Friday, December 27, 2013

Lord, Save us from ourselves

I found this rant in my drafts. I typed it back in July. Guess this New Year resolution has actually been weighing on me for a while!

I never intended for this blog to become a ministry and I'm not sure that is what God wants from me, but this is an outlet where I can express what is on my mind and on my heart.  Lately it's been on my heart that I'm a crappy Christian.  I say this because it's something I'm well aware of and something I want to do something about.  Did you know that early Christians didn't give themselves the name 'Christian', non-believers gave them the name because it was obvious who was a follower of Christ by their actions.  In America today lots of people call themselves 'Christian' but don't walk in a lifestyle that is conducive to what they say.  This HAS to change folks and I'm going to start with me because I can't change anyone else.  I want to be the example for Princess and anyone else watching me.  Proverbs 22:6 says 'Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.'  There is still hope for us and for our children!
I've been searching lately for a good place to start.  I'm realistic in thinking that my whole world isn't going to change and all my old habits aren't going to change overnight.  I have to take this one step at a time.  I've watched lots of video of sermons and series on Christian lifestyle.  I am reading books written by Christian authors directed at people who want to do the right thing.  I really need to pick a place in the bible and just start reading!
Recently I found a film on Netflix called 'Lord, Save Us from Your Followers'.  I almost didn't watch it because it sounded scary to me.  I'm very glad I did.  In it filmmaker Dan Merchant is trying to open a dialog between believers and non-believers.  He did this in a very tasteful, very realistic way.  I am inspired to see that there are those out there who not only call themselves 'Christian' but SHOW it too. 
The big ticket issues in this country will always be there.  There will always be people who disagree.  So many times non-believers associate Christians with hate.  That is unacceptable.  There are large groups who call themselves Christian and only give threats of Hell and eternal damnation.  God tells us explicitly to love our neighbors.  We need to stop letting those who preach hate represent us and start showing God's love.  We should be volunteering our time, donating our money or possessions or talents not passing judgment and saying ugly things about people.
This isn't home.  The bible tells us to store up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21).  We get those treasures by doing good deeds and winning souls for the glory of God while we are on earth.  Stop sitting there being so comfortable working toward your 'American Dream'.  God didn't promise comfort.  God promised that there would be those opposed to us because of Him.  He tells us to give up things of this world because it doesn't matter unless we are following Him.  I don't know that we are all called to give away everything we own and become missionaries, but we should be doing more.  Praying 'Thank you, God, for all the blessings in my life' then hoarding said blessings and not passing them along to bless other people is the opposite of what God wants.  We should be volunteering, we should be giving (and not just the old clothing in the back of the closet we never wear anymore). We should be LOVING God's people.  Guess what, folks, 'God's People' doesn't just mean the people you like or can tolerate well.  We are ALL God's people.  The lady next to you at church, the annoying neighbor, the murders, and your family members who drive you crazy.  Love, love, love.  That is what God says.  Love. Period.
There will always be people we don't agree with.  There will always be people who are opposed to us.  The problem is that the folks representing Christians in the media are doing it in a hateful way.  Screaming at people and telling them they are going to hell isn't going to win people to
Disclaimer:  In all places I typed 'we', you can insert 'I'.  I am guilty of all of this.  These posts are a reminder to myself more than anything. 

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