Lately I’ve been trying to understand my thoughts about Christianity. What is it that Christ followers should represent? There are many options.
A quick look back in Christian history shows anything from distorted views of following Jesus, to self gain, to the ugliness of church sanctioned divisions of people. I don’t know who said if first to give them credit, but History seems to have a way of repeating itself.
In his book, Brian Zahnd suggests that Christianity return to the beauty of Jesus’ life.
“What I am suggesting is that we look to beauty as a primary standard for our theology, witness, and action…Is this a beautiful doctrine? Is this a beautiful witness? Is this a beautiful practice?…Along with asking if it is true and if it is good, we should also ask if it is beautiful…Truth and goodness need beauty…to embrace truth and goodness in the Christian sense, we must also embrace beauty.”
The beauty of Jesus’ sacrificial life ought to penetrate our thinking in each action, each mission, and each expression of our influence. There are no exceptions.
Peace
Jim
