At least two types of people exist in this world. J.I. Packer called them “balconeers” and “travelers.” Imagine these two types of folks, one sits on the balcony overlooking the day-to-day decisions of others. Balconeers see problems as theoretical, as onlookers. Travelers walk below the balcony, down on the street, facing problems like which turn to take, and how to navigate well. Travelers must be practical.
Both types of people are necessary. Some individuals seem to possess balconeer and traveler skills. Princeton Professor Robert P. George and Southern Seminary Professor Andrew T. Walker are able to hold that difficult balance between theory and practice. They have each written on the need for rallying people to fidelity. Citing a recent survey on about social media from The Wall Street Journal showing dramatic declines in the importance Americans attach to religion and family, George and Walker, among others, are seeking to make June Fidelity Month, a month dedicated to the “importance of fidelity to God, spouses and families, our country, and our communities.”
Fidelity Month, Pillar One: Fidelity to God
What is Fidelity Month?
Professor George deemed himself, in a Facebook post, declared June as “Fidelity Month.” George’s Facebook post read:
You may have read about the rather disturbing recent WSJ poll indicating a precipitous decline in our fellow Americans’ belief in the importance of such values as patriotism, religion, family, and community””the values that used to unite Americans despite our many differences. There are a million things we can and should do to restore the faith of our people, and begin to heal the dreadful division in our county, but I would like you to join in one small one.
As my Facebook friends know, by the authority vested in me by absolutely no one, I have declared June to be “Fidelity Month”””a month dedicated to the importance of fidelity to God, spouses and families, our country, and our communities…I’d be grateful if you and any organizations which you are involved in, or in which have influence, to recognize and celebrate Fidelity Month.
The First Major Pillar: Knowing God
Professor Walker followed with an article on Fidelity Month’s first pillar, knowing God. He quoted Augustine’s The Confessions, saying, “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.” It’s fitting that the first pillar of Fidelity is knowing God since we are designed to be in a relationship with Him. We only find peace, love, joy, and purpose in God. Until then, we are restless. God quenches our thirst, nothing else.
How we view and treat our families, how we serve the community, how we do everything””we get things right by starting in proper order””with our relationship to God. Walker points out the “order of loves” that believers should consider. We must give priority to our relationship with God. Get that relationship right, and other things may fall in place. Miss that priority and chaos is promised.
Why does this first pillar matter? Well, many of us walk around feeling lonely, empty, and worthless. But God says we have inherent worth, value, and dignity. We have meaning when we seek Him. Feel empty? God’s law is written on your heart, put there to remind you to turn back to God. Try life in your own power and find exhaustion. Turn to God and find rest.
“Fidelity to God” might mean for you to learn more, and find out about Him. For others, it’s a call to recommit and practice the discipline of a relationship with God. Find out what God says about you, because only what He says matters. He only is the supreme good, or as Mark wrote, “No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18).
What does “knowing God” have to do with Pro Abundant Life?
Roland Warren says that the Pro Abundant Life starts at our relationship with God. At Care Net, we know it’s important to save the lives of precious unborn babies — we’ve helped save almost one million in the last 14 years. But God’s design has more in mind. In John 10:10, Jesus says,”The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” We must see beyond only saving a child to caring about the mother of the child, the father, and how to build stronger families so the cycle of death is unthinkable.
Pro Abundant Life means embracing God, and desiring true and lasting transformation of those involved in pregnancy decisions (moms, dads, family, friends). When you meet a woman facing a difficult pregnancy decision, your first thought should be, could God be using this unplanned pregnancy so that she, her child, and the father of the child would become disciples of Jesus Christ?
As Pro Abundant Life Christians, we can be as theoretical and “balonceer-y” as we’d like, but we must also be practical travelers. We must be practical in our knowing God. We must be so practical that we can make disciples, giving a reason for the faith we say we have. What difference does knowing Him make in your life? What difference does it make in the lives of those around you? Would those around you describe you as one who “knows God”? Let’s practice knowing God, practice fidelity to Him””and see what happens.