4 Under-discussed Aspects of the Christian Life
Growing up, I expected the older I got, the less advice I would need. How wrong I was. I find myself constantly trying to glean as much practical wisdom from other believers as I possibly can. Books, podcasts, and online sermons are all helpful, but there is nothing like talking with a fellow Christian about how to live out your faith in Christ. With that said, I would say there are 4 under-discussed aspects of the Christian life. Aspects which I always crave more wisdom on than I can get.
Why do I call them under-discussed? These are topics which almost every Christian has to think and live through each week. No matter how different an individual week is, most Christians need to go to work, have to figure out how much or little to open up their home, interact with other people (both believers and non-believers), and function within a family unit.
Even though these are weekly contexts in which Christians live, I find they are not discussed enough. These topics are not taught on or even talked about in proportion with the amount of time Christians spend living within these contexts. In this post, I want to introduce the four under-discussed aspects of the Christian life I have in mind.
The Christian at Work
This might be the single most under-discussed area Christians need wisdom and teaching on. There are dozens of Christian books on how to study the Bible better and how to function within the local Church. And that’s great; all those books are good and necessary and beneficial. However, most of my week is not spent within the local Church. It normally isn’t even spent in front of a Bible. Most of my week is spent pouring myself into some sort of vocation.
Therefore, most of my practical questions I need answered, most of the interactions I need prayer for, and the context where I am called to glorify God most frequently is at work. In a secular office with a mix of believers, professing believers, and non-believers. You would think there would be more books on what the Bible says about work than there are.
Anyone who has read Scripture through knows God cares greatly about work: how you do work, why you do work, principles for effective labor. Your vocation is a fundamental part of who God has called you to be. As such, there is a lot of daily wisdom needed on how to work in a God-glorifying way.
Biblical teaching on work is especially important because of the temptations which often accompany it. You can idolize work, find your identity in it, work dishonestly, or use your vocation as a way to pursue worldly riches.
Christians everywhere need sound, Biblical teaching to clarify how to do their 9 to 5 to the glory of God and for the fame of Christ.
Pretty much every week I wish I had more Biblical wisdom for interacting at work. I don’t think I’m the only one.
Hospitality
Another task everyone does each week is scheduling. What the family is going to do, what events they are going to attend, and what things will they say “no” to. What normal Christian families do, don’t do, or plan to do each week ties into this idea of hospitality. I agree with Rosaria Butterfield’s emphasis on the importance of ordinary hospitality. But it is another under-discussed aspect of the Christian life where wisdom is needed.
When was the last time you were directly discipled on how to practice hospitality? In my experience, there are Christians who prioritize opening up their homes each week and who know generally what to do, while other Christians struggle with leaving their week and door open for others. Regardless of which camp you fall into, more Biblically informed wisdom and teaching would surely help local congregations get a better grasp on hospitality.
Building Meaningful Relationships
I have written before that I think most everyone is at least a little bit lonely. Humans crave connection. Beyond that, each person interacts with dozens of people each week whether you want connection or not. How should Christians interact with others? How do you cultivate meaningful relationships? There are so many surface level conversations and “friendships”, but how do you get to a deeper place of knowing the other person?
The Bible has much to say about how you are to interact with others, both within the Church and outside the Church. Yet, even though this is a vital topic on most people’s minds and the Bible has much to say on the issue, I have heard very few direct teachings on how Christians build meaningful relationships. Maybe once in a while a topical series on evangelism or discipleship pops up. But because interactions and relationships with other people are a daily reality for every Christian, I would argue there needs to be more discussion around how the Bible guides our relationships with others.
Family Worship
I have read many articles and posts on the importance of family worship. But often after reading those articles, I am left with a pervasive “that is great, but how do I do it?” Christians understand the importance of the family unit. Yet, I fear too little thought is given on equipping each family unit to function to God’s glory throughout the week.
There are plenty of Children’s ministries, Vacation Bible Schools, and other “Church family events” around, but I have yet to hear a formal walk through of what the Scripture teaches on family worship. I have seen examples of family worship done well, but as with hospitality, I generally see one group of believers who do family worship well and another group who does not prioritize family worship. I wonder if this is because they were not taught clearly what family worship is and how to do it well.
Implications
1. Pastors, please be aware of these weekly realities in your congregation
If you are a Pastor, Elder, or teach regularly at your Church, please keep these 4 under-discussed aspects of the Christian life in your mind as you prepare your sermon. Almost every believer in your body will have questions, struggles, or need wisdom in at least one of these areas. As much as your congregation cares about your subtle knowledge of the Greek, they are likely more concerned with how to honor God with their work this next week. Or when to schedule dinner with their neighbors. Or how to structure family worship each evening.
Teachers at Church have the high privilege of bringing the Word of God to bear on the most mundane aspects of daily life.
2. Discuss these topics with other believers
One of my favorite Proverbs is “there is safety in a multitude of counselors.” I guarantee other believers around you have thought about and wrestled with these four areas of day-to-day life. Most of the time, you won’t find whole books written on these topics or hear whole sermons preached on them. But you can grow in applying Biblical wisdom to these four areas by finding other Christians who are already doing it.
For example, some of the best, most insightful “teachings” I have had on Christianity and vocation have not come from a book or from a pulpit. They have come talking with a couple other brothers about their workweek: what things are easy, and what things are difficult. Don’t wait to get instruction on these 4 aspects of the Christian life. “Get wisdom” by taking advantage of the saints around you.
3. Think about these topics during Bible study & sermon application
If you want to grow in godliness in each of these aspects of the Christian life, you are going to have to constantly be on the look-out during Bible study and sermon application. Each text you look at, each sermon you hear, ask whether the text has any bearing on the four areas discussed above. You will be surprised with the frequency with which God speaks to these issues and the wisdom Scripture provides.
These four under-discussed aspects of the Christian life are only a few areas I personally have desired more teaching on. There are no doubt countless more. Just remember: God has provided in Christ everything you need for life and godliness, and His Word is the source of all wisdom and authority.
Christ is Lord of your normal, mundane work week just as much as He is Lord of the Church and Lord of history.
So let us work to better apply Biblical wisdom to each of these aspects of our lives.
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