"EXILES AND ALIENS"....

Sounds forbidding, huh? - even foreboding. And who in their right mind would volunteer for such an assignment? And, by the Way... is THAT what Christianity is; and "assignment"?

I have so often described Christianity as a REAL-ationship, (and there is certainly an enormous volume of evidence to support such a view); but are there other terms, expressions, vantaged view-points, perspectives and attributes of Christianity that might just as well outline and detail what a real Christ-ian is? I mean; WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN? ......To the TEXT!

Here are some peculiar expressions for speculation on this matter:

2Cor 4:10 (ASV) always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (Does this apply to ME??)

Luke 9:23 (ASV) And he said unto all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (What does this MEAN?)

Gala 6:14 (ASV) But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Does this, also, apply to me?)

Gala 5:24 (ASV) And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof. (Should this really be in the past tense - or current tense?... as:)

1Joh 5:4 (ASV) For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, [even] our faith. (Am I supposed to be this "overcomer"?)

Of course I could go on and on. The Received Text of God's Revelation is so littered with dilemmas and seemingly impossible scenarios for any Christian "wannabe's" as to render any rational conclusion moot. So what's a disciple to do? Well, listening to man certainly is not the answer; we have a plethora of garbled opinions and interpretations on every subject from every extreme the carnal mind can conger. But can man REALLY ask God - and will God REALLY answer?

1Pet 2:11 (ASV) Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul;

1Pet 2:11 (RSV) Beloved, I beseech you as ALIENS AND EXILES, to abstain from the passions of the flesh, that wage war against your soul.

Who.......... ME??? Am I an "alien-sojourner" and an "exiled pilgrim"? And I ask you; Who can DO this ("abstain from the passions of the flesh")? Me? YOU? Did PAUL? Did JESUS?

Tough questions nobody wants asked or answered: WHY? Unbelief!

Is it any wonder nobody really TALKS about these issues? Why, it's enough to bring a grown man to his knees! ...........Right!

Listen to this tiny, overlooked story hidden away discretely between the Bible's MOST astonishing example of Faith (by a Gentile Centurion) at which the Living Word-Will of God Himself is "astonished" (NEB) and "marvels" (RSV), and the amazing story of Messiah's Regnant and SuperNatural Authority over even the laws of physics when calming the raging storm:

Matt 8:19 (ASV) And there came a scribe, and said unto him, Teacher, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven [have] nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Talk about an EXILE and an ALIEN... Christ here astonishes and repels a would-be disciple candidate, or suppliant who asks to go where Messiah is headed. Jesus answers with "NOWHERE"... I am going no where; that is, I have no "WHERE" to go to! It is that "I-Am" is HERE - NOW! And, it is also that "I-Am" is an ALIEN and an EXILE in this foreign land-scape; a Monarch with no DOMINION in this "place", en-route to His HomeLand, by a treacherous Way.

Roma 8:20 (ASV) For the creation was subjected to vanity (futility-RSV), not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope

Roma 11:32 (ASV) For God hath shut up (consigned-RSV) all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.

Gala 3:22 (ASV) But the scriptures shut up (consigned-RSV) all things under sin , that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

"Futility/vanity", "shut-up/consigned to disobedience and sin", ??? What goes on here? God's Own Son Abandoned to disgrace, defeat and even Death by a Loving Father-God Whom it "pleases to Bruise Him"? Why, it Reads like a masochistic exploit of monumental sadism! And, further, this Bloody Execution of evil triumphing over Innocence is now recommended to followers [disciples] as a DAILY REGIMEN? (Lk 9:23)

What possible allure is there that marks this "new, Living Way" (Heb 10:20) with the most abhorred death-symbol ever devised by man (the cruel Cross)? And what on earth could so Possess a man to embrace such a Way?

The human need of/for belonging may yet prove as mighty and indomitable an animal-instinct as that of procreation, survival, and possession-identity. Man was not Made to be alone, but was Created to belong to God FIRST.

This "God-FIRST" Principal marks and holds a primal position as #1 Divine-Priority for man, as Set by God Himself. It is this Royal Stipulation which stands alone, unique... till Wedded to Divine Obligation to Love Others even as Created in Love by His Majesty, the King of Love and Monarch of Peace, Christ Jesus - the Messiah, Son of God AND Man!

This Union of Form AND Function, as Designed and Created by Grace As God, Remains as the ONLY HOME and Domicile of Love-Incarnate! The Creator had no place in His Creature, and so Came and Made a Home for Himself even where there was no Home - in VANITY! It was by death, through becoming sin, He set aside all LONELINESS of not Belonging AS-INTENDED by Creator. He Called this His "Body", His "Church", His "Bride", His "HOME"! All who now Abide in Him.... HOUSE GOD HIMSELF!

Wonder of wonders; that a Living Way Is Made where there WAS no way!

Come and Dine!

Amen.