I wanna be “Coronary”

Coronary.  Sounds scary, huh?  We typically associate that word with a heart attack or the like.  I repeat: scary.  I had my own experience this year (not a heart attack…just a funky heartbeat) – so I can confirm it is scary.

Coronary does pertain to the human heart…but for a minute, look beyond the physical organ in our chest.  I stumbled upon an older blog post by pastor and author John Piper (www.desiringgod.com) last week and it has stayed with me since…convicting me.

In it, he is calling his church to be “coronary, not adrenal.”  The post was related to National Sanctity of Human Life Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Piper’s challenge to his congregation to be “coronary” in the causes of racial harmony and human life.  You can read his blog entry for yourself (the link posted below), but there are some HUGE take-aways beyond the two main (and important) causes that are his focus.

He contrasts adrenal and coronary saying that adrenaline gets us through, but our heart keeps us going and really reflects our true intentions.  It’s like what Christ said to the Pharisees in Matthew 12:34, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Our outward actions (adrenal) often betray our true heart actions (coronary.)

Like Piper, I often find myself glad for adrenaline.  Sadly though, I catch myself often operating in the adrenal mode in relation to situations, issues, or even just life.  Sure if my “rights” are violated or someone “messes” with my family or friends, I can get “coronary”, but for things that don’t impact my comfort or those I care about…  Let’s just say, I can really improve here.  Quite honestly, I don’t think I am alone here.  I think many of us can improve in this area related to life in general, social issues, our relationship with God…so many areas.

Piper also provides a great real life example of coronary living through his reference to William Wilberforce – a member of the House of Commons who fought against slavery in England in the late 1700s.  What a great quote and way of living: “[May God] enable me to have a single eye and a simple heart, desiring to please God, to do good to my fellow creatures and to testify my gratitude to my adorable Redeemer.”

It reminded me of a few more real life examples:

The Apostle Paul. 2 Corinthians 11:24-26 ^“Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move.  I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.”

Jesus Christ – the ultimate and perfect example of coronary living. Philippians 2:6-8 “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,  but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!”

All this to say that I need to consciously and purposefully attempt to live more coronarily (if that is a word) for Christ…and challenge you to do the same!  Sure it is easier said than done.  The cool part is that we don’t have to do it alone.  Ponder this: I don’t have to worry about meeting God’s expectation…He will ensure my success according to His plans!

Honestly, being a coronary Christian is more than a “cause” thing (although, it is in “causes” that we can express Christ’s love tangibly) – it’s really worship of our awesome God in its purest form:

Rom 12:1 “…God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” [The Message]

So, stumbling forward I go – upheld by my kind, awesome, and loving God!

x

Piper’s Blog Entry: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2002/1194_A_Call_for_Coronary_Christians/