For to me, to live is Christ, Part 2

Philippians 1:21 (NIV)
²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

During my recovery from eye surgery, I wish I could have used the time to catch up on my reading.  But that was just not possible.  At first I couldn't read at all, or even watch TV.  Eventually, I was able to watch a little TV and read newspaper headlines, look at pictures, and read magazine article titles.  Friends and family kept in touch either by phone or they were kind enough to send email in a large bold font.  Thank you so much for your prayers, kind words of encouragement, and uplifting Scripture.  How grateful I am for the written word and for the Word!

Recently the title of an article from Discipleship Journal caught my attention. (Titles are usually in larger font which was helpful.)  Why I'm Not a Committed Christian (And Why That's a Good Thing) by Bob Butler begged for further reading.  The article introduces us to Dr. Josef Tson from Romania.  He is a pastor and author, and president of the Romanian Missionary Society.  He survived years of persecution and exile under Communist rule.  When asked about his perception of Christianity in America he replied, "The key word in American Christianity is commitment."  


The author goes on to say, "Rather than being a positive thing, he (Tson) saw it as an inadequate replacement of an older Christian teaching: surrender."

Tson described the difference, "When you make a commitment, you are still in control, no matter how noble the thing you commit to.  One can commit to pray, to study the Bible, to give his money, or to commit to automobile payments, or to lose weight.  Whatever he chooses to do, he commits to.  But surrender is different.  If someone holds a gun and asks you to lift your hands in the air as a token of surrender, you don't tell that person what you are committed to.  You simply surrender and do as you are told . . . Americans love commitment because they are still in control.  But the key word is surrender.  We are slaves to the Lord Jesus Christ."

The author, Bob Butler, shares his reflection on Dr. Tson's statement.

"As I pondered, I realized Tson was right in identifying the root issue as control.  My commitments seek to gain blessings of God without giving up autonomy.  My commitments may be righteous or noble but are merely promises about what I will do and depend entirely on me.  I am retaining control to some degree, as if I could negotiate with God's sovereignty.

 Surrender concedes that in the battle of wills, God has already won.  Surrender begins with the understanding that I am not God's partner -- not even a junior partner.  He is my creator and absolute Lord.  I am ruined and worthless without Him.  Surrender is really so distasteful to us because it exposes the core issue of our sin: pride."

The heart of a man who is fully surrendered to Christ is seen as you read Paul's letter to the Philippians in its entirety. It's a bold thing to say, "For to me, to live is Christ." (Phil 1:21)  But it's clear from his writing that Paul can make that claim. In chapter 3 he lays out his credentials for us to see.  Yet he considers them rubbish because he had surrendered them for the sake of Christ.

 Philippians 3:7-8 (NASB77)
⁷ But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ,"

So I've been pondering the aforementioned article as well as Paul's letter to the Philippians for several days.  Check out the article for yourself and join me in asking, "What would surrender look like in my life?"   I'd be interested in your thoughts and comments.

To read Why I'm Not a Committed Christian (And Why That's a Good Thing) in its entirety, click on the link below. 

 http://www.navpress.com/dj/content.aspx?id=4422