Lessons From A Rusty Old Hinge

Lessons From A Rusty Old Hinge. By Todd McKeever

The everyday Christian life (if there is such a thing) is one of balance. But the balance of what? 

I was preaching at a church about the responsibilities of Christians in everyday life. At the close of the service, I was walking out when I noticed an old rusty hinge on a door. At that moment, I knew what my following message was going to be about, a rusty hinge. 

That rusty hinge was a picture of the balance the Bible speaks of. Romans itself offers an excellent illustration. The first 11 chapters of this book are Paul's systematic theology. It is what we should know and rely on to live as Christians, but chapters 12 through 16 give us even more detailed guidance about how exactly one can follow their faith in Christ with actions that align perfectly toward those beliefs

The author's goal was for readers who have never read scripture or studied Christianity before so they may understand where everything fits into place when you check it thoroughly later down the road!

This old rusty hinge had one side fixed and anchored. This fixed side is our knowledge, doctrine, and theology. It's what we believe. 

The other side of the hinge is the side that moves, it is what we do. It's our actions, and it can be felt in every part of the body - both physical or spiritual. Actions have an effect on all aspects within ourselves: physically as well spiritually!

The pin in the middle of this hinge is what holds the two parts of the rusty hinge together, it is our love and submission to Jesus Christ. (Take a look at Romans 12:1-2 with this illustration in mind.) Most of us will lean to one side or the other as we journey through life. Still, both sides are crucial not just for balance and harmony between these two-both are necessary if you want actual spiritual growth! The lynchpin is what allows them to work together well. Loving Jesus Christ while submitting all (good AND bad) towards him provides an entirely vertical perspective on how I should live my every day life to accomplish His kingdom goals with excellence--and this makes sense because, after all, he holds me up; so that way... I don't become unhinged.

In our culture today, many Christians have a very imbalanced view of these two components. We've become very action-oriented while forgetting the importance of doctrine and knowledge. We want to do things for God without understanding who He is and what He has done for us. This action often leads to burnt-out Christians who are more focused on their performance than God's grace.

On the other hand, some Christians have become so focused on doctrine and knowledge that they've lost sight of the importance of living out their faith. They're content to sit in the sanctuary every Sunday or tune in online every week and listen to sermons without doing anything to serve God and others.

The key is to keep both of these components in balance. We need to be active in our faith while also continuing to grow in our knowledge and understanding of who God is. When these two things are out of balance, it leads to a very unhealthy spiritual life. So let's ensure we keep these things in perspective as we journey through our faith!

Some possible ideas to keep both sides of your hinge in balance 

- Check in with yourself often to ensure you keep both doctrine/theology and action in perspective.

• What does this checking in with yourself look like?
• How are you going to do this?

- Make sure you're growing in understanding who God is and what He has done for us.

•  Through personal study.
• Reading good books
• and attending church (in person or online).

- Be active in your faith by serving God and others. Find ways to put your faith into action.

• volunteering at church
• serving at church
• joining a local ministry.

- Regularly pray for God to give you wisdom and discernment to keep these things in balance. 

• Ask Him to help you grow in your knowledge of Him
• and provide you with opportunities to serve Him.

Here’s praying that you too have learned some lessons from the Old Rusty Hinge.