Christian Living

---

Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday March 4, 2009

One of the many fascinating aspects of my brand of Christianity is the tendency to imitate. By imitate I mean the willingness by many to be poured into a mold someone else decides is the best.

In most cases I can walk into a church which I have never before attended and by the looks and demeanor of the gathered saints tell you with near exactness which college the Pastor asks/demands them to attend. I can tell you the name of the guru to whom they pledge allegiance and though I do not, could share more than a few skeletons if they so wished.

I have lost track of the men who for years nearly drove themselves and their families and churches insane with their pathetic imitation of Billy Graham. One of the joys of life is attempting to listen to a man with an IQ of 87 born and raised in rural Connecticut vainly attempt to speak like Dr. Graham, even down to his North Carolina inflections. Usually a preacher who snorts a lot while preaching is an avid follower of the late Dr. Jack Hyles. And so it goes. In some branches of the faith I have observed grown men with children attempting ape the style, sound and theology of Joyce Meyer. Only cultural proscription prevents their aping her gait and clothes.

Please, the above is NOT intended to be mean, but rather shed a little humor on our otherwise economically mean state as a nation and of my $$ state.

I find nothing wrong with following Christ for we are told to do so in the scripture. I do have trouble being judged as less than spiritual due to a refusal to wear shoes and a necktie patterned after the ones I saw pimps wearing when I was a child.

The Bible teaches that God has imparted to each one of His children, gifts, God himself choosing the gifts and thus equipping said child to effectively perform within the area of God's choice for his life purpose.

Doyle Brunson said something that set me to thinking along today's lines and I hope my not so far out above typecasting helps you to see that you are unique, not like the hero you may foolishly worship. Doyle said it like this:

"You can't send a duck to eagle school."

Many within the realm of religion seem to think and teach that we are all eagles. What is wrong with being a duck? I am convinced that whether we are an eagle or a duck, or even a sparrow, for Christ is on record concerning His watchful care of the sparrow, we must be the best of what He has and is making us. As far as mounting up on wings of eagles, we surely will, but even for the best among us, the eagle wings are borrowed.

I will be unavailable for comment today. I will be hiding in a friend's bomb shelter.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2009 Use with credit.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE