I have a love-hate relationship with Christian books that major on the ‘How Tos’. Whilst I have appreciated and found value in some of them, I also find them quite draining at times and I could never quite put my finger on why. But as I’ve reflected on it a bit more I’ve noticed a pattern in what they promise: five ways to have a great marriage, three steps to thriving in your singleness, ten ways to raising non-rebellious teens… and on and on they go. They major on getting a desired outcome in your Christian life if you just do the right sort of things.
Now a lot of these books have good intentions, and yes, there is a place for wise counsel in living the Christian life. But more often than not, they end up leaving us feeling crushed because they give the impression that life should look a lot more put together and victorious for you than it does at present. The Christian is left thinking: I must be missing out on something. Why is that?
I find that it is because the authors are in effect telling how to go about living a Christian life that is victorious, whether that applies to particular life circumstances, or our spiritual life in general. Now you might be thinking c’mon Inonge, what’s the problem with that? Shouldn’t we be pursuing a life of victory? But stick with me here. I absolutely affirm that the theme of victory and triumph is big in the new testament, centering on the finished work of Jesus and his victory – past, present and future. It’s sprinkled all over the place.
We are reminded that on the cross, Christ disarmed the rulers and authorities, putting them to shame and triumphing over them (Colossians 2:15); that he now sits at God’s right hand and his enemies are being brought under his feet (Ephesians 1:20-22); that he will be triumphant in the end (Revelation 19) and that death itself has been swallowed up in victory because of him (1 Corinthians 15:54-56).
The theme of victory is very clear, so I am not discarding its importance. But I do wonder if our perception and application of this victory to daily life can become unhelpful and leave us feeling like perpetual failures.
Victory in the wrong places
The emphasis that scripture gives and the implications that it draws out in relation to this victory is miles apart from what is implied in some of these popular Christian books. The books sell and will continue to sell because they tap into our genuine desire to fight sin, to live a life pleasing for God and they offer us shortcuts. They offer steps and methods and so in our culture of ‘instant everything’ we fall for it. We buy book upon book about it, and when it doesn’t work we just buy more.
We attend conference after conference, all in search of this elusive ‘victory’. We look for moments of elation and wonder, something, anything to give us the stamp of approval that we are doing it right.
But I want to suggest that the victory that Scripture paints for us is often not tangibly visible and the picture of the Christian life that we are given in scripture probably doesn’t look or feel ‘victorious’ on the ground. It’s not that those peak moments won’t be there, but that’s not the norm. And in fact that is not how scripture frames the Christian life if you pay close attention.
Victory looks like Fighting
For example, in the letter to the Ephesians, the believers are reminded of all the incredible blessings that they have in Christ (Chapter 1) and it sounds incredible, right? Yet much of the remainder of the letter is filled with language of weakness and battle. So which is it? Are we triumphant or are we not?
Well, it is worth highlighting that the blessings are ‘in the heavenly places’, that is we are told who we are and all that we have in Christ from heaven’s perspective. But the experience of God’s people on the ground usually feels miles away from this, which is why we need heaven’s perspective in the first place.
Andy Gemmill helpfully points out that just as the conquest and victory of Christ is a big theme in this letter, so also is the conflict of his people. In the invisible realm, Christ is triumphant but in the visible realm, weakness and conflict is the reality for his people.
Believers are therefore urged to get ready for spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6), putting on the armour of God and fighting with the word of God, and prayer, and the gospel agenda and Christ’s likeness of character. This ‘warfare’ takes place in the home, in the workplace and all the places we inhabit, in the normal, in the mundane and in the ordinary. The implications drawn of the triumph that we have, on this side of eternity is therefore, to fight.
Victory looks like enduring
Elsewhere in 1 Corinthians 15 after reminding the believers that death has indeed been swallowed up in victory, a victory given through Jesus, the exhortation given in light of that is this:
“Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” 1 Corinthians 15:58
We are encouraged to stand, to be steadfast, immovable, to keep labouring for Christ. Basically saying just keep going, none of your labor is pointless. After such triumphant language of victory, this is the exhortation, really? It does seem a little simple doesn’t it?
But how much do we need to hear this encouragement? When you’re the only Christian at work, school, in friend groups, when Christians increasingly become the minority; when it seems like our efforts at evangelism and discipleship are pointless and when we get weary of fighting our own sin. In those moments, we need heaven’s perspective that it really is worth it.
It strikes me that time after time in the New Testament believers are urged to persevere, to stand, to remain, to not lose heart… right after being told of some glorious spiritual reality. Why? Might it be because as time goes on and life gets harder we might lose hope? Might it be because on the ground the Christian life can feel tiresome, weak, defeated? Might it because it would be tempting in light of life’s challenges to listen to another message, another gospel, one that offers more excitement and promises us a reality that will not be found on this side of eternity?
Victory now, but not yet…
Friends, the Christian life is one of victory because of our union with Christ – the reigning, triumphant Christ. We are no longer slaves to sin and it is no longer our master, we have full life, abundant life in Christ, he is our joy. I am not advocating for a life of misery and self pity. We are in Christ and all of these blessings are ours in him…now!
But be on guard, the Christian life itself often does not look or feel victorious and that doesn’t mean we’re ‘doing it wrong’. Let us not look for victory from methods or steps that offer shortcuts, we have not yet been glorified (1 John 3:2). So when we feel that our lives should look more visibly triumphant than they do, let us be reassured that the Christian life is more significant than it often appears. Christ has already conquered and if you are in Christ, you are the real thing.
So keep on keeping on, remain, stand, continue, keep on fighting with your eyes fixed on Jesus. In your seemingly mundane, day to day ordinary life, live by faith for him. He really is at work in your life, he is keeping you, he will keep you and what you do not see now will be made visible one day when you are finally glorified.
