Highly Committed Christians

Sometimes in todays, world, it may not seem like being a Christian can make a difference in a person’s life. Sometimes everyone seems equally American and entrenched in American culture. However, a Gallup poll had confirmed that being a highly committed Christian can make a difference. Here’s a short section out of James Boice’s commentary on Romans 12:1

And Christians are different. A number of years ago the Gallup Poll organization devised a scale to sort out those for whom religion seemed to be important and find out if it made any difference in their lives. America claims to be a very religious country, but the nation is increasingly immoral. Gallup wanted to know if serious religion made a difference for those who considered themselves to be ?highly spiritually motivated? or committed.

He found that 12.5 percent of Americans are in this category, one person in eight. And he found that they really are different, so much so that he called them ?a breed apart.? He found that these people differed from the rest of the population in at least four key areas:

1. They are more satisfied with their lot in life. They are happier. Sixty-eight percent say they are ?very happy? as compared with only 30 percent of those who are uncommitted.
2. Their families are stronger. The divorce rate among this group is far lower than among the less committed.
3. They tend to be more tolerant of persons of different races and religions. This is exactly opposite from what the media suggest when dealing with religion or religious leaders.
4. They are more involved in charitable activities than are their counterparts. A total of 46 percent of the highly spiritually committed say they are presently working among the poor, the infirm, and the elderly, compared to only 36 percent among the moderately committed, 28 percent among the moderately uncommitted, and 22 percent among the highly uncommitted.?

True conversion makes a difference in a person?s life. If there are no differences, there is no genuine conversion. These differences are explained in the remaining chapters of [Romans]. Laws in themselves change little. Changed people change everything. And the only thing that ever really changes people is God himself through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. If you have been called to faith in Jesus Christ, you are part of a radically changed community, the new humanity. It is your privilege to begin to make changes in our world.

Boice, J. M. (1991-c1995). Romans (1489). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House.

Jenn and I consider ourselves in the highly committed group and we can identify ourselves with all 4 points above. We are very happy with what God has done in our lives, our local church, family, friends, job and life in general. We don’t see our family ever breaking up. We have good relations with people of different religions in our neighborhood and at my workplace. And we are involved with charitable activities both locally and globally through World Vision and Compassion International.

Before I came to know Christ, I did none of these things and I was a bit lost in life. I cannot take the credit for any of the benefits. God’s design for life is truly the best. Oftentimes the world thinks of religion as foolishness. It’s nice to know that a Gallup poll has shown a bit of truth about the fruits of a highly committed Christian life.

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