If we’re all honest, there are a lot of things in life that are annoying...and here are some of my top ones:
People that stand around the machines in the gym in expensive work out clothes but never do anything—move out of the way—go order a pizza!
People that go slow in the passing lane and will not move when you are behind them—all of you should be locked up.
Grown men wearing sport jerseys—dude, unless you’re on the team or under the age of 12, lose the jersey.
Overweight people that wear skinny people clothes
Over-age people that try to look hip by wearing younger clothes
Any type of comb-over—just shave it off and be done with it.
Coffee breath
Mint breath trying to cover coffee breath
People that talk too loud on their cell phones
People that never give up the armrest, even for a second on a airplane or movie theater seat
And last but not least…
The thing that might be the most annoying to me and is certainly the most detrimental to the world is religious people that claim to be Christian but act, speak and engage in a way that looks nothing like Jesus. I think as a result, many people love Jesus a lot more than Church. Churches are dying because people are staying away from the religious crowd. Having grown up in church my entire life, I have to admit that if I were not a Christian and all I had to go on was the lives, attitudes, and actions of most Christians... I would not choose to be a Christian, much less attend their churches.
If Christians are commanded to be imitators of God and to walk in love as Jesus loved you (Ephesians 5:1), then why do so many people love Jesus but want nothing to do with His followers? Why do so many consider themselves spiritual but not religious? Why do so many love Christ but are annoyed by Christians?
There are so many things I see in Christians’ lives that are totally disconnected from what Jesus taught. For instance, how can a Christian ever be a racist? How can a Christian say he believes in an all-powerful God and yet fret every four years if the wrong candidate gets in the White House? Why does long hair bother so many? Tattoos? Piercings? -And yet the world is falling a part each day and that doesn’t cause as much upheaval in their hearts. How can a Christian condemn someone’s sexuality and yet behind closed doors be addicted to porn?
Honestly, I think we're all hypocrites to some extent but we so easily look over our own inconsistencies and struggles, then build lectures on everyone else’s. I think we’re all intolerant of people who don’t think the way we do to some extent. For example, the Tim Tebow Superbowl commercial spot with his mom brought so much anger out of people. -And yet the exploitation of women on so many other commercials didn’t raise the same ire.
I believe Christians need to learn from those who do not claim to follow Jesus and vice versa. That is why I am starting a new series at Austin Ridge Bible Church entitled “Christianoscopy”. Christians, we need an exam. It will be invasive and uncomfortable but I believe we need to act like Jesus or quit the religious game.
Jesus faced the most critique, slander, and belligerence from the religious crowd. They couldn’t understand why He would have dinner with those they deemed as ‘sinners’. Sound familiar? It’s time to quit categorizing everyone in right or left categories. It’s time to love others in a way that is larger than making them an evangelistic project. It’s time for your Christianoscopy.
I’m also grieved to say that often times everyone is allowed to share their opinions except Christians. Some of the most intolerant people I know are the very people that scream at Christians for being intolerant. I don’t think having an opinion makes someone intolerant. I don’t believe having an opinion and belief makes someone judgmental. I do believe a person is intolerant and judgmental if his or her opinion makes it impossible to love others that do not share it.
I would love to hear from you. Tell me stories of times you have been drawn to Jesus because you encountered a Christian. Or maybe you are not a Jesus follower today because you have been around proclaiming Christians. What keeps you from attending church? What are some areas where religion about Jesus has skewed your mission instead of a relationship with Jesus propelling it? Either way, blog your thoughts and feelings here. It’s time to put it all out on the table.
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you talk about not judging other people who don't look, think, and act like you but even your first paragraph here shows that you do.
ReplyDeleteI was raised in a Baptist church, and “walked the aisle” when I was seven years old with my twin brother. My pastor thought I was a Christian. My parents thought I was a Christian. I thought I was a Christian. But when I hit my teens, doubts abounded. If I was a Christian, why did I feel such conviction when I heard God’s word? I pushed aside the conviction, and tried to be a better person. If I could only be “better”, then I wouldn’t feel so miserable. I tried doing church things: memorizing books of the Bible, (I actually was the winner in a city-wide Bible drill), knew every hymn in the hymnal (all four verses), knew the four “spiritual laws” and gave to Lottie Moon. I hated praying though, and trembled when asked to say just a sentence prayer—because I had no relationship with God; it was only pretend, and both God & I knew that. Sin gave me comfort – God’s word just made me feel bad. So I decided that sinning was easier than going to church. I justified dropping out of church in my own mind by looking at the faults of my Christian brothers and sisters. And the more closely I looked, boy, could I find some faults! The stories I could tell…But in reality, it was hearing God’s word that was getting annoying, and I needed any excuse not to hear it.
