I've been thinking about how not, as Linell put it recently, to give off a "fun-sucker" vibe to non-Christians. One thing that occured to me is that where our focus lies speaks paragraphs and pages about who we are to others. Are we going to always be looking inwardly, only thinking about our odd Christian habits when called out by the uninitiated? Or are we going to be thinking of ourselves as part of the big picture, about the expansion of the glorious kingdom? I say those words lightly, but I hope I don't mean them that way.
Christ is, after all, Lord of ALL - not just Lord of my habits, but literally all things, both including and far beyond my personal preferences, which words I do and don't say, where I can and can't hang out after work, even how much I give to the poor and whether I pray before meals. If that's what Christianity is, no wonder it can often seem a dull and narrow life to unbelievers. But if we are constantly asking the question, what should this life look like, and why? (rather than only reacting to what it shouldn't look like), it will keep us always thinking, always visionary, always creative.
Remember most of all that Christianity is not simply one more alternative lifestyle these days, but the timeless reality. What is reality supposed to look like? And how are we going to paint that picture for others?
That's all.
16 July 2008
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5 comments:
That's such a good question: 'what is reality supposed to look like?'.
It would be great if we are known for what we do as well as what we don't do.
yeah. reality: not so black and white anymore.
though, sometimes i think that the reasons for why i cannot participate in the things that non-Christians choose to participate in, may not necessarily be a Christian thing, but a Linell thing. then again, i ask the question: if the Holy Spirit controls my mind and is my moral compass in this world, how much of my apprehension is tied to that? and how much is tied to me just being me?
i agree that we shouldn't restrict ourselves too much with what we cannot do, but there's also God's calling for us to be holy and set apart from the world. What is that calling supposed to look like in terms of "reality?" And Jesus, promising that the world will hate us, because the world first hated him.
my head hurts when i think about what this life should look like. but i welcome the pain, nonetheless. i know that it is better for us to constantly examine ourselves, no matter how hard it is.
i'm not necessarily saying that we shouldn't "restrict ourselves" in terms of being less holy. it's true that most of us ARE overly uptight about some things, and maybe not controlled enough in others. but really, my point is NOT to think of it in terms of what we are and aren't allowed to do, as though we are simply reactionaries to the world's reality. God's design, Christianity, the Way, whatever you want to call it - ours came first. we need to show people what our priorities are, and that we live an abundant life when we follow Christ. and then i think that the rest of the details will fall into place more easily.
i totally agree with that :-)
less thinking. more doing.
so, after thinking (hah. dang it) more about it tonight, i don't think being considered a "fun-sucker" is necessarily a bad thing, in light of eternity, or in light of Jesus' purposes for believers in the world. i mean, our priorities revolve around seeking glory for Jesus and not ourselves. That's what we want. i know that's what you want. and that doesn't seem "fun" to people who don't have Jesus, where seeking glory for themselves is all they know. and until they can understand that life does not revolve around them and that there is more to this life than whatever is tangible right now, at this moment; they're going to think we're "fun-suckers," even if we really aren't. we just have different priorities.
with that perspective, i think i'm ok with being "lame."
:-)
"Are we going to always be looking inwardly, only thinking about our odd Christian habits when called out by the uninitiated? Or are we going to be thinking of ourselves as part of the big picture, about the expansion of the glorious kingdom?"
LeAnne Payne once wrote about "the disease of introspection." Love it.
I've been thinking lately about the difference between Jesus and what the crowds were used to. They said of Him, "Nobody teaches like him," and "Hey, can you believe the rabbi miracle-worker dude came over to Matt's party last night?"
Everything He did was certainly purposeful, but I don't get a lot of the introspective, analytical stuff in Him that I see in us. The Pharisees were looking up chapter and verse, finding labels to describe Him, and publishing repeated disclaimers and attacks. Meanwhile, He lived, He loved, He laughed, and He had this amazing way of staying in the moment, but connecting with eternity. And it wasn't through a systematic theology. It was through stories about farms and bankers and sheep and stupid/wise/sad/happy people.
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