How Are We to Live as Christians?

by Nguyen Phi Long

oday we live in a very distracting world. Many people have different concerns. Parents are concerned for their children's future due to the developments and progress in science, medicine, technology, and other fields of knowledge while others feel distressed in dealing with their personal moral decisions like sexuality, abortion, and so on. Others might be caught up in pursuing power, money, and glory that blur a true vision of reality. Yet, we all take an interest in what sorts of things are worth pursuing in life and what sort of people we should strive to become so that our decisions and actions have significance for our lives and the lives of others. For all of us, whether young or old, we must ask ourselves what does it mean to be a moral Christian. What is our idea of a Christian moral vision and how are our perspectives informed by our faith in God as well as our personal experiences?

The vision that I am talking about is certainly more than taking a look. Vision, based on my sensation and imagination, provides the fundamental knowledge for my choices. What I experience and see will affect the way I perform. Every action must have a reason; likewise, vision gives reason for my action. Therefore, my moral vision justifies my character. I am a Christian, and thus my moral vision must be rooted in the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. Christ is my vision that justifies what sort of person I ought to be and what sort of actions I ought to take because I am a Christian. In St. Paul's letter to the Colossians, he writes that "Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation" (Col 1:15). In Christ, the Incarnate Son of God, who is "the way, the truth, and the life" (Jn14:6), I experience the fullness of God. Jesus is like an icon through which I comprehend God fully. Thus all of my moral actions and intentions that are oriented toward God will justify who I am.

Then how is my moral vision informed and developed? My moral vision is certainly not something I acquire by myself but it is informed by my family, the church and the culture in which I live. Morality appeals to narratives, stories, myths and so on that shapes my way of seeing, feeling, thinking, judging, and acting. The moral values I hold are connected to the communities with which I associate, and the choices I make appeal to the norms of the groups or cultures with which I identity. For instance, the Bible, which includes stories, parables, and images, distinctively portray and describe goodness in the moral life, and it not only provides me with ways of seeing the world, but also shapes my moral awareness.

In my Vietnamese culture, morality is based on the community rather than the individual. Besides my family, church, and culture, I may also engage in a larger world where there is a diversity of cultures, religions and ideologies that definitely teach me something new about what is morality and how life ought to be. Therefore, the morality that I hold is certainly not a set of rules imposed by my family, church, community and culture, but rather a collection of stories from which I constitute my moral vision. This vision which is based solely on my personal and authentic experience with God, is ongoing. Developing our morality is like learning a musical instrument. It is an ongoing process that requires one's commitment, perseverance, consistency, and effort. This vision, therefore, justifies who I am as a Vietnamese Christian.

Christian moral vision is an invitation calling us to be disciples of Jesus. In the Gospel of Mathew, Jesus sends his disciples to "make disciples of all nations" (Mt 28:19). Jesus is the guiding vision and the universal model through which we experience God. As Jesus says, "He who has seen me, has seen the Father" (Jn 14:8). Jesus is a vision justifying what kinds of person we, as Jesus' disciples, ought to be and what kinds of actions we ought to take. Making disciples is a relationship that connects oneself with God, with Jesus, and with others.

Discipleship is a matter of answering the invitation of Jesus to take an adventure to live under the reign of God as he did. Living as a disciple necessarily entails forming a Christian imagination and converting our loyalty to God in Christ into a way of life. As Christians, our moral vision is to imitate Christ, not to mimic Christ but to let go of our selfishness and weaknesses in order to be filled with God's love. Discipleship is a movement towards an end, which ultimately is the union with God. St. Thomas also describes discipleship as a circle of journey. In the journey, all beings come from God and are in search for their fulfillment. They are drawn back to God as their completion. We are not alone on this planet. We are relational and social beings interconnected in God. To be a human person is to be essentially directed toward others. We are all interrelated like a puzzle where all pieces linked. Like a piece of puzzle, each person plays different roles, yet each role is unique and equally important to contribute to the whole picture of humanity or the image of God. The deeper one's participation in relationship is, the more human one becomes.

With these perspectives, there is no doubt that we will be more prepared in our helping those around us. First, before helping others, I need to help myself. I must be aware of who I am and what my moral vision is. Self-awareness is the core of my actions because I will be dealing with diverse people in my life. I need to have a strong anchor of faith grounded in God so that I would be able to build a bridge between cultures, religions, and values. All of my actions come from within. A good tree produces good fruits. My commitment to Christ as Lord ought to influence my moral character including my perspectives, disposition, affects, and intentions.

Secondly, once I know that my vision is grounded in God, then I may be able to share it with others. This new understanding gives me a sense of sensitivity and awareness of others' moral vision because each individual has his/her own notion of morality and responds to God's invitation differently based on one's personality, culture, gender, religion and society. I have no right to judge their moral values; yet I need to acknowledge and appreciate their moral visions with dignity, respect, and sensitivity. I don't impose my moral standards. Rather I allow him/her moral vision to grow in accordance with one's life experience and seek to promote his/her experiences of God and invite his/her to live out the ethical and spiritual relationship with God in daily life. Hopefully, we all will come together in God to participate in his mission, that is, to create a community of discipleship and witness the Gospel to others.

The reason for my two statements above is based on the concept of "to be is to be in relations." I am aware of myself in relation with God and others in the universe. I no longer see myself separate from the whole but rather I find myself connecting with other beings in God. Humans are social and relational beings. Human relatedness is like a puzzle. Every part is equally important. The whole picture cannot be revealed unless all the parts are connected. As a result, I may be sensitive and respectful when I minister to others. I don't come to change others with my own agenda and preferences, but rather I come to be with them in discovering their gifts and talents and work together in creating a welcoming community of discipleship.

In conclusion, a moral life, which is shaped by the culture, community and church, is an ongoing process of conversion so that who I am and what I do will become more and more a response to the divine love. We are all called to follow and participate in Jesus' mission. Christ is my vision that shows me how to live life fully. Christ is the foundation justifying what sorts of person I ought to be and what sorts of action I ought to take in union with God. I know my vision and the visions of others so that I may acknowledge other's moral values with respect and dignity and take responsibility to work with others in creating a welcoming community of discipleship.