Core value 1: Christ-centered

In the busyness of life, speed is of the essence. Modern technology allows faster communication and access to information, so response time on any request is cut down. We take courses in speed-reading, because surely more is better – time is money, after all. A good games a quick game, and so on.

But is speed always efficient? In the instant response lifestyle, how do you consider things well? Are we ultimately saying that ‘careful reflection’ is a non-essential to modern living? Dietrich Bonhoeffer had a personal habit of spending the first half hour of a day meditating on one verse of the Bible. By meditating, it wasn’t in the Eastern sense of clearing the mind, but in the Western sense of carefully considering something. He expected this practise of all his ordinands. Half an hour’s careful consideration of all the possibilities that one verse opened up about God and living for him. Clearly for Bonhoeffer, speed was not the only essential!

In last week’s bulletin, we printed the Core Values of our church. If you are anything like me, you read them (perhaps even with badly formed speed reading skills). It certainly was of some value to us all – but did our skim read prove inefficient.

1) Christ–centred: Jesus is Lord and Saviour, worthy of praise, glory and honour. He has lavished us with his grace. We are committed to doing everything for the glory of Jesus: individually and corporately; publicly and privately. We are committed to locating Jesus at the centre of our life and proclamation. We are committed to bringing our present behaviour and future plans under his authority and guidance.

But what does that mean? Before you read on, go back and read that value again, asking yourself: ‘What might that mean?’ On slower reading, to be Christ-centred says something life-changing about both God and us.

The opening 2 sentences declare the character and action of the second person of the Trinity. His power as unopposed ruler is affirmed (Lord), and His exercise of such power for the benefit of others (Saviour). We are reminded of the framework that shapes the way relating to Jesus should happen. Each of us will relate in different forms to him (we have different accents to praise Him, different gifts to serve Him, different struggles to bring to Him) – but we all do it framed by His lavish mercy in welcoming sinners to His table (Luke 14), and framed by a clear knowledge that His worth fills Heaven with constant songs of delight (Rev 4-5). We are Christ-centred, because all power resides with Jesus – and he has thrown open the possibility of us engaging properly with Him.

The following 3 sentences declare how being Christ-centred changes our lives. In various ways, we see how every moment is re-calibrated. Each word we speak becomes about whether it gives a more accurate impression of Christ to others (His glory). Every action is about whether it serves to advance our reputation, or His. Our corporate gatherings are measured not on its slick appearance, but on whether they help believers to “behold the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus.” (John Owen). Being Christ-centred means we commit everything to Him.

Speed is not always of the essence. Before you put this paper down consider 3 things that it will look like for you to be ‘Christ-centred’. 3 things our church must do to show ‘a dying, risen, interceding, and coming Christ, were continually before our eyes!’ (J.C. Ryle). Then pray!

In Him,
Mark Smith