December 30, 2005

A friend recently commented to me that she has heard and read several times that Christians should live lives that are “Christ-centered”, but has never exactly understood what is meant by that. How do you become “Christ-centered”?

An intensely critical question, for if we as Christians can come to at least a consensus on the fact that we SHOULD live Christ-centered lives, HOW we meaningfully live that out is going to set the course for the spiritual pilgrimage of the church of the future. I, for one, want to set the feet of my children and all those that God entrusts to me, on a path that will effectually keep them positioned for pleasing God and experiencing His blessings.

Being “centered on Christ” then has two chief applications for daily wear-and-tear. The first is “relationship”… and the second is “lordship”.

Please understand from the start that you are created to walk in a personal relationship with God. “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil (or sinful or selfish) behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through (His) death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Colossians 1:21-22 NIV).

Alienated once, but through faith in Jesus, we are now forgiven and made holy, presentable to the Father. But presentable as what? For what purpose had He implemented so great a salvation on our behalf? Why did He embark on the road to Calvary? Was it in order to secure for Himself an army of slaves who have exchanged one form of bondage for another?

No, it is not that for which He shed His blood. We can celebrate and rejoice, “giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:112-14 NIV).

This is why Jesus instructs us to begin our prayers with “Our Father” (Matthew 6:9). We are no longer alienated but are given the rank and role of beloved child of God. The kind of relationship that we are to have with Him is that of a son or daughter and his or her perfectly loving Father.

And to live a “Christ-centered life” is to exalt this relationship with God above all other relationships, even those of closest family and friends. In fact, as offended as you might be from this expectation on God’s part, He knows that, as much as you love your wife, husband, children, parents, brothers or sisters, or close friends, you cannot possibly love them remotely as much as you can IF you keep your relationship with Jesus as first and foremost. If your relationship with Him is the center around which you build all your other relationships, you open yourself up to God-sized amounts of love, understanding, patience, and wisdom to help you in living with these others that you love.

The second thing in which we must consciously choose to maintain a “Christ-centered” attitude is the area of who is in charge of our lives. Who has the final say in my decision-making? Who has the right to “call the shots” for my activities, my choices, my habits, and my attitudes? Just as God does not desire “an army of slaves”, He also abhors throngs of luke-warm worshippers who settle for living out a “ho-hum” Christian existence.

“(Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the Church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have supremacy” (Colossians 1:15-18 NIV).

If Jesus is the “head” of His Church, then it must be assumed that it is meant that He is the “head” of that which makes up His Church. And Christians make up His Church. Application of this is for the Church members who together make up a single body, but it also means that the individual lives of Christians in each of their personal walks with God are to be subject to His authority.

Being “centered on Christ” means that the foundation for how you build your life is the lordship of Christ Jesus. Are the choices that you make based on what you discern from reading His Word, the Bible? Do you spend personal time in prayer laying before the Lord the decisions that you are making? Is His approval of your activities and attitudes of REAL consequence to you?

Oh, I hope so. As great as the plans are that you may have for your life, as wonderful as your ambitions might be, as noble as your dreams, they pale when compared to the plans, ambitions, and dreams of one whose greatest love is to please God.

“For this reason… we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9-10 NIV).

Why live a Christ-centered life? Because God deserves it. He is worthy of children who love Him indeed and are not merely “lip-servants”.

Also, you’ll find that seeking to center your life on Him results in spiritual fruit that lasts for eternity. It secures legacies that enrich and enhance the lives of others who will take up the mantle of decision-making in years to come.

How do you live a Christ-centered life? By organizing all aspects of your life around Who He is and What He desires.

When should you begin this serious call to walk in truth with God? Choose now to walk with Him. This day is full of the raw material for victorious and abundant living tomorrow. Don’t wait and allow what He gives you today to slip through your fingers and amount to nothing for the future.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:15-17 NIV).

(Thom Mollohan and his family have ministered in southern Ohio the past ten and a half years.  He is the pastor of Pathway Community Church.   For comments or questions, he may be reached by email at pastorthom@pathwaygallipolis.com).