I Don’t Want to be a “Christian”
I ran across this video on Facebook Friday night. Around 11:30. I had just posted a status update about finally clearing out my inbox…managed to answer and reply to all of my email, file what needed filing and finally delete some things that were just taking up space. I’m down to two remaining emails, y’all. I feel liberated.
I was headed to bed, but I got sidetracked looking at one of my college roommates recent wedding photos. Don’t you love how Facebook allows us to see glimpses into people’s lives when we can’t be near the people we love? Anyway…as with any social media site, I somehow started jumping around from profile to profile; reading stalking and looking at photos, when a video caught my eye. I don’t do YouTube videos too terribly often, but this one got my attention. I’ve placed it below. Take a second to watch (it’s 3:00-ish minutes…I’m sure you can spare it and it’s worth it).
Preach.
Josh and I have talked about this very thing time and time again in our lives. This is a topic that gets me fired up and ready to start shouting. If I’d been in the room when someone started talking about this, I’d have been one of those women shouting hearty “Amens” and “Praise Jesus!”
I’ve been part of places where the moment you let your weakness show…admit to your shortcomings…let on that you aren’t perfect like Christian’s are “supposed” to be…everything changes. I’ve been on the receiving end of those judgmental stares. On the other side of the room when the whispers start. Been the brunt of an indirect but oh-so-obvious Facebook status.
It hurts.
And it’s wrong.
If you don’t know my story, let me give you a quick rundown:
I drank myself to the point in college where I should have ended up dead. Not only did I drink to an extent that I was an alcoholic at not even 20 years old, waking up hungover and spending the day itching for the evening when I’d party it up again, but I was also foolish with my choices…looking to hookup with whoever I could, whenever I could. Trying to find acceptance through popularity and doing what the “popular” girls did.
How I didn’t end up dead in an alcohol related car wreck or pregnant with an illegitimate child, is by God’s grace only. And it’s only by God’s grace that I’m still here and have reached the point in my life where I am comfortable sharing my mistakes and hoping that others learn from them.
But you know what? Those mistakes? Those stupid choices?
They don’t make me any less SAVED than anyone else.
We ALL have baggage. We all need grace.
If we didn’t, then the cross? The cross is meaningless.
I’m not bashing the church or saying we don’t need the church. God gave us the church-the body of believers we are supposed to come together with to worship and fellowship-as a gift. But, it’s been the church-the building, the body of believers thumping the scripture over people’s heads-that has led people away.
It’s the church that’s left me feeling many times over like I don’t want to be a Christian anymore.
Because as unfortunate as it is, “christianity” isn’t the same today as it was when Jesus Christ walked this earth.
Christianity isn’t a once a week (twice if you go on Wednesday’s) thing to just check off your list.
It’s not driving the most expensive car, to the most prestigious building, wearing the top of the line name brand clothes and sitting in the front row singing louder than anyone else, interjecting the “amen” in the right spot.
It’s not knowing or memorizing the most scripture or being able to understand Hebrew.
It’s not knowing the Books of the Bible or having the most verses highlighted on those tissue paper thin pages (Bonus points if you use something like the inductive method with all kinds of different colors, all coordinated in accordance to subject matter.)
It’s not looking the other direction when a brother or sister in Christ is struggling and needs your help. It’s not passing judgement or condemning someone over a bad choice or even a series of bad choices. Last time I read the Easter story, I’m pretty sure Peter denied Christ…not once, not twice, but three times.
Jesus rode a donkey. Not a Porsche. He wore a robe and sandals. Not Chanel and Jimmy Choo’s. He carried with Him the presence of the Almighty. Not a Michael Kors bag.
Jesus associated with the least of these so that we could have the greatest of his grace.
In fact Jesus was the least of these. Dig your Bible out and read-really read– about who Jesus was. Because he wasn’t who the churches seem be depicting him to be these days.
A church is fine. Going to church is fantastic. My family and I go every week.
But, who do you see in church? Your friends? Family members? People you associate with? Families that are part of the school attached to the church? Upstanding citizens of your city?
Do you see the least of these? Do you see the barstool type people? Do you see the broken, beaten and bruised souls that are all around us? Do you see the Vets holding the signs outside your local fast food place? Do you see the homeless man you always pass by, but manage to “turn the other cheek” to?
We aren’t too good to reach them. We aren’t too good to associate with them.
When did becoming a Christian…becoming a church member…take us from being ONE of the least of these, to thinking we were the BETTER of these?
The Bible tells us in the book of 1 John that all wrongdoing is sin (src).
