We have this hospital in town that a number of years ago changed its name to Via Christi.  I love that name: the way of Christ.  I think most of us Christians would like to live that life.  The problem of course, besides just plain old selfishness and sin, is that we are never sure what exactly the way of Christ is.  Some would say just do what Jesus did.  However, if we look at what He did, it really doesn’t seem to have much of a pattern to it.  To those who were the most serious about following God, He often had the harshest of words.  At other times, to those who morally blew it, he demonstrated a compassion and acceptance that hardly seemed appropriate to the crime at hand.  The common thread of course was that He knew their hearts.  Jesus was in intimate relationship with His Father, and it was via that relationship, that way of Christ, that our Lord walked this earth.

A friend of mine recently shared with me a concern about his mother.  It seems that she has been involved with a rather peculiar ‘Christian’ sect for some time.  He is concerned about the control that they have on her life.  Not really believing in any actual presence or ministry of the Holy Spirit and even being very vague on the deity of Jesus, they are left with almost a cultish method of behavioral control as one is subject to the authority of a superior.  I agree with his concern, but I also fear that many of us mainline Christians are not that far off from this fringe group.  For us as well, it is sometimes far too easy to listen to what our denomination or our pastor tells us to do, rather than listen intimately to the Spirit.  They are not the same.

One of my favorite movie quotes comes from The Kingdom of Heaven.  In one scene, Balian, a young troubled knight meets King Baldwin for the first time.  The King, a very good and wise man, offers Balian some advice.  He says, ‘But remember that, even when those who move you be kings or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone. When you stand before God you cannot say "but I was told by others to do thus" or that "virtue was not convenient at the time.” This will not suffice. Remember that.’

That is Via Christi; that is the way of Christ.  It is having an ear to hear and eyes to see. It is walking intimately with our King, with our God, and trusting him alone as our only hope from the religiosity that can poison the way of Christ. 

To the King,

David