ReplyDeleteHowever, when I was 21 years old, the Lord showed me that my self-righteousness was sending me straight to hell. The one component of my salvation that didn’t exist was true repentance – turning from my sins towards Christ. And without it, I was stuck in the mire of my sin. In an unforgettable moment one summer day, my sin rushed over me like a flood and I drowned in it. I was slapped with the fact that there was nothing within me that God saw as good or worthy. I immediately hated my sinfulness, hated myself, and threw myself at the foot of the cross, broken. And the Lord reached down, and saved me! What a glorious day! From that moment on, I didn’t HAVE to obey Christ, I WANTED to. But I found out that I wasn’t perfect. I could still sin if given the right opportunity, and I found I had to carefully protect my heart with Christian fellowship, deep times in the word of God and quiet times in prayer to stave off my flesh. If someone were to look at me now, they would see a difference in my Christianity than they did when I was younger. But there have been times when people have seen my life and probably thought, “I want nothing to do with Christ.”
As Christians, we are definitely called to obedience - Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) The Bible also warns about those who cause believers to stumble into sin. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matt. 18:6)
On the other side of the coin, the Bible tells us to examine ourselves. “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified.” (2 Cor. 13:5)
Sometimes, as in my own life, a person can think he is a Christian when he is not. And that confuses the true Church. We see the wheat and the tares within the same church, and say, “Oh, it’s the hypocrites! If only people would be more like Jesus.” But I believe a great number of those “hypocrites” are just that, hypocrites – charlatans, frauds, fakes. Yes, Christians sin, sometimes grossly. And that is a disgrace. But I don’t believe hypocrites send unbelievers to hell. Each person’s own sin sends them to hell. And each person alone is accountable to God for that sin. We will not be able to use that as an excuse or blame someone else for it. We must examine ourselves. Are we real or fake? If real, we must be obedient – it is commanded. If fake, we must fall at the foot of the cross and forsake our sins and turn in faith to Christ.
I am very excited that we are entering this period of self-examination. I was challenged by the first teaching yesterday. There are ugly dark spots on my heart that God's word revealed, and I look forward to how He plans to continue to heal me.
ReplyDeleteChrist went OUT OF HIS WAY, literally, to seek out those who sinned....in order to save them. If I throw up walls between myself and another due to their sexuality, color, political party or even their dismissal of my faith....then I deny Christ's love. His grace is available to all who have sinned...should not my love be equally available to all?
The series promises to be difficult and challenging. I can't think of a better way to describe Christ's teachings. Looks like we're on the right track!
I agree........
ReplyDeleteThousands and thousands of innocent children died in an earthquake and the ones left alive are dying from diseases while churches ask for more money to build bigger boxes. And you wonder why people love Jesus much more than church.
ReplyDeleteThat's okay, Kara. I'm a Christian and I'm a member of Austin Ridge Bible Church. I don't believe we've ever met, but you seem like a nice person. However, I'm sure if we did meet I would judge you, too. Every single person out there is guilty of judging others by some means. Personally, I disguise it by saying, "I'm just sizing him up." "I think she'd be fun to hang out with." "He seems really successful." If I make a statement like any of those and say in the next breath, "I'm not judgmental," I'm lying.
ReplyDeleteEver been on a job interview? How about a first date? How would you choose to ask someone out on a date? Do you decide who your child can play with? Who’s on the “A” list for your Christmas party? It’s all judgment. We are kidding ourselves if we say it’s anything else.
That Christians are so blatantly judgmental is simply because the bible is so clear about what we should and should not do. The bible forms the backdrop onto which others can judge us. Having only really been a Christian since 2002, I can say that I have taken and delivered the hit of judgment from both sides. Here are some examples of that which was dished out to me:
* As a child, my Southern Baptist mother told me I was sinning when I was playing the card game she taught me,
* Two years ago, my homosexual friend categorized me with her partner’s “Christian” family who wouldn’t allow her in their home,
* In 2000 a member of my church criticized me for being involved in my sport,
* A handful of friends I have now expressed that they didn’t like me before they knew me,
* People tell me all the time, “You look like you have it all together.”
You want to know what’s worse? While we judge others, we judge ourselves, too – albeit usually on the negative side. We might say things like, “Did I get it right?” “Oh, I totally screwed that up.” “I look terrible today!” “I could have done better.” “I look fat.” “I’m not good enough.” “I wish I had bigger boobs.” “I have too much grey hair.” “I’m not getting paid what I’m worth.” Blah, blah, blah. IT DOESN’T EVER STOP. . .FOR ANYONE!
What separates Christians from everyone else is love and forgiveness. That means that we should love and forgive others AND ourselves. In the book of John, even Christ himself said that he did not come here to judge (John 8:15, 12:47) he came to save the world. To be a Christian means that I’m following Christ. So, if I say I’m following Christ that’s what my life should look like too.
Judgment of any kind is a trap that has me laser-focused on myself and what I want rather than the needs of others. While it’s easier said than done, my healing comes when I recognize my sin, confess it before God, accept His forgiveness, forgive myself and move on. It is only then that I can really see and experience the world around me. It is only then that I can serve with a pure heart.
So thank you, Kara. I appreciate your honesty and your heartfelt confession. I find it refreshing. I forgive you for judging me. Will you forgive me for judging you?
Are these posting suppose to be so long winded and indulgent?
ReplyDeleteYes. This is a blog page. Please blog your thoughts, good, bad or ugly. Dialogue is the goal. -Brad T.
ReplyDelete