This week is a big week in the Klophaus family. My son has been training since he was 5 for his black belt. It has taken lots of time and discipline. It hasn't been easy, but it has been very worthwhile. I won't go into all of the reasons why I appreciate the things he has learned through martial arts, but I will say that he has had a Christian instructor who has instilled Christian principles in him, and taught him how to deal with real life conflict in tangible ways.
There are many requirements to fulfill when in the final stages before a black belt test. Of course, he has to know all of the forms, but then he has to write an essay on respect, have written recommendations from others, etc. I was reading through the criteria, and I read this statement: "Here is the dirty little secret about all decent martial arts programs, there is nothing new! The only thing that matters is getting better at the basics."
That was a powerful statement to me. I believe the same is true in our Christian walk. Oftentimes, we get derailed by peripheral things or petty disputes, and oftentimes, we need to explore those things. But nothing should take us away from the basics, or rather, the basics should be strong so that we continue to grow every day. It is our core that defines us. It is what strengthens our faith. It is what we will rely on during times of trial.
I received a call yesterday from a girl who grew up in a church, but is not currently an active member anywhere. She and her husband had come up against a circumstance where they had to discuss their faith. They had never had that discussion before. When it came right down to it, though she is a Christian, she was confused about some of the basic, core beliefs of Christianity. This made it even harder for her to discuss this "faith thing" with her husband, who does not share those core beliefs and certainly doesn't know the "Baptist language". It was a reminder to me that we, as followers of Christ and as Christian educators, should NEVER neglect the basics. We should never assume that people understand the "Christian" language. Sometimes it may be completely foreign to them. I am grateful that she and her husband weren't afraid to ask questions, and begin the journey together now.
Several years ago, a missionary came and spoke to our Bible study class about a tribe he had been working with. It was a tribe that didn't understand the concept of exchanging money for work, or "earning wages". Therefore, the verse, "For the wages of sin is death..." didn't translate. The missionary spent 9 years there without a single convert. He spent that 9 years understanding their language and their way of life so he could share The Gospel with them. He spent 9 years working on translating the basics so that an entire tribe might someday come to know Christ, and be able to read Scripture in their own language.
The basics are so important. I value the time I spent in Bible Drill (learning scripture), Children's Choirs (learning hymnody) and in the Lutheran church (learning the creeds), because those are the core values of my faith. We as Baptists tend to run from creeds, but I am thankful for the Lutheran church teaching me the Nicene Creed, because it helped me memorize those core truths, and more importantly, verbalize them. There is a newer chorus that encompasses these truths in more contemporary verse:
We believe in God the Father. We believe in Christ the Son. We believe in the Holy Spirit. We are the Church and we stand as one. We believe in the Holy Bible. We believe in the virgin birth. We believe in the resurrection, that Christ one day will return to earth. We believe in the blood of Jesus. We believe in eternal life. We believe in the blood that frees us to become the Bride of Christ.
...and the powerful worship chorus (which scripture says one day ALL believers will sing around the throne): Holy, holy, holy is our God. Worthy, worthy, worthy is our King. All glory and honor are His to receive. To Jesus we sing because we believe.
May we never take for granted the core of what we believe as Christians. Let us look for opportunities to grow in the basics--studying the Scripture, worship, prayer, fellowship with believers, discipleship, missions. Like martial arts, we need to constantly strive to get better at the basics!
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Lord, help me not to get sidetracked by the peripheral or the petty, but stand firm on the Solid Rock. Thank You for giving me a sure foundation in Christ. Help me never to be complacent about sharing Your grace and mercy with this lost world. People need to know You! Draw me nearer to You everyday, that I might stay focused on the tasks You have for me to do, and that I might be a reflection of that grace which You bestow upon me daily.
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