Honest, humorous, and insightful.
These words might best describe the keynote addresses of prominent Christian author and speaker Thom S. Rainer and Roberta Bondi, a Christian professor of theology during this year’s National Association of Church Business Administration Conference in Nashville, Tenn.
Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, discussed what it means to have a life that truly matters. Bondi, who has been named professor of church history emeritus at Candler School of Theology by Emory University, discussed the importance of a prayer discipline.
The topics were different, but the underlying messages were very similar - that certain disciplines and practices help keep the spiritual channels open and help keep the heart turned toward God. These spiritual practices can't save you; they can't even make you a holy person. But they can heighten your desire, awareness, and love of God.
Both speakers revealed personal struggles in their walks toward spiritual wholeness and healing, coupled with their sense of humor regarding family life.
“I could remember coming home after work and my children and husband would greet me at the car,” Bondi recalled. “I’d hear about the washing machine overflowing and the cat peeing on the rug one more time…I’d stagger into the kitchen to make dinner and I’d think, oh yeah, this is why men stop off at bars on the way home.”
The scene was something painted by Bondi during her discussion about the challenges of developing a prayer discipline.
Prayer is the single most important activity in the Christian life. Even so, most will only turn to God out of desperation, not out of sheer delight, she said. The bottom line is the make time for prayer and to be less worried about whether there is a right or wrong way to talk to God.
“The test is whether we are growing in God and growing in neighbor,” said Bondi, who has been described by her collegues as a trailblazer and pioneer in the fields of theology and church history. “If our prayer separates us from other people or makes us feel more holy than other people … then we’re some how missing the point.”
Many Christians believe in prayer, but need a jump start. Bondi advises to commit a time of day and a quiet, comfortable place to pray. In doing so, if your thoughts veer away from your time alone with the Lord, don’t fret, she said.
“When we’re praying, our mind will wander predictably,” Bondi explained to conference goers. “It’s just the way our minds work. But, when you realize that your mind is wandering, just gently turn it towards God and you’ll come back.”
Like Bondi, Rainer says the power of prayer doesn’t require a secret formula. Too often, we view prayer as a rigorous discipline or a required spiritual exercise. When, in reality, prayer is simply keeping company with God, he said.
Rainer cited the Book of Philemon, authored by the Apostle Paul, to outline his message on “The Life That Truly Matters.” Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, befriended Philemon, who is a slave-owner. The slave, Onesimus, had robbed Philemon before running away. Onesimus had become a Christian and Paul wanted Philemon to accept Onesimus as a brother in Christ and not merely as a slave.
Rainer goes a step further in his explanation of the 25-verse Book of Philemon. Paul was likely facing execution because of his Christian beliefs.
“Paul looks back on life,” Rainer said. “As Onesimus was a slave to Philemon, Paul was a total slave to the will of God as he served his Lord Jesus Christ.”
So, what is this life that truly matters? According to Rainer:
- The life that truly matters is a humble life;
- The life that truly matters is a forgiving life;
- The life that truly matters is a evangelist life; and
- The life that truly matters is a servant life.
“As I progress in this life, I discovered more and more how great God is and how small I am,” Rainer told conference attendees. “Not that I am small in God’s eyes. Not that I am insignificant in his eyes. But, I understand anything that is good that has happened to me, it has been because of him.”
