Endeavoring to Live Like Jesus
Many will ask in regards to covenant partner question number three,
“What do you mean by ‘endeavor to live as becomes the followers of Christ?’”
This description below is an attempt to spell out what it means to “endeavor to live as becomes a follower of Christ.”
While adequate, this list is not comprehensive, nor is it a litmus test for becoming a covenant partner.
No person can adequately fulfill these behaviors except Jesus Christ. The Session of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando seeks fellow covenant partners who are endeavoring to live in this direction, for none of us have fully arrived.
As Scott Sauls, pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, writes, “Membership in a local church means joining your imperfect self to many other imperfect selves to form an imperfect community that, through Jesus, embarks on a journey toward a better future . . . together.”
The aim of this list is to spark self analysis, conversation, repentance, forgiveness, and fresh commitments to obedience and living as Christ would live.
We are not looking for perfect obedience, but rather, we hope to be covenant partners united by repentant hearts seeking to live as a follower of Christ.
PERSONAL STANDARDS
INTEGRITY: A Christian seeks to exercise ethical standards in both personal, private, professional, and public conduct.
SPEECH: A Christian speaks the truth in love and avoids being quarrelsome. One’s speech should reflect their commitment to Christ.
SELF-CONTROL: One seeks self control in speech and action, and is free from drunkenness, substance abuse, anger, sloth, immodesty, and more.
SEXUAL BEHAVIOR: A Christ follower either lives faithfully in a covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chaste in singleness. Sexuality is a behavior, not an identity. As identity rests in Christ, so too, then, does one’s gender, matching one’s chromosomes and physiology.
DISTINCTIVE LIFESTYLE: The Christian seeks to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.
CONFESSION: Christians will make mistakes, and in doing so desire to confess and repent of their sins by the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Christians are humble, and embrace God’s grace as offered in the gift of Jesus Christ.
SPIRITUAL STANDARDS
PERSONAL FAITH: A Christian’s faith includes a personal grasp of basic Christian beliefs; an active, ongoing relationship with God, rooted in prayer, obedience to Scripture, and a commitment to growth in love, holiness, service and fellowship.
LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST: A Christian leader desires Jesus Christ to be the Lord of his or her life in all aspects: personal, public, professional, and more.
SERVANTS: Christian serve others and always be willing to help those who are in need.
CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A Christian knows that their discipleship matters making spiritual growth a continuing priority as reflected in Bible study, fellowship with other Christians, regular worship, sharing their faith, and in service to others.
TRUE TO THE WORD OF GOD: A Christian comes under the authority of the Bible as its truth is applied in their own lives.
STEWARDSHIP: A Christian should be generous with their time, talent, and treasure asiming to give unto the Lord a full tithe (10%), and have a growing commitment to progressive and disciplined giving, proportional to their resources.