So you want to be a Christian
I get stuck some times. At least I’m honest.
I get stuck in my faith trying to reach for a true relationship with God and not the kind people in churches have. And I’m not alone. Many people of faith mix and match different worship settings, favorite online teachers, kind of Christian music, ways how to read scripture- although it isn’t any different than it was years ago. When people choose a church by denomination (they had brand pride) and would find the right fit or find faith in the fit chosen for them by the family. It was a choice. The combination of commitment, time requirement, study habit, etc. came into play in the decision.
I like the new generation of faithful people today that are kind of stuck what to do next- I envy those that keep no connection and can do what God leads them to do, but I also hurt because in that freedom many of the blessings of faith will never be realized by the mobile faithful.
We must respect and honor one another.
But all of this is just a lead in to what I feel is truly important tonight. I’ve had this idea for some time that while Christ was here he was among inferior beings and had to deal with our mess (I was thinking of the smelly stuff). He stepped in it. He stepped in churchy stuff, family stuff, friendship stuff, false idol stuff, daily distraction stuff, animal like stuff. And he did it so admirably-didn’t even get messy.
WWJRD. what would Jesus really do? How can we live without getting it on us?
What would a Godly group of mothers do on Mother’s day? Take their gifts and use the money for the poor.
What would a Godly church do for holidays? Bless others with all they have. Spend the free day doing something that would show the world Jesus.
How would we worship? In a way, place, style, manner, with whatever it took that brought in floods of people from the outside. (Instead of collection, give money away) Whatever it takes to develop their connection to God. It is easy to see who is connected to God. Help others be connected like those people are connected. WWJRD?
If we could remove the blinders and live with the Spirit (which would allow us to see our material world for what it really is- the way Christ saw it) how would our lives be different. It is very difficult to live in a nice home. Am I doing what I see Christians do or am I doing what I know Jesus would do.
We have to remember that the material world we so often enjoy is just a (smelly stuff) place that we are called to live in but not of, so that we can transform it. Is our goal to radically transform ourselves into people the world will immediately recognize as just like Christ. Is our other goal to radically transform those around us into people the world will immediately recognize as just like Christ. His habits, his likes and dislikes, his mannerisms, his humility, his selfless ways, lack of material needs, constant conversation with Father, healing and feeding and blessing and forgiving and touching and walking with and telling them the tough word they needed to hear. The ways in which he lived! Do we have the role models pictured that we should follow. Imagine the most Christlike person you know and exceed their faith. It will be so easy. You are fooled into thinking it is difficult. the burden is light. Just don’t love what they think or what you might have thought. Love only Jesus. Where would this kind of thinking lead you. Not to just get wet, but to transform lives- hundreds of lives. And not to just get them wet but show them how to transform lives. Are you on the right path to acheive this kind of life? Are you already living this kind of life? Would you like to have this kind of life? Are you willing to sacrifice? Are you willing to change? Do you love the world? Do you love Jesus? These are all questions we must ask ourselves in our pursuit of the Christian life. It is far from a formula and only someone far from God could think otherwise. Getting a large segment of people to commit to ministry is the major goal. Making our place and the places of God a place where those ministers are set up to succeed is goal number two. Let us help each other change. I’ve seen 760 people connect to God in about 1.5 years. Other places have done much better than that. the burden is so light. Do you want to be a Christlike Christian?