Recently a philosophical conversation brought a response of “Well, I think it’s impractical in the world we live in. We have to work within the systems we have”.
Which brings me to an interesting question regarding the principles of Christianity – Are the principles that Jesus lived and taught really practical?
I mean let’s look at something really simple that Jesus taught in Matthew 5:
Matt 5:38-42
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. (KJV)
So the question comes up – is it practical to always give to him that asks you for something?
I mean suppose you have a coworker that is always asking for money from you – what are you supposed to do – from a Christian perspective?
According to that 42nd verse you should give it to them.
What if they never pay you back? That verse doesn’t cover that does it?
The teaching also says that if anyone sues you, give him more than he’s after.
Is that practical? Why would anyone do it? Is it enough that it is the instruction of Jesus?
One of the things that Jesus was not is materialistic.
One of the things that we tend to be is materialistic.
It’s not practical to be a follower of Christ if you’re materialistic.
In fact, materialism smacks up against many of the principles Christ taught.
Materialism and true Christianity are mutually exclusive it would seem.
You could pick any teaching of Jesus and find the same truth – It’s not practical to be a Christian.
If Christianity was practical, there wouldn’t be a need for all the different interpretations of Christ principles. We’d be able to accept them as they are.
Because they’re not exactly practical for the way we live and want to live and somehow we feel they’re important to us we must twist them around to mean something we can live with.
Which, of course, destroys the power of the principles of Christ.
But that doesn’t matter because we’re getting what we want – or are we?