Tuesday, April 30, 2013

On Being a Full Time Christian

Sometimes people see pastors as being full time Christians, devoting every day to serving God.  And while I hope that is true, the reality is all Christians are called to full time faith!

I have a friend who is a pediatrician.  He is a wonderful doctor.  He treats each child as a unique and precious person.  He keeps himself up-to-date in terms of his skills and knowledge so that he can give his little patients the best care possible.  Beyond that, every morning he kneels down at home and prays for the children he will see that day.  For my friend, all that is what it means to be a follower of Jesus.  All that is part of being a full time Christian.

One of my former parishioners in Connecticut worked as an attorney for a large public agency.  Her tasks included seeing to it that laws designed to protect children were fairly enforced.  She took time to carefully research each case, even going so far as to consult with appropriate experts who could help her understand her clients.  And most every work day she and a co-worker met to pray (on their own time) not just for their personal concerns, but for the needs of those they were serving as well.  For her that, at least in part, was what it meant to be a follower of Jesus.  That is what it meant to be a full time Christian.

When my wife and I lived in New Jersey our home was located at a busy intersection.  The borough we lived in had city garbage pickup.  Every Tuesday and Friday that smelly old truck would come careening around the corner and barely slow down long enough for the guy hanging on the back to jump off and grab the garbage pails.  He was a large black man, dressed in coveralls.  I never did learn his name.  But each time I'd see him he'd smile and shout out "God bless you!"  And as he'd move down the street, he'd do that without fail for everyone he passed.  On cold, icy days, and in the heat of summer.  Without fail.  I suspect he was a follower of Jesus as well.

Whether you set down a briefcase or pick up garbage pails, whether you write sermons or brief, whether you take care of home and family, or treat sick children--if you are a follower of Jesus you are called to give your all.  You are called to be a follower, a disciple, a full time Christian.

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