The Question That Must Be Answered

There is one primary question in the life of a Christian that must be asked and answered in any situation be it worship, work, family, or anything else. Is this to the glory of Christ (1 Cor 10:31)? If you can answer unequivocally yes then what you are doing is fine. However, if you can't then you need to change what you are doing. It does not matter what it is you are doing. It must bring glory to Christ. Many of our conundrums in life can be answered by applying this simple question.

However, to be able to answer this question you need to understand that which brings glory to Christ. To have an understanding of glorifying Christ requires careful study of the Bible, for it is in these pages we find what Christ desires from us. Now the Bible is a big book, so I will summarize it as it applies to glorifying Christ. Simply put it is to love God with all your heart and all your mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. Now, Christ himself describes this as the summary of the Law, and really if you think about it is true if you love God you will worship none but him and if you love your neighbor you are not going to murder him, steal from him, be jealous of him, etc. You are instead going to build him up. Now the process of building up our neighbor brings into the equation the second part of what glorifies Christ. The proclamation of the Gospel.

The proclamation of the Gospel alone can build up a person, for it is the Gospel that gives us life. Therefore, as we go through life if we desire to give Christ glory we are going to tell people what he has done. When you get right down to it there is no better way to praise God than to tell others what he has done.

If what you are doing is an expression of love towards God and neighbor, then by all means carry on. At the same time be careful saying yes, because sometimes the things we do are not actually glorifying God. These mistakes generally manifest themselves in the arenas of worship and politics. In the name of relevant praise we are guilty of singing songs that are indistinguishable from Brittany Spears pop drivel and making it a requirement to worship in only certain ways. In the name of doing God's will we try to force morality on the people around us with out seeking to change their hearts first through the Gospel of Christ. Despite how we think and feel, these things do not glorify Christ. They are merely acts of self appeasement.

So go on ask yourself. Am I bringing glory to Christ by loving God and my neighbor?