Drinking The KoolAid...

This is a majorly personal journal entry for me.  But since this is where I journal, here goes it.

Being a Christian is a strange, straaaange thing.  I think an overwhelming number of people view "Christians" as people who think they are extra "good", extra "special", extra etc...and that ends up isolating those who don't necessarily believe the same way.  I noticed an interaction recently on a social media site between someone who calls themselves a Christian (Person A) and someone Person A regularly interacts with (Person B). I'm not totally sure where Person B "stands" in their Faith.  As I read the messages back and forth, I was pretty embarrassed at the condescension of the delivery of said Christian/Person A.  Not saying they aren't a Christian or anything but, if so, I was a bit disappointed.  Not only was their rebuke of Person B's tweet "public" instead of "private", it was belitting.  It had a tone to it of I'm-better-than-you. 

I didn't like it.  I try to stay out of that drama but it got me thinking about the type of people I don't want to be associated with and the word "Christian" is a biiiig umbrella that you stand under when you call yourself that or wear the team t-shirt.  So instead of address the specific situation in more detail or say what others should or shouldn't do, I'd simply like to take this opportunity to step under my own umbrella here.  To drink from my own kool-aid container. 

I'm of the belief that while our core beliefs may be very different, even Christians aren't completely different from, say, Agnostics or Atheists who are also trying to better themselves.  I think there is a lot more in common than people think.  Whoa, chill out if you just got offended.  Keep reading.  I stated it that way to grab your attention so if it worked...good.  :-) 

Essentially, what I mean by that is, to a certain point, we all operate under the assumption we can better ourselves by our own merit and/or our own goodness.  But this is where the "paths" between Christians and other groups divide.
 

A Christian comes (or should have) to the point were they recognize they can't change their own heart or their own worth by their own power.  "It's gonna take something/someone greater than me to live this life a better way."  I'm 100%, whole-heartedly a Christ-follower.  But let me also clearly state what two categories of "Christianity" I don't want to be lumped in:  Legalism and Relativism.   

(1) A legalistic Christian is your truth without grace person.   i.e. These are what the rules are.  If you aren't following the rules then I don't accept you.  And Christ can't love you, either. 

(2) A Christian who subscribes to relativism is a grace without truth person.  i.e. I/You can do whatever we want because I/we are saved.  Indulge now, repent later.

Neither of those work for me.  I publically separate myself from those two groups.  Below is where I stand and what my Beliefs are as a Christ-follower.  Note: I am talking about me here.  No one else.  I'm also simply describing where I'm at in my spiritual journey.  So here's the breakdown:

a. I acknowledge that my public admission of loving and needing Christ lumps me straight into the category of being SO imperfect that I recognize my need for Him.  If I don't have Him, I'm screwed.

b. I know and realize my desperation for God.   

I recognize that without Him I'm going to look to others to determine my value.  And, based on who I'm looking at for value...my "worth" will change daily, even hourly depending on who I'm with.  To build my self-worth on the opinions of others - no matter how good of a person they may be - is only going to end up being confusing and disappointing in the long run.

Also, without Him I'm going to look at others and judge them. I'm going to misunderstand things they've said and think bad thoughts about them and/or expel them from my life because I have no grace. I'm going to do things that, ultimately, negatively affect my life...because that is what comes naturally to me.  I KNOW I am (and others are) going to make mistakes. I am jacked up unless I look into, like my last post explained, the Mirror that gives me an accurate reflection of myself.    

c.  I acknowledge that what I believe is more than just facts to me. I believe it's fully true and as a "side effect" of that belief, I fully rely on it.  It means, as my Pastor said, I repent...meaning I change my mind about myself, others, and especially God.  I recognize that I've maxed out my potential on my own and, from this point forward, I need Him to give me the ability to become a better person with an ever-increasing love for others and even for Him. 

I want people to want to be around me because the spill-over of my faith causes my Christian friends to grow...and allows my non-Christian friends to feel "safe" with me no matter what choices they make.  They will know I may not agree with them...but I accept them anyway.

d. I recognize this: that if I became a Christian because I think His Kingdom will be better off for having me, then I've missed the boat completely.  But instead, if I have come to Christ recognizing that I will be better for having Him, then I've got the right foundation to build on.

So there.  It's out there.  I'm not better than you.  You aren't better than me.  We are all just trying to do life our way and get this thing figured out.  I need help with my life so I choose to believe in something Greater than myself and, therefore, the back of my team's t-shirt reads this: Christ-follower.  And I'd like #21, please.  Because, well, that's my favorite number.

The End.