media.php?pageID=21 - it is the message entitled "He Set Me Free."
I will do my best to have lesson two up in blog format in a week or so! Thanks for reading, feel free to comment.
Matthew 13:52 - Amplified Bible
52He said to them, Therefore every [a]teacher and interpreter of the Sacred Writings who has been instructed about and trained for the kingdom of heaven and has [b]become a disciple is like a householder who brings forth out of his storehouse treasure that is new and [treasure that is] old [the fresh as well as the familiar].
Jesus, as we know, was very adept at teaching through parables, basic stories comparing the deeply spiritual truths of the Kingdom of God with everyday situations already familiar. This is one of my favorites. This one is for preachers.
The KJV reads "every scribe." The word scribe often has a negative connotation because usually Jesus was rebuking them right along with the Pharisees of his day. In this case, the Amplified translation brings a lot to the surface. Scribe: "every teacher and interpreter of the Sacred Writings (Scripture)..." Here Jesus is speaking not only to the twelve preachers that stood before him that day, but to us. Apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelists, and teachers; Christ looked down through the portal of time and saw this generation standing behind the pulpit on the platform of the world's stage, carrying with it the same sacred writings...Now that we are here, Christ asks us this question: do we have the treasure necessary to reach our generation?
Preachers, there is a process we must go through as it concerns the Kingdom of Heaven, or the Kingdom of God, if you will. Its lifelong. First, we must be taught, secondly, we must be trained, finally, we must become disciples...All this in the area of the Kingdom of God...
We must LEARN the Word of God. We must know what it says. We must become familiar, nay, intimate with its doctrines. We must LEARN the Oneness of God, we must LEARN baptism in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins...on down the line to holiness, healing, and wonderful gift and works of the Holy Spirit - In short, we must "study to show ourselves approved..." I may be a bit old fashioned, but I don't think there's a better place we can go, when we have been called on to preach, than this most sacred of books we call the Bible...
Furthermore, we must never stop learning, we must continue to be taught and to teach ourselves throughout our days here. God's Word is so immense, and there is so much material, even in just a single verse, a single pearl if you will, that is so multi functional and so multi-dimensional that no matter how old we get, we will still need to be taught. We must learn of this place called the Kingdom...Every time I learn something, or every time something I already "know" is affirmed in a new way, its a treasure to put in my storehouse...
Secondly we must be TRAINED. We cannot be mavericks. We cannot go it alone, we must be trained by the generation that has proceeded us. We must lock arms with and sit at the feet of the men who have gone before us to plant and pastor churches, evangelize communities and nations. We must gain from the prophets that still walk among us like Lee Stoneking and Jeff Arnold - we must look at the greatest churches among us that have had continual revival and not be so ignorant to think we can just do it on our own... I don't think we need to discount those old preaching tapes we have in our garages either...I think we need to take the time, when we have opportunity, to listen to what CM Becton, and GA Mangun had to say - it mattered then, it still matters now.
We need to submit to the men of God in our lives - we need to build God's Kingdom, not our own little kingdoms. We need to serve in our local churches. Every time we are trained, and we are trained how to do, if you will, ministry in this kingdom, we gain great, priceless treasure to place in our storehouse.
Thirdly, we must become disciples...We must, ourselves, live out in our daily lives the things pertaining to the kingdom that we have been taught and trained for. If we have been taught to pray, and we have been trained to pray, now we simply must pray. If we have learned to preach, and we have been trained to preach, NOW we must preach...If we have learned how to reach out to the lost, and we have been trained how to reach out to the lost, now we must, actively, actually reach out to them. The gifts of the Spirit are a great example of this principle: we must learn of them, we must be trained by those that have mastered them, and then we must operate in these gifts...our churches and our world needs them. Oh yes we do, we need healing, miracles, prophecy, tongues and interpretation of tongues, and the words of knowledge and wisdom in our churches...For there is a generation coming up behind us that will need these as well, and if we don't have it in the storehouse to give to them, they will go without - GET IT IN YOUR STOREHOUSE!
So, what do you have in your storehouse? What do we have in our arsenal when we go to spiritual war? We have treasure. We have so much treasure. We have both old and new.
I've got some OLD treasures in my storehouse, and let this generation hear this one preacher's voice: I WILL NOT GET RID OF THEM JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE OLD! The preaching of the Cross is old. The preaching of the gospel to old. The baptism of the Holy Ghost dates much further back than 1901 Topeka, Kansas. No my friend, its old, but its a TREASURE, and it still works just as well as it always did - the Cross still cries out to the sinner, the blood still washes away my sins, there is STILL POWER IN THAT NAME OF JESUS, the Holy Ghost still fills, and empowers, and sanctifies, and leads and guides into all truth...
I've still got preaching tapes and mp3's dating back to the seventies...yeah they're old, but they still uplift my soul...They are treasure.
But we have some NEW things in the storehouse...We have some new methods. We don't always do things the exact same way, or say things the same way we've always said them. We still say them, but we find NEW ways to relate it to this generation. If revival is a new thing to you, preach the new thing! If reaching out into your community is a new thing to you, let it be new! If you've sat on the pew for twenty five years and INVOLVEMENT is a new thing to you, live the new thing - its a treasure. A revelation is just the light switch coming on revealing what's been in the room the whole time, but if I've never seen it before, it NEW to me, and its a treasure...
New is a good thing.
II Corinthians 5:174But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Romans 6:4
We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life.Bring forth your treasure, preach them, old and new preacher; the OLD rugged cross that causes a NEW and abundant life! What do you have in your storehouse?
5And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pitchers full of wine, and cups, and I said to them, Drink wine.
6But they said, We will drink no wine, for Jonadab son of Rechab, our father, commanded us: You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons, forever.
Here is a people, with an opportunity, at the invite of the man of God, to basically forsake all they had ever stood for for two hundred plus years: but notate, please highlight this in your Bible, their response - WE WILL DRINK NO WINE. It was a flat, curt, maybe even rude response - but it was immediate, and their was no wavering; we just don't do that, we havn't done it yet, we're not going to do it now...why? Because "our father commanded us..."
So where are the Christians? And what traditions shall we hold to and not compromise? What commands has our Father passed on to us that we, as His children, should loyally obey? The Rechabites, even though they were not technically considered Jews, were exactly by the example given what God was looking for from His people.
Christ spoke to us so clearly in John 14:15, the Father robed in flesh stated, almost in the form of a challenge: "If you love me, keep my commandments..."
Compromise them? Throw them away? Discard them as outdated and non relevant traditions? Put them on a display shelf to speak of, but not actually pull down off the shelf and apply to the daily living part of our lives, much less our hearts? KEEP THEM! LIVE THEM!
Read how the chapter ends: (taken from the Amplified translation)
13Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction and listen to My words and obey them? says the Lord.
14The command which Jonadab son of Rechab gave to his sons not to drink wine, has been carried out and established [as a custom for more than two hundred years]. To this day they drink no wine, but they have obeyed their father's command. But I, even I, have persistently spoken to you, but you have not listened to and obeyed Me.
15I have sent also to you all My servants the prophets earnestly and persistently, saying, Return now every man from his evil way and amend your doings and go not after other gods to serve them; and then you shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers. But you did not submit and consent to Me or listen to and obey Me.
16Since the sons of Jonadab son of Rechab have fulfilled and established the command of their father which he commanded them, but these people have not listened to and obeyed Me,
17Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them, but they have not listened, and I have called to them, but they have not answered.
18And Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father and have kept all his precepts and have done according to all that he commanded you,
19Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab son of Rechab shall never fail [to have] a man [descendant] to stand before Me.
Look at the reward for those that were obedient. God promised them a place - a place of right standing with Him, a place of ministry - and that too can be ours if we will simply KEEP the commandments already given; as Jude put it "THE FAITH that was ONCE delivered unto the saints..."
