Christian Living
Lately I’ve been struggling with the Gospels.
Those first four books of the New Testament are full of love, inspiration, creativity, and relevance. Jesus Christ tells amazing, mind bending stories, heals and raises from the dead, and loves like no other. Don’t get me wrong, all this is amazing.
But there is one small problem I can’t seem to get out of my head.
Who is actually living the life Jesus told us to live? Jesus once said that if your eye was causing you to sin, then you should cut it out. I don’t know anyone cutting out their eyes. Jesus said we should constantly give to those who are in need; in fact, when we do not give to those in need, it is as if we are not giving to Jesus himself. We give to those in need, but only if it is through a ministry. When we see those in need on the street, we use our “better judgment” and convince ourselves that they would probably just use whatever we gave them to get drugs. Jesus said to lose our life, and to deny ourselves. But a quick glance at our “christian” culture today speaks volumes about how our lifestyles are just that - ours. We may deny this or deny that, but rarely are we wholly denying ourselves. Jesus speaks of money as if it is a disease with comments ranging from how it is almost impossible to get into heaven if you’re rich, to telling the rich young ruler to sell all he has. But if you were to turn on TBN or any other late night televangelist, it’s a given that you’ll hear the message of prosperity. Jesus said that we should love above all else. That this is the greatest commandment. Do we really love though? When we walk by people in the crowds, are we loving them? When we check out at the grocery store, are we loving the clerk? Does our body language say we love people? To love like Jesus told us to love is to love everyone like we were to love our family - and beyond. What would we do if we were to see our wife (or husband) walk by? Would a smile grace our face? Would we embrace them and ask them about their day? Of course, all in the name of love. But only a few significant others receive this love from us. Is this how Jesus meant for it to be?
Just recently I was watching the American Idol auditions. There was this one particular girl who sticks out in my mind. She was a teenager, with braided hair and a big smile. She didn’t look like a pop-star, but she had the attitude and she explained how all of her friends told her she could sing just like Avril Lavegne. When she stepped in front of Simon, Paula, and Randy and began to belch out her song, there was no doubt that she was one of the worst singers in the universe. So of course the judges told her, but she refused to believe, going on and on about how one day they were going to be buying her album. And she wasn’t the only one. There were at least 50 (that aired on the show) that were equally as bad, and said they would one day be a star. What I couldn’t understand was how in the world they thought they were so good. How was it that some of the worst singers I have EVER heard were that convinced that they were the best in the world?
They are lying to themselves. Deep down I believe (at least I hope) that they do know that they aren’t very good. That got me thinking about our walk with God and our lives as Christians. Are we being honest with ourselves about our daily walk with God? Are we REALLY living the life Jesus told us to live? Or have we let all the other things get in the way of the truth? We need to step back and be very honest with ourselves. It’s not about creativity, or relevance, or any other fancy post modern word, it’s about us and our relationship with Jesus Christ. How close is our lifestyle to the one Jesus spoke of?
I know it’s time for me to re-evaluate my walk with God. How about you?
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Chad, this article is very well written and straight to the point! The truth is, in order to really live like Jesus, we have to be empty of ourselves! We have to face the cold-hard-facts that sometimes we don't reach out with compassion because that person hurt 'our' feelings. You know what I mean? You are so correct, we MUST re-evaluate our walk with God! If we are only wearing the 'Christian' title then we may find He doesn't know us on the day of judgment! Great article my friend, now off to read your others! God bless, Jounda
I loved this. It made me think and made me want to re-evaluate my walk with God. I think its very well written and to the point.
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