The Essence of Who We Are

Let's look at this carefully. First there is a lot of nonsense spoken by people who think that they are Christian, and by people who aren't Christian but they know what one is. Here are some things that a Christian is NOT:

• Someone who blindly follows church doctrine.
• Someone who believes abortion should be banned for all people because "the Bible says so".
• Someone who uses the correct buzzwords.
• Someone who gives a lot of money to a church.
• Someone who believes that anything a church leader says represents Gods will for Christians.
• Someone who believes that any nation or group is "One Nation, Under God".
• Someone who feels superior to other people because they are "Christian".

A Christian is something much, much different. In fact, I hestitate to use the word "Christian" to describe it, because that label has come to mean so many things that are not what a Christian is! I will use it here for lack of a better description to compare and contrast what people think a Christian is with the reality of Life in Christ. Here are some things that a Christian is:

• Someone who understands that all religions teach that you have to earn your way to God.
• Someone who has discovered the reality that they will never be perfect. In fact, we don't know what perfect is, much less how to achieve it. How can the imperfect become perfect in our own power?
• Someone who heard the message that Jesus said: That he came to fulfill the law because we cannot do it.
• That we come to him with nothing to offer. Nothing! He has done everything!
• Coming as beggars, we know the Joy of understanding that his Love keeps us every moment. We are truly born "On Eagles Wings".

So What is "Living the Christian Life" Then?

"Living the Christian life" is to discover reality. You begin to distinguish the things of man that people think are Christian (what Paul called "Crucifying Christ Afresh") from what actually is. The reality of knowing his everlasting Love for us, and the comfort of coming to him in all of the cares of this world, is so far beyond what man calls important that you can't even describe it!

To quote from my last blog post:

So what does all of this mean to me?

When I accepted what Christ had for me, it transformed my life. I felt a peace and joy that I couldn't really express to anyone. Gradually, that faith dimmed as I learned what being a Christian was. It took God bringing me through a terrible time in my life to discover that when I thought he had abandoned me, he was really carrying me. He showed me then that what I was taught about being a Christian was wrong,and that those things were invented by man.

Later, I wandered again off into what was expected of me. I did this over and over; each time he brought me back; bringing me closer and closer to understanding.

I cannot see everything; yet I have learned that all of the rules, all of the rituals, all of the dogma that defines what a Christian is in society today is wrong. Only those things that Christ himself gives is real.

Because of this, I ask you to discard all of the social customs, trappings, living by law, and holier-than-thou nonsense and do just what Jesus asked; take up your cross and follow him. Don't try to "win" people; instead focus on seeking the mind of Christ and doing his will. After all, he said "Come unto me, all you who are heavily laden. I will rest you." He did NOT say to follow any political program, social custom, or what someone else tells you must do to be Christian. Wake up! Come into LIFE! Rest in Him!

Till next time,

Duane