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I Am A Terrible Christian.






This is a subject you will be seeing a lot of on my social media so I figured I'd explain to you why. I am currently working on some stuff, one thing being a sermon series challenging us in our "Christianity".



I was fortunate to have grown up in a diverse family with diverse beliefs. The majority of my family are Christians that came from various denominations. We had some family who were religious and irreligious. Because of this, I developed a strong sense of openness to people who think differently than myself.

In my teens I embarrassingly fell into American christian absurdity and I became very religious (not spiritual--yes there is a difference).

A lot of what American christian absurdity is built upon is the belief that here in America we are morally, economically, intellectually, and culturally superior in comparison to the majority of the world. American Christendom sits upon the cornerstone of American exceptionalism.

Let me be clear, yes, we are afforded a lot of freedom and an ability to live a mostly free life here in the USA... Some of what we have is a result of immoral actions on behalf of our federal government against other nations and indigenous people.

In our modern world, many nations have free governments. Most people in the western world experience as much and even more freedom we do. I would even say in some countries, they've surpassed our "morality" in many areas.


Christ's mission here on earth was to reconcile the poor, disadvantaged, and persecuted back to God. Jewish and non-Jewish alike belong to God. He loves us, he wants us to be connected to Him. The scriptures show us that there was no smaller nation than the Hebrews. Jewish law speaks of leaving part of harvest behind for the poor, widowed, and foreigner. It speaks of justice and creating a kinder world through selfless giving and providing for the poor.


In scripture we find larger nations--the rich ones-believed they were superior to primitive and modest people like the Hebrews. We have seen this through the Egyptians, Babylonians, Romans--and the like--that they were not really as moral or superior as they thought. God shared many times with the nation of Israel, when they didn't follow His lead, that he is letting a more barbaric, ruthless, and morally deficit nation rule over them.

If we search into the past of these ruling civilizations, they were more modern, their systems more advanced, they are applauded for the advances they've made for the time they were flourishing, but in the end they all collapsed.

Being big, rich, and powerful doesn't mean we are better than the nations that are not. Scripture shows it may be the opposite. I'm a bad christian because I don't think we are much better than anyone else.


In the US, the church world is very Americanized. It isn't Christianity in the purest form, rather it is it's own form of Christianity. Yes, most nations have their own cultural differences in any religion, we make it fit within the context of the society in which we live, however, if it isn't pure, can it be better?


American Christianity has been part of popular culture here in the US, so when it is discussed our federal government should be more inclusive of all religions, we feel threatened by having to make faith a more personal practice within our lives. Christians cry persecution and mistreatment when the Pledge of Allegiance may have the word "God" removed from it, yet the Pledge didn't even have the word "God" in it until the 1950's. When shown that our government was initially secular in nature and some of the leading men were agnostic at best, people become offended and angry. But our government was initially designed to allow the people to decide how they worship, and if they worship. In America, you're a good christian if you are offended by lessening government recognition of God.


I don't feel like my Christianity is effected by whether my government prays or talks about God, or not. Because I pray and talk about God at home. I don't need my government to enforce my beliefs in order for me to feel validated. I believe in other people's right to believe in whatever they believe.


There was a time, not too long ago, I actually admitted that my goal in my faith isn't to bash people over the head with it. I will talk about my faith, what it means to me (how it has changed me), but I will never talk to someone who doesn't want to hear it. I will never tell a person they are wrong for their beliefs...

You see, I think of what it would feel like being a religious minority in a country and having the ruling class try to change my belief in God. I can imagine it doesn't feel good. I don't want anyone to ever feel that way. In admitting this, I majorly triggered a gentleman who believed I had lost my ever loving mind. His face turned beet red and it spread to his ears and neck. His nose began to flare with each inward breath, he replied, "How do you expect to save anyone with that attitude?! What about the Great Commission? You aren't even a christian."


I thought of all those years I actually believed like this well-meaning (although majorly misinformed) fella did, and I took a deep breath inward, and began my questioning, "How many people have you saved in all? What is your technique in saving lost souls? How is your conversion rate? Like, conversations that turned into salvation?"


He blinked, and began to stutter...

"Well, you know what I mean, Obviously... I don't mean.. err. I can't save anyone. I'm not God."


"Right, I'm not God. You're not God. I don't think it is too far of a stretch to grasp that we say "saved" because it has very little with what WE do, but everything to do with what HE does. And I think it would be accurate to believe that in calling them "lost" means they belong to God, initially, right? I didn't save myself. I can't save anyone else. But I know I can point to the One who saves by living my life and loving everyone I meet. Jesus said all of the law hangs on loving God and loving each other."


I don't think that it is wrong to share with strangers and people of other faiths. There are some people who can broach the "religion" subject with anyone they come in contact with and they are heard and received well. This is because God gives each of us abilities and ministries that give us grace to do that kind of work. These people are Evangelist, their gift and calling is being able to reach into the world and be heard, while most of us may offend and turn people away with these forward tactics. An Evangelist is given this call by God, not by their own ability. It isn't even something they have to try to do... They do this by just being themselves.


I, however, do not have that grace. I cannot speak on that level to strangers, God didn't create me with that ability [although God may give us the ability on certain occasions, when it is needed]. I do, however, have the grace to care for other people. I care for people physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. God uses me to show kindness and love to people who need it. By caring for and loving people, my God is shown through me. What I believe is lived out by my actions. I love to care for people, it doesn't feel like something I try to do, I do it by just being myself. I also care by listening, by hearing people, and validating them as human beings.


By living true to who I am, I have made more of a positive impact in this world than preaching to people who do not want to hear it. I am more vocal in areas of my life, but in this arena, God intended another approach. In living true to my gifts and abilities, God sends those I've helped back to learn about my faith.


I don't believe it is our job to change anyone, and that makes me a bad christian.


In America, we obsess over whether people are sinning. We abhor abortion, homosexuality, and less strict laws against drugs, but we love electing officials that kill, steal and destroy. We fight for our right to deny service to those who love differently than us. We decry illegal immigration, and say we are a nation of laws. American Christians love laws, unless you're talking about biblical laws.

I'm a bad christian because I don't care about other people's sin. I have my own sin and humanity I am dealing with. I have enough work in myself that I cannot go about my life focused on sin outside of my heart and church. Scripture says we cannot focus on the world, that is up to God, we need to focus on the sin within the walls of our Christendom. I am a bad christian because I love the refugee and those seeking a home. Jesus' family fled to Egypt after his birth because King Herod decided to enact the Massacre of the Innocents. To save our savior, they became refugees into a foreign land. They remained there until Herod died. I always laugh when I see Christians make comments regarding immigration and nationalism. It is like they don't even know the bible... Can you be a christian if you don't know the bible, Jesus' life, or the history of the Hebrew people?


I guess you can be a good American christian and not know the scriptures... But I'm not a good American christian. I am a terrible American christian. I am a Christ Follower. I am a scripture reader. I am a lover of all people.

I want people from all cultures, religions, and walks of life to sit with me. Lets hang out. Help me overcome my own biases and prejudices. Come and lets eat, talk and learn from each other...

That is the kind of person I am...

And whatever that makes me, I guess that is what I am.




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