The Driving Force Behind Our Actions

I think it’s pretty obvious that everything we do has some sort of motivation behind it. No one sane acts arbitrarily or randomly. Even if someone claims to do so, they are choosing to do so for a reason. So it’s not really random.

As Christians, there ought to be some very specific and thought out reasons what we do. While I am certainly not claiming that we can or do act perfectly, but merely that we should have thought through every action before we act.

The Protestant document, the Westminster catechism, a 17th century Presbyterian standard, proclaims in its first question and answer (Question: What is the chief end of man?  Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.) 

While that answer may or may not be true, I want to suggest that practically speaking, not theoretically, but rather how it actually plays out in ones life, that this kind of thinking tends toward temporality, and sensuality.  From my own experience and from the many, many highly educated Calvinists that I know, a daily struggle in sanctification is not at the forefront of ones life, but rather an "enjoyment of God's creation", to quote one prominent minister. To quote another, "life is not for fasting, but for feasting, God has saved us, we need to celebrate. It's about "With whom can I share this Rocky Road ice cream?""

The Eastern Orthodox perspective is somewhat different.  Instead of a "Jesus' work is done, let's party" attitude, the Orthodox response is one of repentance. Jesus' work is done, now we are able and responsible to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). We recognize just how sinful we are, how darkened our souls are, and how much of our thinking has to change, that our plates are full. A soldier in boot camp is not celebrating his role in the army; he is conditioning his body and will to obey the commands of the officer in charge. He is making his body do what it is told and he is pushing the limits of his ability. That is a picture of our life on earth.
     In short, we have so much progress that we need to make before we enter eternity.  Our goal should be to be as much like Christ as possible.  I believe that rules out a "eating Rocky Road ice cream" kind of lifestyle.