General thoughts on today
It’s been a quiet old day without Steph and Isaac here - they went back to Newport for a Christmas Do at Rhian’s and to pick some stuff up from the house. I was planning on going back and joining them, to see my parents but they’re both ill with this cold that’s doing the rounds. So I stayed down West. Had a nice lie in for a change - not getting up until 10ish and then a lazy morning followed by a lunchtime walk over Tenby beach and out onto the headland. Then it turned into a bit of a pottering day. Played some Detroit Become Human and added some content to the site, mainly Steph’s New Pasta Sauce and reorganising some categories on old content.
Faith
The Counterintuitive Nature of the Christian Faith
Some of my thoughts today have centred on how profoundly counterintuitive the Christian faith is. It doesn’t align with many of the principles we see in nature or human instinct. It’s not about survival of the fittest, nor about seizing genetic advantage. It doesn’t embrace the natural urge for retaliation—the “eye for an eye” mindset. Instead, it teaches a different ethic: “Treat others as you would have them treat you.” (Luke 6:31)
But even that principle goes further. Christian faith calls for a kind of giving that seems lopsided. It favours sacrifice, selflessness, and fairness to the other person, even when it’s undeserved. It demands forgiveness, not just once, but over and over again:
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” (Matthew 18:21-22)
This forgiveness defies reason, reflecting a radical love that often feels illogical. As theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote:
“The call to follow Christ always means a call to come and die. The Christian life is not about self-preservation, but about dying to oneself and living for others.”
The Example of Christ
And yet, this is precisely the example that Christ set for us. He demonstrated endless forgiveness and chose sacrifice when he had the freedom to walk away. He bore the sins of others, willingly embracing the weight of our failures despite his innocence. This kind of love defies reason—and that’s the point.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
This sacrificial love is beautifully encapsulated by C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity:
“God didn’t wait for us to be lovable. He loved us in spite of our sin and rebellion, and that love transforms us.”
Relationships Over Rules
Christianity also defies another expectation: it prioritises relationships over rules. You can believe there is a God and diligently follow all the prescribed pillars of faith. But without a genuine relationship with Jesus, that faith remains hollow. It lacks the heart that gives faith its transformative power.
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1)
Theologian Tim Keller expands on this idea:
“The essence of Christianity is not primarily about rules or moral improvement, but about a living, loving relationship with Jesus Christ.”
Picking Up Our Cross
The call of the Christian faith isn’t just about receiving grace. It’s also about picking up our cross and carrying it forward. It’s a journey that asks us to embrace sacrifice, humility, and service:
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” (Matthew 16:24)
Following Christ means aligning ourselves with his counterintuitive ways—offering forgiveness when revenge feels justified, choosing sacrifice when self-preservation tempts us, and fostering love even when it’s costly.
As N.T. Wright puts it:
“When Jesus calls us to follow him, he invites us to a life where love, sacrifice, and service are not exceptions but the norm.”
A Faith That Transforms
This faith isn’t easy, and it often doesn’t make sense by worldly standards. But perhaps that’s what makes it so powerful. It’s a faith that calls us not just to believe, but to live differently—to reflect the radical love we’ve received.
“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
Exercise
10,000 steps
TV
Food
Calories eaten:: 2267 Calories burner:: 2947
Tags
FaithChristianityForgivenessSacrificialLoveRelationshipsOverRulesRadicalLoveGraceCounterintuitiveFaithBibleStudyJesusTheologyBonhoefferCSLewisTimKellerNTWrightTransformation
Themes
Daily Notes, Counterintuitive Nature of Christianity, God’s Provision and Love, Radical Forgiveness, Sacrifice and Selflessness, Relationship Over Religion, Following Christ’s Example, Humility and Service, Transformation Through Faith, Intentional Living