On-fire Christianity

How extreme should Christians be? How thoroughly should their Christianity influence their lives? Is merely being a Christian sufficient, or should it go deeper than that?

One might even ask whether the concept of dedicated, lifestyle-influencing Christianity is a modern concept that holier-than-thou's came up with to make themselves look better. Did some people get bored with normal Christianity and invent strict standards so that Christianity wouldn't become nominal and stagnant? Were the people in earlier time periods of history, including during Biblical times, less fanatical? Were they merely ordinary believers, just like should be appropriate today?

In Psalm 101, David shares a powerful resolve for godly living. He presents a belief in God that affects his life to an incredible degree. His theme statement is found in verse 2: "I will give heed to the blameless way." This is something David intended to pay close attention to and earnestly devote himself toward. He wasn't just trying to slide by or do the minimum; he wanted his life to be characterized by blamelessness. What did David say that would look like for him?

Integrity starts at home.

"I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart" (v. 2). David's faith wasn't merely an external display to be seen by those in public. This was not about impressing others. David intended for his private life to display integrity. When he was alone or with his family, he wanted to consistently do what was right. He wanted to walk that way, making it a habit.

The eyes must be guarded.

"I will set no worthless thing before my eyes" (v. 3). David was not going to waste his limited time on earth by pursuing things that did not matter. He wasn't going to enjoy the vain and worthless input, influence, or entertainment of his day. When he looked at and considered something, he wanted it to be something with value and meaning.

Godless influences must be shunned.

"I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not fasten its grip on me" (v. 3). David saw people around him who had stopped following God. There was a way such people lived and a type of work they accomplished. David doesn't share details about those works, but they were not worthwhile or God-honoring. David hated such sinful and self-serving practices and determined not to be caught up in them.

A holy life comes from a pure heart.

"A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know no evil" (v. 4). These statements are very much internal. While David wanted to do the right things externally, he knew that right actions came from a right heart and a right mind. David purposed not to allow perversion or evil to influence him internally, knowing this would lead to wrong actions.

Godliness requires separation from the wicked.

"Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy; no one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure" (v. 5). David, as a leader and king, had some responsibility to judge the wicked. The application for modern Christians is not to destroy people, but to recognize associations that are detrimental. David wanted to distance himself from proud people who despised others around them. Not only would this protect David from developing such attitudes himself, but it would also spare him the empty association with those proud people who would likely turn on him also.

Godly friends are essential.

"My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me" (v. 6). When David chose people to be near to him, to live with him, and to influence him, he chose the faithful. He chose those who continued following God. It was these righteous people that David most longed to be with.

Genuine help comes from godly sources.

"He who walks in a blameless way is the one who will minister to me" (v. 6). When David chose those who would help and advise him, he didn't choose the most powerful or the most popular. He didn't choose those who would be able to do the most for him. He chose those who followed God and righteousness. Only with such people could he be sure that the help he received would actually be beneficial and worthwhile.

Honesty is highly valued.

"He who practices deceit shall not dwell within my house; he who speaks falsehood shall not maintain his position before me" (v. 7). Both in his close acquaintances and in his advisors, David valued honesty. This had to have been linked to his own personal devotion to honesty. Both living the truth and speaking the truth mattered.

Public evil is to be opposed.

"Every morning I will destroy all the wicked of the land, so as to cut off from the city of the LORD all those who do iniquity" (v. 8). David desired good for his nation, and he knew there were people who were working to accomplish the opposite. David regularly and consistently stood up against such evil and did what was within his power to stop those wicked practices.

David's belief in God was far deeper than a mere mental assent or a nominal association. It was more than empty ritual or habit-prompted words. David was deeply dedicated to following God, and he knew that such a decision would impact his entire life. In his heart, in his thoughts, in his behavior, in his intake, in his home, in his friends, in his advisors, and in his society David consistently strove to reflect the relationship with God that was paramount in his life.

Being a true Christian is more than just a one-time decision. It is more than saying the right words. It is more than following a prescribed set of actions. Christianity with integrity and conviction impacts every day and every area of life. A Christian is a new creature, and that new nature is readily evident.