Where Do We Go from Here?

The Lovely Joanne and I just got back from a day at a summer camp, where some of the campers and staff were baptized. Hooray and hallelujah! For those newly-baptized persons, I know one of their next questions is "now, how do I follow Jesus?" So here are a few words that may help. Should we seek a 'balance' between grace and
works, as though grace rules out any obligation to do good things for God? Some people believe learning more about God is the most important thing, while others emphasize how hard one should work, sacrifice, etc. to make sure you "do your part." Should we seek a 'balance' between these? I am convinced there a third way that is more authentic. My friend James Newby wrote this (emphasis mine): 

"What is our 'response-ability'? The fundamental ability to respond - my response - is found in knowing. Belief is not mere intellectual assent to some truth-statements; belief in the 'Christian' sense, faith, is demonstrated in getting to know the One who already knows us. Belief, faith, love, hope, etc... is fundamentally a function in the context of relationship. In Christ, God has demonstrated his desire, his good pleasure and will to have an actual, face to face relationship with humanity entire, and each human uniquely. Our response is to smile back at our Father, walk with Jesus, listen to the Spirit, commune with others in our relational circles. My responsibility to what Jesus did for us (my response as a justified, adopted, loved, Holy Spirit filled, glorified child, Romans 8:30) is to love my wife and children, to lay down my lives for them - and for my neighbors and for any who may be called 'my neighbor'. My response is to 'no longer view anyone from an outward, human point of view, but as the new creations in Christ they may not know or believe themselves to be... In this response I am enjoying God and glorifying him, now, and demonstrating my belief in the forever-nature of the Kingdom life Christ came to adopt me into. (sorry for ending the sentence with a preposition)."

James makes several crucial points. First, our Christian belief is not mere study and agreement with a set of facts or even orthodox Christian doctrines, but coming to be intimate with the One who has already known and loved us totally. He has loved us from before Creation and has accepted us all without reservation because of his eternal plan for us; and the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ covers all sin of all people past, present and future (1 Cor. 15:21-22) which means that even our sin is no longer a barrier between us and God. As we rest fully in the relationship he calls us into, we are released to explore his love for us and love him more completely in return; just like a child secure in his parents' love is free to explore life and love completely.

Second, our response is far beyond Christian ethics -- the right and wrong we try to follow, and how that compares to the ever-changing standards in society. Instead, our response focuses on relationships -- the relationship the Father established with us through Jesus, fed by the Spirit's work in us, and our relationships with others. As James wrote above, our response to God is not only toward him, but also toward his other children. When we believe that we and all around us are fully accepted by God, we can be, to them, like Jesus was on earth to all sinners (and there weren't any righteous people!). Jesus established his kingdom through his words and actions during his ministry, and as we follow him in those words and actions, by his love flowing through us, his kingdom continues and grows in us and through us. 

Did you catch that? We've just circled back to "the great commandment" of loving God and loving our neighbors -- and that's where we all go from here.