James 24:7

First, a thought or two about "meaning."  It seems to me that objects or actions are meaningful only when located in some sort of context.  Or, at least I could say it the other way around...context determines meaning.

A lonely rock in my yard may mean something.  However, that same rock thrown through my window by an angry neighbor means something else.

An action- say the action of holding my hands up in the air- will mean different things depending upon whether I'm riding a roller coaster, being held up by a robber, or standing in an elevator.  In the first case I am "embracing the thrill".  In the second, I am doing "as I am told."  In the third, I am "acting nutty."

(Incidentally, humor can be generated by misnaming what seems obvious by an action in a particular context.  I remember once when I was at Six Flags Over Georgia with a friend and he pointed out the folks on the roller coaster and said: "Hey look... Pentecostals are riding the Scream Machine!")

To be meaningful, an action must be seen in the context that gives that action its meaning.  For example, a Christian who forgives is doing something that derives its rich meaning from the story of God as demonstrated and taught in the life of Jesus. 

A gang member who forgives may be seen as weak or even being a traitor.  (I saw a third baseman walk off the field in the middle of a game once because the pitcher would not hit the batter with a pitch in retaliation for a similar action by the opposing pitcher in the previous inning. Apparently, the willingness to retaliate was supposed to be evidence of loyalty or some such.)

As a Christian, I take the example and teaching of Jesus Christ to be fundamental to understanding what ideas and actions are fundamental to living well or to becoming whole as a human being.

I understand Jesus Christ to be the example par excellence of human wholeness.  I accept Jesus- his teaching and his life- as pointing to and exemplifying what a life well-lived looks like.

I am stating that out front for several reasons.

First, I think it is harmful to Christian teaching to simply lift practices out of the context of the Christian story and hold them up as good practices without regard to that larger story.  (e.g. some folks say you should forgive because it's a good thing to do for yourself.  What I'm saying is that it's a good thing to forgive whether it pays off for you or not.  It's good because it points beyond itself to the character and action of God.  Otherwise, forgiveness becomes simply a matter of pragmatic self-protection.)

Second, I want to be open about where I'm coming from in making the claims I am making.   I believe Jesus shows and tells us a way to live that leads to human wholeness.  I believe if you want to know how to be fully human, if you want to know the "life well-lived" then you can do no better than to look to Jesus Christ as example and teacher.