This sermon series is a one in which we borrowed the concept from another church. We do that often. These larger churches have the staff dedicated to coming up with creative ideas. We borrow the concept and then use our own sermon messages. While I use their message as a resource, I don't preach someone elses sermon. I think that's an ethical issue.
So the series concept we've borrowed, and the videos we purchased, but the messages are all our own. This first one came across as rather negative. Someone told me that, but I felt that as well. Personally the only thing I hate worse than listening to a preacher tell me everything that's wrong with me is being the preacher who's saying it. And yet, the Christendom has a problem. Not the Christian faith. It's all good and right. The practices of many in the Christian faith... that's the problem. The people who dwell in the Kingdom known as Christendom are not always as nice to be around as the heathens that dwell outside the gates. (Read "heathen" with tongue in cheek. It's the heathens that Jesus came to save.)
The main point on Sunday was that legalism, among several other problems, reigns supreme in turning people away from Christ. Christ was anything but a legalist. He wasn't without boundaries, to be sure. I think the 10 commandments would still be considered "in force." However, many of the rules and regulations that are barriers to experiencing God's grace just aren't in keeping with the way of Christ.
Grace was probably not real clear in this first sermon of the series. "Stop Being a Christian" was written to point out the flaws of those of us who are trying to follow Jesus but getting it wrong. Next Sunday we'll ask the question "What Would Jesus Wear?" We'll be talking about stylizing our lives as followers of Christ and finding that many of our life problems will be cared for when we do. It will be the spiritual makeover day we all need.
See you Sunday.
2 comments:
Christian vs Christ Follower? Catchy phrase but do I really have to choose? While the video Sunday was certainly humorous, I see myself on both sides. We are to study and learn, requiring books and information and for some of us reading glasses. We are also to live in the world and make saints of the non-believers. The Bible is the foundation of our belief system and holds all the answers to anything we need to know. It is good to have a Bible at work sometimes. It can open up conversations that might not get started otherwise. Sometimes it is good to dress up just to remember how good we really can look and sometimes it shows great respect to your grandmother, great aunt or God. When you look good, you feel good. Nothing wrong with that. It seems the video poked fun at Christians…now I am not a bible scholar but I don’t think Jesus would be a fan of that. We are all different parts of the body of Christ. We each have an important role to play whether we are the casual guy who seems to have it all together or like many of us, the other guy, struggling to keep it all together, dressing nicer to please someone, wanting to have the right answers. Isn’t the important thing to have faith, be willing to study and learn and take the time to share what you have learned and share your faith? Does it matter if we are called Christians or Christ followers as long as we are being faithful to our beliefs? It takes all kinds of people and I think we need to be careful in creating a competition between Christians and Christ-followers suggesting one is better than the other. After all what is a Christian but a Christ follower! Will I stop being a Christian as suggested at church last week? No way!!! I am a Christian who chooses to be a Christ follower. I need the foundation of the study and the rules and the laws and will work harder to live in the world in this place and time in a way that would make God smile. Sometimes I come to church to be fed and sometimes I come to feed but always I come to be close to God and other people who are Christians that are also Christ-followers wherever they may be on their faith journey.
Having family members who are "Christians" but very legalistic, I understand the difference. I think it's important to be inclusive of all people since that what Jesus did and does. I always go back to the minister who told me in 1989 that I was going to hell because I was divorcing an abusive husband...was he a Christian or a Christ-follower?
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