There is a great problem. It is a problem with the idea of being ordinary. It has been noticed for sometime now that adjectives that emphasis greatness have found their way into the common lexicon, and when we hear them, we definitely turn our heads to see what has caused the latest discussion of the latest word.
It is tempting to see these adjectives and the words they qualify as something common and in frequent use by promoters of shows and events where their jobs require them to be as brash and loud as possible about the event they are about to host. This is to ensure that sufficient buzz circulates around the immediate vicinity or state and, where there is enough funding, across the nation about the impending show.
It can no longer be so. We can no longer see the idea of describing life and every event and situation that people are involved with grandiose adjectives as things limited to just institutions. It is now with us the people. The people no longer see anything that affects them or proceeds from them as things that should be described with “ordinary” words or to be seen as living the ordinary Christian life.
This idea of not living the ordinary Christian life seems to be a snipe at those who live the ordinary Christian life. We need to unpack that a bit. The ordinary Christian is one who obeys the word of God and serves as a slave to His Lord and not just as a slave but as a brother and friend as well.
He or she is the one who uses the ways God has given to us to walk with him. These ways are not hidden or shroud in mystery, they are means of grace.
We pray with the trust of a young child
We read the bible with trust of a young child
We are baptized in ordinary water used in the community for other purposes
We break bread and drink wine, simple ordinary food in obedience to our Lord.
When we share the goods of this world with one another, we do it through ordinary means.
When we gather together, we sing songs of worship and praise to our heavenly father with the help of our ordinary imperfect voices.
Care and love for one another as children of God is done through praying and support with our ordinary time and provision of our ordinary goods.
When we speak the gospel of truth, we speak to the ordinary people around us. We interact with them aware of the ordinary life they are living and using it as a pointer to our discussion of interest.
Ordinary does not mean mediocre, it does not mean lifeless, it does not mean devoid of value. It means habitual, routine, day-to-day.
It is by doing these things day by day and habitually and routinely that men who have gone before us cut their teeth and were able to live the lives we so endure.
The righteous life is one lived and expressed by doing the simple ordinary things correctly and faithfully.
Without the routine, habitual, ordinary things of Christ that has been given to us in the bible, we will not be living the life of the ordinary Christian. At that point, we can’t afford to pray that we refuse to live an ordinary Christian life. It is unbecoming.
The Ordinary Christian Life
February 27, 2017 by Jide Ajayi • Christian Living, Issues, Life •
There is a great problem. It is a problem with the idea of being ordinary. It has been noticed for sometime now that adjectives that emphasis greatness have found their way into the common lexicon, and when we hear them, we definitely turn our heads to see what has caused the latest discussion of the latest word. It is tempting to see these adjectives and the words they qualify as something common and in frequent use by promoters of shows and events where their jobs require them to be as brash and loud as possible about the event they are about to host. This is to ensure that sufficient buzz circulates around the immediate vicinity or state and, where there is enough funding, across the nation about the impending show.
It can no longer be so. We can no longer see the idea of describing life and every event and situation that people are involved with grandiose adjectives as things limited to just institutions. It is now with us the people. The people no longer see anything that affects them or proceeds from them as things that should be described with “ordinary” words or to be seen as living the ordinary Christian life.
This idea of not living the ordinary Christian life seems to be a snipe at those who live the ordinary Christian life. We need to unpack that a bit. The ordinary Christian is one who obeys the word of God and serves as a slave to His Lord and not just as a slave but as a brother and friend as well.
He or she is the one who uses the ways God has given to us to walk with him. These ways are not hidden or shroud in mystery, they are means of grace.
We pray with the trust of a young child
We read the bible with trust of a young child
We are baptized in ordinary water used in the community for other purposes
We break bread and drink wine, simple ordinary food in obedience to our Lord.
When we share the goods of this world with one another, we do it through ordinary means.
When we gather together, we sing songs of worship and praise to our heavenly father with the help of our ordinary imperfect voices.
Care and love for one another as children of God is done through praying and support with our ordinary time and provision of our ordinary goods.
When we speak the gospel of truth, we speak to the ordinary people around us. We interact with them aware of the ordinary life they are living and using it as a pointer to our discussion of interest.
Ordinary does not mean mediocre, it does not mean lifeless, it does not mean devoid of value. It means habitual, routine, day-to-day.
It is by doing these things day by day and habitually and routinely that men who have gone before us cut their teeth and were able to live the lives we so endure.
The righteous life is one lived and expressed by doing the simple ordinary things correctly and faithfully.
Without the routine, habitual, ordinary things of Christ that has been given to us in the bible, we will not be living the life of the ordinary Christian. At that point, we can’t afford to pray that we refuse to live an ordinary Christian life. It is unbecoming.