Biblians

Someone has said well that we are CHRISTians, not BIBLians. We should be more founded in Him than in His Book, as valuable as it is. He is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.

The Ekklesias of Christ proved that we can be powerful Christians with or without a printed New Testament. For a few hundred years they did pretty well, actually.

The Church has also proven for many more centuries that we can be powerful, destructive jerks with or without a printed New Testament. Much of the population of the world thinks of the murderers who led the crusades when they think of the Church, actually.

As you study the Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, focus on being transformed into the likeness of Jesus, and on learning to be thankful for the privilege of paying any cost to represent Him well in the earth as you interact with the rest of the people He loved enough to be tortured to death for.

Romans 12    Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts:

If prophecy, use it according to the standard of faith;
if service, in service; if teaching, in teaching;
if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity;
leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.

Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord. But

If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.
Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

(from Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © Holman Bible Publishers.)