We Can Do Better

“Christianity is now almost impossible to explain, not because the concepts aren’t intelligible, but because the living, moving, speaking examples of our faith don’t line up with the message. Our poor posture overshadows the most beautiful story and reality the world has ever known.”

Hugh Halter & Matt Smay in The Tangible Kingdom p.41

How Much Does Culture Influence You?

Bunny pointed me to this video a couple of weeks ago. It frankly stunned me to see how easily the lone person in the clip was influenced by the mob. After years of watching culture both outside the church and inside, I'm convinced we follow the crowd more often than not. Pastors go to a conference and come back with demographic envy and a determination to do what Rick Warren, Bill Hybles, Perry Noble, or whoever did in their context. People look at what their friends own, or hear what they listen to, or check out their schedule and decide to be like them.

Friends, the reason the early church exploded in growth is because the message of Jesus was counter-cultural. Our values were not set by a look around to see what everyone else was doing. They were fixed by the Holy Spirit.

What about you? Is your church trying to become Saddleback, or Willow Creek, or Fellowship? Get over it. Can you learn from them? Absolutely. But imitation is death to what the Spirit of God wants to do through you right where you are.

And you, follower of Jesus - are you caught in the trap of trying to be like someone else - trying to fit in to the point you are running yourself ragged? What is that to you? You follow Jesus.

Do our efforts make Christianity complicated?

Ever wonder what I was doing all those years in marketing and sales? Well it wasn't this.



I'm sitting here on Saturday night. My son is in his room surrounded by guitars and computers. My wife is in the living room watching TV. Our Great Dane sleeps on the floor beside me. And as I type this, I am trying to follow Jesus.

That's it. Pretty simple in some ways, incredibly challenging in others.

Over the last few years it's become increasingly apparent to me that I know plenty about Jesus. I've known of Him almost all my life, and have followed Him as His disciple for over half that life. At times, it seems as if I can hear Him call me to hurry up, and at others He whispers, "slow down."

In the Old Testament, God gave the people of Israel a list and instructed them to follow it. The people took that list and subdivided it, fractionated it and over time, strangled the life out of their relationship with God.

In the New Testament, God gave them (and us) His Son and we were instructed to come and follow Him. That's what I'm trying to do.

Now.

And a moment from now.

And after.