For Christ's Sake

Have you read the expression, For Christ's sake, dear reader? More then likely you have heard the derogatory phrase, misused by someone wanting to curse a situation, person, or thing ... I can heard the harsh tones as I type. Using Christ in a sentence can be an appeal, or something rather nefarious: it is the intention of the speaker that highlights meaning and significance. 

When I saw, For Christ's sake, in a Tolstoy story, I was immediately alarmed and the question came to mind, Is the writer using Christ's name in vain?; this had been my conditioning, what I had heard and witnessed all of my life in a society that does not reverence God, does not glorify him, does not consider Christ as King. I have watched men and women bow to the queen of England. I have seen men kiss the rings and feet of other men, but Christ, the Saviour, the one that died for the sins of the world, is not treated with deference, rather, he is treated with defiance. 

Tolstoy was a devote Christian. The Bible was Tolstoy's love and life manual. I would like it to be mine too, and as I read from a book of stories that harken back to historical Christianity with the focus on virtues of self-discipline, compassion, responsibility, friendship, work, courage, perseverance, honesty, loyalty, and faith, I hear echos from my past. I recognize so many of the moral stories, told and retold over the decades, but with the added flavour of utter reverence for what is good and true and virtuous and godly, all for Christ's sake. 

For Christ's sake. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we lived our lives as he taught his disciples? 

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me (Matthew 25:35-40)

In a me first, my way, anything I want world, it makes all too much sense, that the teaching and commanding of Christ the King, be an oddity to ears, to minds, to hearts. Self-infatuation, self-absorption, and consequently, self-indulgence, have led many far astray from the very purpose of our existence. We are to care for one another with the virtues as our guide posts, and teach our children The Way; alas, For Christ's sake, does not compute and is a foreign concept for the heathen amongst us that have not heard the glorious sound of praising God with our mouths, our minds, our hearts, our inner being. 

We are beings created to glorify God ... is this a peculiar notion, dear reader? 

If it appeals to you, to live and do, For Christ's sake, what are you willing to give, without getting, in the most cheerful of manners? 

I am considering adding this refrain, For Christ's sake, to my speech. I want the name of Christ to bring into remembrance, that we must treat him with reverence, deference, and a holy sense of approbation. He is the living God, and we must retrain our minds with the things of old, and tremble at the thought of approaching the glorious one. 

For Christ's sake, I pray we live the commandments, honouring God and men, and all his creation, for his glory.