Look Mom, I'm a car!!

If you know me at all you know how much I LOVE analogies. Nothing explains a situation or belief better than painting a picture using familiar objects. And now, onto my favorite analogy of the day.

I was talking with my girlfriend Liz at the office about what makes someone a Christian. We talked about how we have heard everything from, "I go to private school" to "I was saved when I was 4 years old" to "I'm a good person." Liz had an analogy that really got me thinking. She told me how she talked to a girl once who said she was a Christian because she goes to church every Sunday. Liz (who can be slightly aggressive...which is obviously why I LOVE HER!!) said, "You sitting in church and saying that makes you a Christian is about as true as me sitting in my garage and saying that makes me a car."

Satan has polluted us with lies, and because we still desire to live a life that satisfies our flesh, we choose to listen. Lately I have been struggling with false teachings and their effect on the flock. I won't go into details because the Lord is really working with me on forgiveness in this area, and I am hopeful He will strengthen me to be able to move forward.

Liz's analogy really hit home because I have seen the "Zombie" attitude of Christianity. It takes on the, "What have you done for me lately" mentality. God should be praised when things are going well, but as soon as something (umm...like my own sin??) gets in the way it's all anger and resentment towards the Lord.

News flash: We don't accept Christ into our lives to start racking up on all the gifts He wants to give us. Following Christ has no guarantee of power, financial success, marriage, children, health, or any other idol we put in our lives. Could God bless us with one or all of these things? Absolutely. But could our lives be filled with suffering and pain. Um....yeah. Absolutely. We don't come to Christ to live in abundance of gifts. We come to Christ because HE is the abundant gift.

I believe people get caught up in the "spiritual life" when they start following Christ. How often am I reading my bible, am I joining small groups, am I memorizing verses, am I showing up to church every week. Don't get me wrong, these are all AMAZING tools the Lord uses to sharpen us and renew us in faith. They are crucial in our walk with the Lord, but not for the reason people tend to think. We use all these disciplines, because we rejoice in the desire to grow closer to the Lord and let Him empty us of ourselves, only to be filled back up with His love.

But these disciplines aren't the measure of Christianity. By doing one or all these things doesn't mean we have accepted Christ. Just like me reading a 200 page paper on astrophysics doesn't make me an astrophysicist. Chances are I could only read 30% of the words in the paper (words like "the", "that", "and", and "science.") And just sitting there reading that paper wouldn't make me a scientist. Reading the bible, going to church, and praying once a day and saying that makes you a Christian makes about as much sense as me saying I'm a super model. I get my picture taken about once a week, I'm above 5'5", and I'm offensively good looking. See? Super model. It's science.

If you are a Christian, act like it. Love people, tell them about Jesus, obey the commandments of the Lord, live under grace, build disciples, demonstrate your faith, help those in need, and live for eternity.

Mark 8: 34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

Are you going to stand before the Lord as someone who tried to save his life, or someone who lost his life for the gospel?

I know what my answer is. But I won't be with you when you stand before the Lord. Sitting in church won't matter, reading the bible once a day won't matter, praying when things are tough won't matter, reading my blog won't matter (well...it will probably get you a few bonus points). You either try to save your life on this earth and live for your flesh, or you pick up your cross, put your flesh to death, and give your life, not just your 2 hours a week on Sundays, but your WHOLE life to the Lord.

It's your eternity. I would give it some thought.