Christians: Live Differently

An ancient Christian author once wrote the following about his observations of disciples in the early Church around 200 AD.

“Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs which they observe. They do not inhabit separate cities of their own, or speak a strange dialect, or follow some outlandish way of life. Their teaching is not based upon reveries inspired by the curiosity of men. Unlike some other people, they champion no purely human doctrine. With regard to dress, food and manner of life in general, they follow the customs of whatever city they happen to be living in, whether it is Greek or foreign.And yet there is something extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labor under all the disabilities of foreigners. Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country. Like others, they marry and have children, but they do not destroy their offspring. They share their meals, but not their wives. They live in the flesh, but they are not governed by the desires of the flesh. They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven.” (An Epistle to Diognetus) As our ancient letter indicates, the Christians of the early Church lived in the world, but were not of the world. This author could tell there was something different about the early Christians--by the way they acted, by the way they treated others, by the way they lived their lives. As I challenged the people in the pews at Sacred Heart Church and School on All Saints Day, I also challenge you the reader: could someone write this same letter today about your church community, about your group of friends, about your marriage, about how you raise your children, about how you live your life as a Christian? Do we live our Christian life differently than the world, than our culture? Do we stand out as different? Not different in a prideful way, but in authentically living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ is counter-cultural: it is different. The way Christ lived his life and the way we are called to live ours as his disciples many times goes against the ways of the world. Jesus tells us to forgive our neighbor instead of having revenge, to lay down our life for our friends instead of thinking everything is about me, to be last instead of first, and to be least instead of greatest. But all of these teachings of Christ, in the eyes of the world, are considered absurd. So why do we believe them? Why do we follow them? If we return to the ancient letter we are reminded: “Christians pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven.” My friends, this is why we follow Jesus and His teachings, this is why we trust in God, this is why we endure and have hope even in the midst of a confused and dark world: because we know that we are not made for this world, we are made for Heaven.