by Rupert Flagg

Created on: July 01, 2009   Last Updated: July 05, 2009

Psalm 119:56
This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.

I believe myself to be a practicing Christian. I read the bible. I go to church. I even sing in the choir. I believe myself to be a practicing Christian. I have formed habits over the years that would, without any doubt, label me Christian. I have women around me who help to keep me accountable to what I say I believe and to provide much needed encouragement as often as necessary. If there were some sort of uniform, I'd probably wear it more often than not and I'd want my name printed on something, but then that'd be vanity and it's frowned upon in Christianity.

Let me explain, to be a practicing Christian means that I make a lot of mistakes... everyday. Fighting my flesh is a constant because it would like to have it's way all the time. I make conscious choices, sometimes the wrong ones, to do what I think right often based on my beliefs and like the physician, practicing medicine, I know that being a practicing Christian isn't an exact science. In truth, it's about trial and error and learning from them. It's also sometimes about temper tantrums when I don't get my way.
There are declarations I try to make each day, like: "Greater is He that's in me than He that is in the world" and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". Practicing Christians understand the importance of keeping your focus off of those things that seek to undermine your beliefs.
It also means that you don't get caught up in being called a practicing Christian. Many of us get too caught up in the labels, whether it be Baptist, Methodist, or Catholic. To be Christian simply means to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Christ, meaning savior. It's his title, not his last name. I learned that too at an early age, nothing like humiliating laughter to sear something into your brain. Jesus is our model or guide in becoming all we can become in him.

Let's check the definition of practice:

To do or perform habitually or customarily; make a habit of: practices courtesy in social situations. To do or perform (something) repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill: practice a dance step. To give lessons or repeated instructions to; drill: practiced the students in handwriting. To work at, especially as a profession: practice law. To carry out in action; observe: practices a religion piously.

While I don't agree with the word pious because it seems rigid to me, I suppose some people would practice their beliefs piously never once remembering that "His grace is sufficient." I call myself a practicing Christian simply because each day I try to truly ask myself "What would Jesus do?" and then act accordingly. This would be hard to do if I only opened my bible on Sunday. This would exclude me from the title of practicing Christian and place me in the line with the other doodlers.

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