Ok, as you may have surmised, I am drawn to rebellion. I am. It is a fact. I have been unending tradition for a long time so when I was sitting in a pew (old-schooling it!) this past Sunday to celebrate my grandparents 70th wedding anniversary (it's ok, go ahead and pause and read it again -that's 70TH baby!).....anyway....... I was struck, in an orthodox setting, with the concept of Christ-like rebellion. Clearly I am ALL about it if this means that I can be a "good" rebel. Trying to fit me into a mold is like trying to fit a wet cat into pantyhose. not. going. to. happen. And a good portion of my life has been devoted to assuring this (albeit not always to my benefit).
I personally love the idea that Jesus hung out with the outcasts of the day. If Jesus came to modern day America I would like to think of him hangin' in the ghetto with drug dealers and drag queens. These people who are so often judged and looked down upon. Jesus sees them as equally worthy of his unconditional love and I get a huge kick out that! Jesus upended the standard for who was able to obtain salvation. He came for us all and I love that, because I times, I'm pretty sure I am the worst person alive.
So what is the problem? We have forgotten what true evangelism is. When I think of that word I cringe. I think of people shouting fire and brimstone from street corners and literally banging you on the head with a Bible. If I were exposed to those folks I would RUN! (Now, don't get me wrong, some people are ideally suited for that approach, but I am not one of them.) Yet, in my attempt to swing to the opposite of that particular pendulum, I have strayed. Do people even know that I am God's? Do they think of me as different, set apart? Not by my own experiences and stupid choices but because my life has been so changed that God's light just comes blaring through? What if I leave this world and those attending my memorial didn't even know that I was a believer? I can't imagine being more ashamed than thinking that that fact may be true.
This got me thinking of all the times that I strive to not offend people by bringing up things of the Lord, even things as simple as God's blessings. In the sermon on Sunday I heard again the story of Daniel and it occurred to me, Daniel faced lions because he refused to bend to societal pressure. How often do we become complacently politically correct in order not to offend? (Romans 1:16-17). If I act as though I have no faith, is that honoring to the God I have pledged my life to? Am I too ashamed to speak the name of the Lord, even in a "free" country?
We do not pick the people that God has chosen to cross our path. What do they see when they see us? Be clear. Be blinding. Offend in the name of Christ, not with malice or judgment but taking the risk to speak of what God has done for you. Answer questions. Don't hide your faith from those you encounter. Jesus was not politically correct. That's one of the reasons brought against him at trial. His profession that he was God. A true statement, but offending to the leaders of the Jewish faith at that time. I want to harness my rebellious tendencies into making me more on fire for the Lord! I want to rattle some stagnant, stodgy Christians with uncomfortable truth. I desire to be the Christian that people come into contact with and think "Man she is cool. She loved and cared for me when other people wouldn't". I strive to be outrageous for God.
Rebel against the world my friends. Rebel against legalistic Christians. Rebel against the idea that Christians are kooks with nothing to offer. Rebel against the tendency to squelch your faith. Be Christ-like. Love "the least of these" and love the ones with the most. Change perceptions. Just DO something. Don't stagnant like pond water in your comfort zone of faith......after all, that's how mold grows.
I personally love the idea that Jesus hung out with the outcasts of the day. If Jesus came to modern day America I would like to think of him hangin' in the ghetto with drug dealers and drag queens. These people who are so often judged and looked down upon. Jesus sees them as equally worthy of his unconditional love and I get a huge kick out that! Jesus upended the standard for who was able to obtain salvation. He came for us all and I love that, because I times, I'm pretty sure I am the worst person alive.
So what is the problem? We have forgotten what true evangelism is. When I think of that word I cringe. I think of people shouting fire and brimstone from street corners and literally banging you on the head with a Bible. If I were exposed to those folks I would RUN! (Now, don't get me wrong, some people are ideally suited for that approach, but I am not one of them.) Yet, in my attempt to swing to the opposite of that particular pendulum, I have strayed. Do people even know that I am God's? Do they think of me as different, set apart? Not by my own experiences and stupid choices but because my life has been so changed that God's light just comes blaring through? What if I leave this world and those attending my memorial didn't even know that I was a believer? I can't imagine being more ashamed than thinking that that fact may be true.
This got me thinking of all the times that I strive to not offend people by bringing up things of the Lord, even things as simple as God's blessings. In the sermon on Sunday I heard again the story of Daniel and it occurred to me, Daniel faced lions because he refused to bend to societal pressure. How often do we become complacently politically correct in order not to offend? (Romans 1:16-17). If I act as though I have no faith, is that honoring to the God I have pledged my life to? Am I too ashamed to speak the name of the Lord, even in a "free" country?
We do not pick the people that God has chosen to cross our path. What do they see when they see us? Be clear. Be blinding. Offend in the name of Christ, not with malice or judgment but taking the risk to speak of what God has done for you. Answer questions. Don't hide your faith from those you encounter. Jesus was not politically correct. That's one of the reasons brought against him at trial. His profession that he was God. A true statement, but offending to the leaders of the Jewish faith at that time. I want to harness my rebellious tendencies into making me more on fire for the Lord! I want to rattle some stagnant, stodgy Christians with uncomfortable truth. I desire to be the Christian that people come into contact with and think "Man she is cool. She loved and cared for me when other people wouldn't". I strive to be outrageous for God.
Rebel against the world my friends. Rebel against legalistic Christians. Rebel against the idea that Christians are kooks with nothing to offer. Rebel against the tendency to squelch your faith. Be Christ-like. Love "the least of these" and love the ones with the most. Change perceptions. Just DO something. Don't stagnant like pond water in your comfort zone of faith......after all, that's how mold grows.
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