The more and more I think about it, I am less and less concerned about being a “Christian”, at least as it is commonly understood in 21st century America. I think instead, I will focus more on being a follower of Jesus.
Christians do things like meet in beautiful buildings with stained glass windows and plush cushions on the pews and look pious on Sunday morning.
Jesus did things like feed the hungry, love marginalized people (like lepers, prostitutes and minorities) and give people hope.
Which are you?
[...] about old friends, relationships that did not work out, memories circulating around my head, my faith and even mentioned genocide in Darfur. No common theme, no rhyme or reason, just having [...]
Hugh,
As long as you know that the only way to the Father is through Jesus Christ, then it doesn’t really matter what you call yourself.
Not all Christians go to church to look pius. Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water.
Jay-
Of course I believe that. The problem I see is a disconnect between what we say we believe and what we do.
We meet each week in clean suburban buildings, drive up in our cars that cost more than many people in the world make in 5 – 10 years, wear our Sunday finery, walk past the beautifully manicured lawn, into the air conditioned sanctuary, sit on the cushioned pew to hear the preacher tell us that Jesus said “”If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
And nobody even laughs!
The day I wrote this post I was feeling particularly discouraged. We are called to be His hands and feet… I just wonder if there is room in the church for him any more.
I hope you will stick around…
Hi Hugh, I stuck around.
Was just listening to a Man in the Mirror Bible study this morning and Patrick Morley said that only about 40% of professed Christian men actually live a life in accordance with scripture. Morley says that while men actually believe in Christ, they are living their life by secular values and not by the Bible.
This causes the separation of appearance and belief that you mention here. The cure is to daily check yourself through meditation in the Word rather than checking yourself through what the world wants.
God Bless.
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[...] about old friends, relationships that did not work out, memories circulating around my head, my faith and even mentioned genocide in Darfur. No common theme, no rhyme or reason, just having [...]
[...] readers of this blog know that I cam concerned with Social Justice and that I am a follower of Jesus Christ who worries about all the moral issues, not just the popular ones. Because of that, I am involved [...]