Basic Christianity

A couple of months ago a few of us banded together to form a reading club to challenge ourselves to read and meet once a week to engage in discussion. Well, we are done with our first book, one that we chose for its simplicity of language (to give ourselves room to prepare us for routine reading) though it was in no way lacking depth in the thoughts it offered.

The book read was Basic Christianity by John Stott in which he explores what Christianity is and seeks to define it through the person and work of Jesus Christ (Who is Jesus? What did he come to do? What did he achieve?) and our response to  Jesus Christ. Stott aptly summarizes these words, "Christianity is not just about what we believe; it's also about how we behave." Christianity is then not only about believing (cognitive) but also behaving (practice/action); it is not only about becoming (event) but also being (process). Perhaps, in the practice of Christian faith, sometimes there is a lot of energy spent on believing but a corresponding zeal is not seen in our behaving, our daily living out of our faith. Perhaps, sometimes we are too contented in the state of what we have become (an event), that we have escaped (event) from the wrong side but having landed on and now living (process) on the winning side, we do not seem to display growth (process) in our personality that expresses what continuing to be on the winning side looks like (to use an analogy from a song that we are used to in the local context). 

So as we seek to understand Christianity what is the right approach? Stott offers two proposition: first, we have to acknowledge that God has acted, he is the initiator. Second, we are to respond to this action of God with due consideration and seriousness. That God has acted first is seen in that in the very first four word "In the beginning God" indicating that the God precedes all things and caused all things. And as we read through the Bible, we understand that this "isn't about people trying to discover God but about God reaching out to find us." Our response then is to seek God seriously because we  are naturally inclined to become lazy; seek humbly because we are inclined towards pride in ourselves; seek honestly because we are capable of being prejudiced and too sure of ourselves; and seek obediently because we are required to act on what we receive - as Stott puts it "in seeking God we have to be prepared not only to revise our ideas but to reform our lives."

With this tone set, Stott proceeds to explore (in Part One) the person of Jesus because "Christianity is Christ" and to "take Christ from Christianity" is to "remove the heart from it; there is practically nothing left." Reading through this section, a thought that occurred is that if anyone wants to make sense of Christianity, then he or she must look at and begin with the person of Christ. We might ask what of the Christian then? Yes, Christians are to be testimonies and witnesses, but ultimately the person Christ is the epitome of Christianity not the Christians. This does not mean that Christian witness or presence is not important, but it does mean that Christians do not set the standards for faith in Christ; Christ himself is the standard. Moreover, our faithlessness will never disqualify the truthfulness of the Christ in Christianity. 

Part Two of the book explores the human condition and the need of humanity: the reality of sin and its consequence on all of humanity. Why should we study about sin? It is because it in understanding the seriousness of sin that we will get to appreciate what Jesus did for us. So "sin is basically the placing of self where God should be." The consequence of sin is that we stand alienated from God, in bondage to ourselves, and being in conflict with others. As the discussion then moves on to what Christ has done to save us from sin (Part Three), Stott summarizes it as "Christ made the first aspect of salvation possible by his suffering and death, the second by the gift of his Spirit and the third by the building of his church." While the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on the cross is evidently accepted as his work, the inclusion of the other two topics adds to a fuller understanding of the work of Christ. Additionally, it is within the church that the Holy Spirit continues to strengthen the body of Christ by indwelling within the individual members as much as within the community. 

Ultimately, there is a need to respond (Part Four) to the person and the work of Christ: "we cannot remain neutral. Nor can we just drift into Christianity. Nor can anyone else settle the matter for us. We must decide for ourselves." As we respond  there is a counting of the cost: a consideration of what to forsake and what to follow. These decisions are marked by being deliberate considerations rather than hasty conclusions. For to count the cost of following Christ to part from old ways and enter new pathways, to close certain doors and to open new doors, to commit to a new lifestyle and to depart from the old one. It is about giving up our rights and giving in to the terms and conditions of Christ.

While sitting and listening to a different group of people talk about the basic tenets of Christianity, a member sharing a personal thought said Christianity for her is best summarized as "peace with God, peace with self and peace with others." As we read through this book, while these exact words are not found, I think these words also summarizes the content of the book very well. I have found this book to be very whole in its presentation even as it touches the above mentioned three aspects in its own way. For anyone wanting to start on something light to chew on, this is a good book to pick up. For anyone who wants to refresh their understanding of Christianity, this is a good book to pick up.

Thank you for your time,

kk