I Don't Like Christians...

At one point or another as Christians (or non I suppose), we deal with the fact that often times we struggle more with Christians than we do with non-Christians... We all have our theories as to why that is, some more emotional than others and some entirely logical... But, I have been thinking... Who is supposed to reach the Christians?

I have been thinking about the various responses to what Christian's say, what they do, and how each of us tend to either respond or want to respond to those Christians.

Yet, no matter how we feel or don't feel, each of us have a role to play. -- Each of us are told to go and make disciples.

No matter your role in the body of Christ, you were told to make disciples. There is no excuse, no option, no wiggle room. It is simply: Go... In fact, there really is no room for "seasons" of ministry either. So, no matter what is going on in your life, we are told to make disciples.. Obviously this looks different every moment of your life, but we are never given the option of not making disciples.

Now, there is no doubt that this looks different for every person, but what the command also does is remove our ability to have an aversion to other Christians.

Why?

Because, you cannot make a disciple out of someone who does not believe or want to follow and learn about the same Truth you are teaching. 

So, no matter how much Christians frustrate us, and no matter how much they say or do things we dislike... or we want to slap their face off for something they have said or done, we are told by Jesus Christ to make disciples of them. It pretty much takes away our "I hate being around Christians" excuse because Jesus didn't care how we felt about other Christians, He told us to go and love them and make them a disciple anyway.

In light of this thought, I challenge you in 2013 to refuse to make excuses for why you do not want to get involved with or hang out with or be around other Christians. Instead decide that no matter what you are going to reach out and make disciples of anyone who will allow you to... Refuse to make it about you, your feelings, and your dislike...

In 2013 choose to refuse to leave the Christians who do not understand, are misinformed, or hurting to someone else to care for. Decide it is your job to help them, love them, and disciple them.

Boldly Go...

For the most part I am a fairly bold person. I tend towards "going" until God says no... and I often operate under the "what's the worst that could happen?" However, like anyone else, I get into comfortable ruts of just going through the motions of my schedule. Work, homework, random chores, various errands, and the occasional hang out. Nothing real exciting, and more or less just normal life... And, I kind of hate the normal mundane ruts.. Not because they are normal, but because they are often indicative of my acceptance of mediocrity, which I hate.

I have been thinking lately about the normal comfortable life, and how that is not exactly what we are supposed to do or more importantly who we are supposed to be. I mean, really, there are dozens of stories in the Bible that really inspire me to truly be bold and try something new... Mix these stories in the Bible with friends who have been encouraging me to be even more bold than I am used to or to try something entirely new that scares me or freaks me out a little, and you have a recipe for being molded into who I was really meant to be. Do not get me wrong, I am not talking about foolishly going or throwing all caution to the wind, I am talking about refusing to allow fear or anxiety control my life. A couple of my dear friends lately have repeated the mantra "what's the worst that could happen?" ... Which has caused me to pause and think about the situation(s) before me.. and more often than not "the worst" really is not deserving of that title, and really should be something along the lines of "most uncomfortable." But, I refuse to be controlled by potentially uncomfortable circumstances...

So, in light of this type of thinking, "...‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you.
‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,..." - Isaiah 41:9b-10a



Be bold. Summer is a great time to decide to be bold and go until God says no!

Discomfort...

The fact of life today that sprung out of my biggest annoyance with people right now..

Fact of Life #300: We grow the most in moments when we are the most uncomfortable, so we shouldn't run from discomfort.