Christ-dependent Christianity
The main goal of Christian ministry is to help others make the transition from independence and co-dependency to Christ-dependency.
1) Independence
Flesh’ is the New Testament term that refers to man as he is apart from God. The unbeliever is in the flesh. He or she is born that way. When Adam pulled the plug on his union with God he was left with his own life form, called independence. This life form is passed on from generation to generation. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh”(Jn.3:6). In the next verse he proclaimed mankind’s only hope of change from that state – “You must be born again.” When we are born again we are no longer in the flesh, but in the Spirit. By means of the Spirit’s indwelling we have access, once again, to divine resources.
In Gal.5:24, Paul says, “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” This means that Adam’s life (independent life) is no longer our true source of life. The Holy Spirit, through the new birth, has imparted the life of Christ to us. “You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you” (Rom.8:9.) God’s grace, which is His ability in the place of our inability, is now available to us.
Yet, although we no longer live in the flesh we can still act independently of God. Thus, Paul urges the same people whom he has just declared as being not in the flesh but in the Spirit, to be careful not to live according to the flesh. “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors – not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die” (Rom.8:12&13a).
Before we came to Christ we were “in the flesh” and we developed a lifestyle of self-sufficiency. We learned to be comfortable and confident with our strengths and insecure about our weaknesses. In Christ that philosophy is reversed. God does not want us to put our trust in our own ability or resources but to trust in His Son.
The normal Christian life is a life of abiding in Christ. Christians have been brought into the wonderful realm of “this grace in which we stand” (Rom.5:2). Those who stand in God’s grace live by divine resources. This is not automatic. It is a choice. We choose whether we will live by our ability or His.
2) Co-dependency
When we reach the limitations of independence there is a temptation to transfer dependence to others instead of turning to the Lord. Sadly, some regard the local church as the vine. They see it as a storehouse to live off. They even shop around from church to church looking for the one that offers the best deal for them. This consumer mentality turns them into parasites, or co-dependents.
Co-dependency is a preoccupation with and extreme dependence upon others – socially, emotionally and even spiritually. The co-dependent person structures his life in such a way as to be unable to function without the one he has built his existence around. It is called co-dependency because the person who is depended upon needs to be needed. In some situations it is the church or ministry itself which encourages this philosophy of co-dependency. The only identity some have is in their ministry.
Those who minister in a co-dependent way send a message to those they minister to that says, “I have more of God than you do. Therefore you need me.” Spiritual co-dependency disempowers the one whom Christ has empowered.
The purpose of this article is to call those of us in ministry back to our biblical mandate of Christ-dependent discipleship. When God’s people are taught to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim.2:2), they will be empowered to impact the world.