Christ Alone
We sing a popular modern hymn in our church, as do many other churches, titled, “In Christ Alone”, by Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend. The first line is, “In Christ alone, my hope is found”. Do we truly believe this? Or do our lives demonstrate otherwise?
We face a difficult test as American Christians. We are wealthier in money, resources, expendable time, and political freedom than any other Christians in history. Will we preach, “In Christ Alone”, but then plan, minister, and live as if we need Christ and money, Christ and strategy, Christ and statistical research, Christ and celebrity spokesperson?
If we wanted to see a thousand people come to faith in Christ this year, what would our first step be – strategizing, recruiting workers, demographic studies, or Spirit-led prayer? If we wanted to change our laws regarding abortion or education or health care, would we find a better spokesperson, or read up on political strategy, or would we lay prostrate before God and beg the mercy of Jesus Christ for direction and power? And if Jesus was asking us to remain faithful in a culture of opposition to our values, or a lifetime of suffering, or in financial hardship, would we do it with joy, trusting that His presence with is a greater reward than the alleviation of trouble?
Hoping in Christ alone is not contrary to effort or work. As we seek Christ in prayer, we should be ready to follow His leading as His ambassadors. Hoping in Christ alone is contrary to the kind of effort that relies on the ambassador, such that if the ambassador fails, my hope fails. It is contrary to despair when our efforts fail to produce the results we had hoped for. What if Jesus leads us to take certain action to obtain results in us instead of through us? What if faithful obedience is more important to Him than measurable results?
There are two dangers in putting our hope in Christ and something else. One is that we would fail. The other is that we would succeed. Either way, our faith in Christ is diminished. When a plan fails that relied on Christ and money or Christ and strategy, it decreases our confidence in Christ. When our well-funded strategic plan succeeds, does it increase our confidence in Christ? And if Jesus saved a thousand people or changed national laws without your participation, would you rejoice with Him or lose heart that you don’t get any credit?
When my heart soars with joy with the news of a big tax return, or when my heart sinks with the news of the that my favored candidate lost the election, or when I get my heart set on a new job or new place to live or new relationship to solve my problems, my heart belies that my hope is actually in Christ plus something or someone else. And if Jesus was to move powerfully without my participation and save a thousand people or change the laws of our nation, would I rejoice that He gets the glory, or is there a piece of my heart that wishes my name was attached?
Whether we are making ministry plans, or taking political action, or making personal life choices, developing a habit of seeking Jesus’ presence in prayer is the best way to cultivate the seed of hope in Christ alone in our hearts. If we listen for Him to tell us His plans more than we ask Him to bless our plans, we stand a better chance of rejoicing in faithful obedience more than measurable results. And certainly, if we delight more in His presence than in the blessings of money, resources, expendable time, and political liberties, even if these are taken from us, we will rejoice that we suffer with Christ. Because our hope is in Him alone.
