Movement happens

What good is theology? How much different is theology than geology or paleontology? In essence all “ologies” are simply the study of something. So theology is the study of God. The true beauty of theology and the first 11 chapters of Romans is that there is much more than just the study aspect. Learning about God is wonderful but it can’t stop there. That would be kind of like taking a CPR class but doing nothing when someone needed your help. Our learning theology should lead us to live differently. If we understand anything about God it should change how we interact with Him and His creation. So, I want to ask you a fun question, and I want to hear some answers. I get stats on how many people read this thing so I don’t want to see 1,000 readers and two responses.

The question is, “In a word or a short phrase, how would you describe Christianity?”

For me the answer is “Movement.” Movement happens when Christ changes the direction of your life. Movement happens when you see the world as Christ sees it. Movement happens when you see people the way our Father does. Movement happens when we view sin the way He does. Movement happens when creation needs a redeemer and God sends His perfect Son to the cross.

The beauty of movement is it never arrives. It never finishes. Movement is a journey much like transformation. Our lives are to be like Christ and that is a life long pursuit. In much the same way beauty can’t be defined as well as it can be recognized, this movement can be recognized by a few factors. Chief among them are seeing disciples made and unleashing them into the world around us. Equipping those disciples to realize their God given pursuits and passions and engage a lost culture with the Gospel of Christ. In creating disciples our desire should be to see people pursuing God’s presence, seeing the world with His perspective and living out His purposes. God’s movement toward redemption is happening all around us everyday. I’m not talking about starting anything new, but rather joining in something very old.

This is where we find ourselves this week. Romans Chapter 12, the movement begins. Paul just wrapped up 11 chapters on how to love God and live in this world and now he points to the future. We are to take everyday we are given and live it differently. Everyday should be marked by movement towards Christ and away from our desires, movement towards His love and away from selfish desires. Romans 12:1-2 sum it up very well. Movement happens when our lives are presented as sacrifices and our choices in life viewed as worship.

Pray this week that your class would see movement happen as individuals, as a community of believers, as a local church body, and as the global church body. Start living a life worthy of His movement.