Not some of it.
Not just a little bit of it.
ALL of it.
There’s no good sin and bad sin.
No right sin or wrong sin.
No little sin or big sin.
It’s ALL sin.
From that little white lie to the adultery. From stealing a pencil from your office (that wasn’t yours!) to murdering half a dozen people.
It all put Christ on the cross.
It all kept Christ on the cross.
And at the end of the day, when I stand before God at those pearly gates, I know that I will answer for the mistakes that I have made (and heaven knows there’s been a lot of them). I know that I will have to give an account of all the wrong doing in my life.
But when all of my transgressions are counted and the great and mighty Lord of Lords gets ready to place his verdict? I want to be sure that I hear him say, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
If I have to be the “too good of these” to engage with the least of these, then how much like Jesus am I really?
Prostitutes.
Adulterers.
Tax collectors.
Lowly fishermen.
Shepherds who shot slingshots.
Blasphemers.
Thieves.
Murderers.
These don’t sound like the high society type to me.
And if associating with them makes me more like HIM…then that’s right where I want to be.
Because when Christianity becomes about being better than the ones who need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ, then I don’t want to be a Christian anymore.
Have you ever been on the receiving end of a church’s (or Christians) criticism and judgment? How did you feel? Are you under the impression that that’s what Jesus Christ is like? If it is, I’d love talk to you more about who my God is and what he is really like!
Yes, the church has chased a lot of people away. The church is to be a place of refuge and a hospital. People only go to a hospital when they need healing. Also, it should be a place where we learn about God’s plan and then leave to serve. God does not do bad to people. People do bad to people.
We must prefer our brother (sister) and be willing to give of themselves.
First I would like to say that I agree with all that you said. First I would include, gays, lesbians, and any other titles in your list at the end of your post. Not that there is anything wrong with your list, but people seem to skirt around these titles. As you know Jesus left out no one, He died for everyone. Doctrine is killing the Churches today and has been for some time, just like the Scribes and Pharisee’s in Jesus time. There I have said it! And anyone with ears to hear, knows what I am saying. What we need today is to talk to God not just go by all the ideas of others. We can take anything we want and back it up with scripture if we so desire!
This is to John, June 26th. Don’t look to others in or out of a Church, Look to the one you want a relationship with, look to Jesus, ask Him to help you. Jesus will help ALL those who seek Him with all their Heart. He promised it not I.
Let me say this I am not against the Church, I believe the Church is indeed the representation of Jesus Christ here on earth. But God sent His Spirit to guide us in the way that we should go in this world.
The only real accomplishment in this life is our Focus on God!
Nice video and commentary. yes you are correct, the church is very different today than in Christ’s time. I also have overcome alcohol etc. in my life, and that is the very thing that is different today. I can recall no place in the Bible were Jesus says your sins are forgiven now go sin at will. Repentance is no longer taught, sin is no longer separation from God. As a Pastor I am expected to love everyone as they come, and continue to Love them as they are. The problem then becomes, at what point am I casting pearls before swine, wasting the gospel on those that are comfortable in sin because I have made it comfortable for them. When am I supposed to stop telling people the truth of sin just so they will feel OK, Loved, Accepted. When did a call of repentance become an act of judgement and hatred, was it with the proliferation of political correctness? Jesus came and died for the sins of the world that we may be saved, transformed, changed, repented people. Yes the church has changed and for the worse when it began to consider how people feel rather the consider their souls.
I gave up on organized religion quite some time ago. Christ changed the rules when he preached love and acceptance rather than fear and retrbution. I cringe when I see a post looking for an ‘amen’ after negative comments about our president, or immigrants, or gays.
What would Jesus do indeed?
You wrote my heart! I try to explain this concept to, well basically everyone around me, only to be looked at as though I have peed in the floor right in front of everyone!
I, too, have made many, many bad decisions in my younger days and know God allowed me to continue to breathe for a purpose! I fell out of love with the concept of “church” and all it’s hypocrisy at a very young age due to an ugly event I witnessed. Now, I understand you can love Jesus and not have to be a part of a church community, as was drilled into my head as a child!
Anyway, thank you for this article! While I found comfort in your words, I also thought how sad God must be at what His creation has turned His love into!
This has been one of the most powerful things that I have ever read! This is so true! Thank you so much for sharing this! May God richly bless you!!!!!
Well written! Strongly agree with your sentiments.
Thank you so much for this article. I needed to hear that especially in this day and time.
We’re not quick learners … we need to be reminded of this. Thanks, Cindy.
Pray for me