Throughout history there has been (in my view) a variant segment of people who hold a place in the Lord’s church. We love them, but these dear but misinformed folk have mostly viewed being a Christian as almost totally a life of “command keeping.” This same segment has mostly viewed acceptable and workable Christian life to be achievable only by self-discipline. When you sum up this approach to being the people of God it is inescapably anemic. It limits us from really giving God all of the credit for our faithful Christian “walk.” Crediting oneself for good disciplines makes this a problem. Outward demonstrable and joyous praise for God in life and in worship resultantly weakened. It may even be that this very self-crediting mindset limits our motivated thanksgiving to Him. This, of course, would reduce our proneness to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30) So then, the one command that is “first of all commands” goes into ill repair.

For me, this brings to mind scenes of glum-faced individuals who have taken a “vow of silence,” and are seen walking around in a dim-lit edifice with heads down. Or, perhaps another image could be legalistic believers who can sing a song of praise like “Joy to the world, the Lord has come,” with a face that shows not even the slightest bit of joy or happiness. One has merely settled for keeping a legalistic command to “sing.”

Surely even a benevolent analysis of this description of being a Christian would result in the conclusion that something is terribly wrong with just being purely self-powered. Compare this dull gloomy form of being “the people of God” with the following words from God’s expressed will:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:4)

The words of these verses are as “Biblical” and are as urgent as any “commands” found in the Word of God. Let’s not let ourselves settle for a view of being God’s people that makes obeying this “command” unnatural or devoid of motivation from our hearts. Doesn’t the “command” to “sing and make melody in our hearts to God” demand more than self-accomplished command keeping?