Forerunners of the Future
Do people want to see reality in you?
I have been thinking about what it means to be an authentic Christian. I struggle almost everyday with the idea, because I am not really sure where the line is between being a minister and being a Christian. I guess most people I know combine the two into some sort of hero Christian for everyone to look at and think "man I could never be like that, but good for him". Or live so far from the real world that they no longer effect the world around them. I guess I have never been a part of a church where you were really free to be a minister and authentic with the people you were serving and training to be a part of the kingdom. And if you were, it always felt like an under the table deal that no one could ever talk about because all the sudden you were not stage material.
In these times I like to think back on those that came before me and in some sort of way struggled with the same feelings. I cant help but think about St Francis that took a vow of poverty to serve the people he loved. I think of the writer of Ecclessiastes that spells out how everything is just smoke or vapor in the wind and realized that God is the only thing of value. These and others gave up conventional ministry for what I can only catergorize as true ministry.
What are all of these things that consume my time and really have no impact for the kingdom of God. Is it possible that I just dont understand God, perhaps.
Somehow at this point of the journey I am on with God I value friendship much more than I ever have before. I value family more than my selfish self. I value God, and feel him near, but feel like a fake when I cant express myself to the people I serve at church.
How do you guys live authentic Christian lives before God and man?
In these times I like to think back on those that came before me and in some sort of way struggled with the same feelings. I cant help but think about St Francis that took a vow of poverty to serve the people he loved. I think of the writer of Ecclessiastes that spells out how everything is just smoke or vapor in the wind and realized that God is the only thing of value. These and others gave up conventional ministry for what I can only catergorize as true ministry.
What are all of these things that consume my time and really have no impact for the kingdom of God. Is it possible that I just dont understand God, perhaps.
Somehow at this point of the journey I am on with God I value friendship much more than I ever have before. I value family more than my selfish self. I value God, and feel him near, but feel like a fake when I cant express myself to the people I serve at church.
How do you guys live authentic Christian lives before God and man?
posted by Daniel at 8:15 PM
2 Comments:
Scarlet Patience,
I will attempt to make clear my earlier statements, but I fear that our experiences and understanding of God are quite different. Nonetheless, we are, I think, both serving Christ and trying to understand him better.
When I spoke of the difference in being a Christian and being a minister I was not suggesting that it is not possible to be both at the same time or that the two have to be in conflict with each other. Nor do I think that I am in a personal quandary being the two together. I simply have experienced in the past the nature of people to want their “leaders” or “pastors” to be on a different level than they themselves function in day to day life. After all, if you are not out front leading then you can’t expect people to listen, much less follow, right. That automatically elevates the minister to a place that the follower probably will never attain and forces the minister to think in a way that sees people as helpless and sees themselves as being the hero. Hero’s don’t mingle with common folk. Perhaps this is slightly inflated, but hopefully you understand.
I would agree with you that having compassion on someone is not restricted to those on Gods side of the fence. The purest of ministry is meeting a need when it arises, sharing God’s love and compassion to all that I come in contact with. I also believe that many times those without this understanding (non-Christ followers) out “minister” many followers of Christ.
Rather than having compassion and empathy on someone when we recognize God within ourselves, as you say, I believe that as we recognize our true place before our righteous and loving Father, as sinners with no hope but saved by His compassion and sympathy, we then able to transcend our pettiness and accept both the trials and fortunes of this life. The essence of God does reside in all things created, just as my essence resides in the art I created hanging on my wall, but not in the manner that you suggest. We did not simply stumble upon Gods essence and realize that it will save us.
As for reality, there is no doubt that people avoid the sorrows of life to reflect only on things of pleasure. This alternate reality is the approach that many come to God with and precisely the agent that causes dissention between authentic Christianity and ministry. If you call people to the reality of themselves there is pain, the kind of pain that most people don’t want to face. I have the same pain when I face my reality. Since I can objectively look at my situation I see both realities, the one I create to cope with the one I cant control.
For me it all boils down to this. I need to be real and authentic about the journey I am in with God. God doesn’t fear that about me. Why is it so scary for those at my church to not only listen, but understand, care, pray for and minister to me. When I read about the New Testament church, scripture shows that THEY MINISTERED TO EACH OTHER. I desire the free flow of ministry and authenticity of early Christ followers. In this atmosphere I believe we will see the types of miracles that you refer to in scripture.
It appears to me by your last thought that simply believing in a something good and bigger than yourself will save you. I would not call you a Christian at all, if you believe that there is no difference in those of the Christian, Judaic, Islamic or any other faith. I would say that you are living in a reality that is comfortable for you. One that is truly authentic with yourself but not with God.
Daniel,
I think your response here is very good. I enjoyed the conversation immensely...
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