Confession: I am once again becoming disillusioned with Christianity. The fact that I have encountered so many Christians who so blatantly ignore turn the other cheek and bless those who persecute you, in order to defend violent retaliation against people is disappointing. Do you know why I dont say Im a Muslim? Because I dont follow those teachings, and I dont really care about them too much. Now, if you say youre a Christian, but you dont care about the teachings of Christ enough to follow them, then by definition, youre not really a Christian. You cant say that, Dan! Thats judgmental! No. Im not having that flipped back on me while you conveniently ignore the problem. Im over this thing that makes people think being a Christian is just some sort of mystical ritual initiation at a church altar, and thats all. Like its just a club you get accepted into and then youre in it for life. Like its a fraternity. Alpha Omega, bro? Me too! Bollocks. Jesus never had somebody say a prayer and then responded, Okay! Youre now my follower forever! When He recruited followers He did so with a very stern, Leave everything behind and follow me. He didnt recruit people committed to the IDEA of Jesus, but to the person and everything He taught. Nowadays we love the IDEA of Jesus, but when it comes to the person and His teachings we start scrambling for loopholes out of fear that it MIGHT actually require something from us. Even using words like required has put knots in the stomach of some grace preachers. Its getting ridiculous. As He is so are we in this world is more than just an internal thing. Its to be external, too. To the point that IF it comes down to it (and I hope it never does for any of you) we choose death over violent retaliation. How do I know thats the option? Because its what He did. And its what His ACTUAL followers (those who ACTUALLY followed His teachings) did. They didnt look for loopholes so they could continue LOOKING like Christians in their Christian meetings, while never actually living up to the meaning of a Christian which is to follow Christ. Im not at all impying that you better have it all together. I dont by a long shot! But if youre not even willing to LEARN how to follow His teachings, or if youre not even willing to CONSIDER them more than just on Sunday, or when youre preparing for a book or a sermon, then I think you really need to consider whether or not youre actually what you think you are. Because as obvious as it might sound, if youre not following Jesus, youre not actually His follower. And thats totally fine. I would just appreciate it if you stop pretending, because it makes it harder for the rest of us who actually take what He said and did serious.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 19:40:44 +0000