Superworks of Christianity

First, let thank Pastor Mark Lovett (who blogs here) and the rest of the brothers from confessions study a couple weeks ago for helping me think through this.  We got talking about the use of birth control and Pastor Lovett said that refraining from its use is often talked about as if it were a “superwork” of Christianity.  In other words, it is spoken of often as something only really good Christians do.

This post is not meant to discuss the appropriateness of using birth control (go here or here for that).  It is meant to truly cause us to realize the folly of calling anything a “superwork” of Christianity. 

Luther was very concerned with this folly in his day also. In his day, all sorts of things (pilgrimages, becoming a monk or nun, etc) were essentially taught as “superworks.”  They were taught as the things that really good Christians did.  Luther called such talk nonsense urging people to concern themselves with the basic works of their vocations (roles in life) as outlined in the the Ten Commandments and not these “superworks.”  Luther’s call is easy to applaud from our perspective because he mostly was calling people to focus their life on things mentioned in the scriptures rather than turning to works nowhere commanded in the holy writ.

But in our day, it is often things that are either implicitly or explicitly in the Scriptures but which only certain Christians practice regularly which are often deemed “superworks.” 

Let us be clear.  There are only two categories of acts:  good works or sins.  Good works are those thing done through the Spirit of Christ in his holy people.  Sins are those things done through the influence of the lingering flesh.

And so, we should not say that really good Christians do things that ordinary Christians do not. We should not think of those who refrain from using birth control or giving a percentage of the their income back or praying with a regular pattern as somehow part of a upper class of Christendom.

There are no really good Christians.  There are no ordinary Christians.  One is either in Christ or they are not and this by grace alone.  And every action is either sinful or good.  If a work is good, all Christians ought to be urged to do it and be urged to confess it when they do not do it.  If something is not a good work, no amount of pomp or praise surrounding it can make it any more holy.  There are no “superworks” which only apply to a certain subset of the body of Christ.

If we talk otherwise, those practicing these things will think of themselves as wonderful Christians rather than simple servants of God only doing their duty.  Soon they will be found staring in the mirror during their time set apart for worship. 

Likewise, if we define certain things as “superworks” even though they are simply the normal acts which flow from faith, we confuse those who do not wish to call attention to their lives in Christ.  They can falsely think refraining from such things does not damage to their faith.  They can sin and not realize any need for confession and absolution.  They can think those things are only for Jesus freaks or the uber-devout.

Therefore, if something in extolled as a good work by the scriptures, it is a good work which Christ wishes to work in every Christian’s life.  It is not something God desires from only “really good Christians.”  There are no superworks.