In today’s reading, I was highly struck by what Lewis wrote regarding the integration of faith and religion into our daily lives. Ever since I left the mission field, I’ve been challenged in figuring out how my faith could be integrated into my new surroundings and circumstances. The environment that I lived in for two years was that of a highly concentrated focus on God, our priorities, time, appointments, and relationships all had a specific focus towards missions. In those types of environments, prayer is constant regarding every situation and God is much more highly depended on. However, leaving that environment of specific Christian focuses into an academic setting with different challenges and activities has left me scratching my head a few times as I’ve wondered on how to approach different situations such as dedicating my history papers to the glory of God. The focus on specifically Christian goals has not been as clear as it used to be. As a result of these challenges, I have been trying to dedicate each act towards the glory of God, which I believe is through a heart dedication of an act of worship to God. I agree with Lewis when he writes:
“It is for a very different reason that religion cannot occupy the whole of life in the sense of excluding all our natural activities. For, of course, in some sense, it must occupy the whole of life.”
Religion and faith do not constitute an absolute separation and incompatibility with the world. Rather, each action and activity which we engage in must be an act of worship to God, it’s the way we keep close to Him and maintain our personal integrity. If we strive to work hard for any other priority than to give glory to God, and instead work in selfishness or pride, we commit sin. Lewis quotes:
“Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye, do all to the glory of God. All our merely natural activities will be accepted , if they are offered to God, even the humblest: and all of them, even the noblest, will be sinful if they are not.”
Though I do not agree that every act not committed to God is sin, such as the laying down of life for one’s friends is sinful, however I do agree that almost all of our actions should ultimately be dedicated to the Lord.
Thanks for sharing our personal perspective on this topic. I think it is good to see your perspective specifically because of your previous missions-focused life. I hope that Lewis's words were encouraging to you as you adjust to your new life. I completely that no matter what we do, even if it is just writing a history paper, it is important that we do it for God's glory.
ReplyDeleteThanks for putting your own thoughts on this. It's interesting to hear your personal thoughts on this based on your previous experiences. I think that in addition to what you said about glorifying God in all that we do, we can be image bearers for Him, no matter what the circumstance.
ReplyDeleteAgreed^^
ReplyDeleteI also liked your points on how faith and our life should be integrated. And not that we should only focus on theological issues, but that every part of our day should be consumed by God, from eating to sleeping and everything in between.
I like what you said about working with God in order to preserve our integrity. Often times Sunday only type Christians fail because of their lack of integrity.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your experience with the mission field to college that seems like a hard transition. I also like how you put integrity and doing work for God together.
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