Day 8. To you, the Christian

Christianity can give the feel of “selling” something. Like we’re trying to convince you to buy the latest gadget. Take it for a test drive, try it out, taste it—you’ll see, it’s AMAZING, it’ll be life changing! Sometimes I hear the pitch for why you should become a Christian and I sorta puke in my mouth because we sound like a watered down infomercial not a Christian. 

Churches across our nation are shrinking and we’re asking ourselves why aren’t we growing? Why aren’t we inviting people to church? Because we still feel the real fact that we are living on both sides of the fence; we feel as if we shouldn’t dare say “come to church with me” for fear that person will say “Why would I want to be like you?” We know we should do better, make better decisions, be better people, but we aren’t. We aren’t any better than the people we are inviting to church. We are telling them come have a better life, yet we feel as if our life isn’t really any better. So, we say nothing. And we continue to live both sides of the fence and the churches continue to shrink.

We are caught up in the conversation that implies we can’t appear perfect (because we’re not) but we should appear like our act is together more than a non-Christian (because we’re Christian). Non-Christians tell us they don’t want to be judged yet they judge us. We say we don’t judge, only God does, yet we judge each other. The Christian is still caught up in things like addictions, affairs, and eating disorders. The Christian goes to church on Sunday and does life on Monday. 

So, why on Earth should ANYONE become a Christian? 

Here’s what I wish would happen in churches: I wish we’d have a day were we stood up and in front of everyone said “I am…and I struggle with…and that’s why I need Jesus.”  Did you see it? Did you see the answer as to why Christianity is vital?  Every single human being is broken, flawed, riddled with poor choices. Every single human being falls short of perfection every single day. BUT. The difference between all of humanity and Christianity is a God who said I will wipe the slate clean for you—forever. 

The church today is a far cry from the church it’s meant to be and frankly the church today breaks my heart. We are supposed to be different, we are supposed to be “set free from sin” and living a life that says “Yes, I want to do that but I’m not going to because I choose to follow God.” We are supposed to be an example to the world. We’re not. We’re a far cry from it. And that’s why we need Jesus. 

The Church NEEDS Jesus.

Why are we ashamed of that?

It’s holiday time and we’re all caught up in making sure we don’t offend anyone, we’re all caught up in making sure everyone feels included—let me ask you, Christian, did Jesus make sure everyone felt included or did Jesus make sure everyone knew the way to receive eternal peace? We, Christians must never lose sight of the very real fact that this life is not the point, that making sure everyone FEELS good is not the point. We, Christians, must never lose sight of the very real fact that the whole point for every breath we take is to express to those around us there is a very real and very tangible way to receive peace—regardless of what our circumstances are, regardless of what we were taught growing up, regardless of what our fears want us to believe. There is a very real gift offered to every single human being that has the courage to say “Yes, I want that” and when we, Christians, diminish that gift by masking it with “let’s all just get along and be inclusive” we are doing a grave disservice to the very people we claim we want to help. Isn’t that the point after all? Isn’t that why we’re so caught up in making sure we say all the right things at the holidays? Because we want everyone to feel good, we want to help bring peace to the world? 

Help me understand how we’re helping by hiding the only Peace that exists? Please, Christian, help me understand why you’re trying to blend in with everyone else and water down a Truth that is immeasurably rich. 

Never in a million years would I have told you that I would be one day writing about things like this. Never did I see this coming because for a very long time I rejected Jesus—but, never ever do I want to ever stop writing these words—Jesus Christ died on that cross in order to save my life, in order to give me eternal peace, in order to save me from a world that will surely swallow me whole. And if this offends you—good. It should. It certainly offends me to think that churches are filled with people who hide their faith. It certainly offends me to think our world is littered with Christians who live life in a way that is no different than a non-Christian. It certainly offends me that I am just as guilty of that as the next Christian. So, frankly, I don’t care that it offends you—I care that you ignore it. I care that you reject it. I care that you, Christian, hide it. I care that we look no different than the rest of the world. I care that we aren’t so enveloped in peace that the world is turning to us and saying “How do we get what you have?” I care. Oh how I care. 

Peace comes only through Jesus Christ. It’s not about saying Merry Christmas or even Happy Holidays. It’s about saying “let me tell you about a baby that took his first breath because your last breath matters.” If you want to be offended, be offended at the fact we are causing the very confusion we preach against. If you want to be offended, be offended at the fact Christians are not BEING Christians.

Be offended—but please, first, ask yourself this question: What exactly offends you and what part of that do you own?

You're Next

I remember being in high school and going to talks that were held in the gym, they were meant to be inspirational talks, but I used that time to sit with my boyfriend, holding hands, and whispering about the upcoming party. I can't recall a single speaker let alone any impact they had on my life. Those talks were free time from class, from school, from teachers.

This morning I talked with a friend about how to take her idea and branch it out, reach more of the next generation and in essence give them the very talks I tuned out, because now later in life I cling to those types of talks. I've thought about this conversation all day--how could the message be spun in a way that ears will not just hear, but hearts will grab onto, believe in, and become?

I'm quick to admit faults I've made with my children, not because I want to say "man I'm such a screw up" but because I believe lessons are learned in order to be taught. The older I've gotten, the older my children have gotten, and the more conversations I have with other the more I have come to realize WE ARE DOING IT WRONG.

Kids are smart. Really smart. So for us to stand in front of them and list off a bunch of "words to live by" is empty. If we stand in front of them and tell them all the things we did wrong, they will just assume "I will not be like you." And if we give them rules to obey because we think it'll help them make wiser choices, we've only created barriers between them and us. None of that stuff works...totally.

What do we need? What WILL work?

I received a Thank You note the other day from a girl who's in her early 20's, I've only met her once (5 months ago) and in her note she stated "thank you for taking the time to ask about my life, to care." What I learned in that Thank You note is this: By having one conversation of being intentional, pausing in the moment and truly being present, letting that person know I'm totally listening and I actually want you to share is worth far more than the list of books to read that will impact your life, the list of TedTalks to watch that will stretch your thinking, or the pep rallies to attend that will inspire you to become the next president of something.

Relationship.

It's all about relationship. I'm not talking about the type of relationship that requires constant attention. I'm talking about the fact that we are relational beings, we want to be heard, we want to know we matter. 

So, instead of complaining about the upcoming generation and all the things you see wrong with it, pause and invest; take the time to be relational. Instead of expecting everyone else to do the work for you, instead of feeling like there's nothing you can do, be active and intentional with those you come in contact with; because when it's all put together from pep rallies to check out lanes is when lives are changed.

I talked with that young lady over lunch and honestly I can't recall the conversation, but that moment wasn't about me, it was about her. I don't need to recall the conversation, God was present, doing His thing and I was the vessel He used (a prayer I pray often, let me be your vessel)

You're next. Be the vessel. Be present. Be relational.