I came across a series of very interesting clips that are a parody of the PC Vs. Mac computer adds. I know when I first saw these adds on television I was particularly taken with them and marveled at the ingenuity of Mac advertising prowess. A church in the US took the idea and put there own twist on it...Christian Vs. Christ Follower. Over the next couple of weeks I'll be using them as a spring board for reflection.
This weeks succinctly presents one of the reasons I think more people do not participate in Sunday morning worship or organized religion in general. While the actions of the "Christian" may seem comical, they are very real. People in churches do behave this way. I've lost track of the number of times I've heard comments about the way people dress - especially new people or returning people. Many of us have heard them (some of us have made them), comments like: "can you believe she's wearing THAT," or "Jeans in Church...the nerve," or "can't they dress their kids any better," or "its a good thing his pants aren't any tighter!" All of these comments turn people off from Christianity. They also serve as a very sad commentary of the faith lives of those who make them.
What about the envelope? Prominently placed so that everyone can see that the "Christian" has money to give to the church. Its almost as if he wants you to take note of the thickness of it and guess the literal monetary amount of his discipleship. Can you really put a dollar figure on discipleship?
Then there's the WWJD bracelet on his wrist that serves as a tangible reminder to the "Christian" that he needs to keep asking himself What Would Jesus Do? How interesting, the weekly church goer, the one who professes his faith in the way he dresses and the amount of money he contributes, needs a physical reminder to live out his faith in his day to day actions - outside of worship.
On the other hand is the Christ Follower, a person whom I believe embodies far more of the Gospel than the "Christian" does. A person who isn't caught up on external appearances. A person who doesn't need to be reminded to ask himself the Jesus question - because its intrinsic to who he is. A person who's commitment isn't found in an envelope - because its found in real life lived-out discipleship.
So who would you rather be?
Oh, and by the way, Jesus did worship on a Saturday.
This weeks succinctly presents one of the reasons I think more people do not participate in Sunday morning worship or organized religion in general. While the actions of the "Christian" may seem comical, they are very real. People in churches do behave this way. I've lost track of the number of times I've heard comments about the way people dress - especially new people or returning people. Many of us have heard them (some of us have made them), comments like: "can you believe she's wearing THAT," or "Jeans in Church...the nerve," or "can't they dress their kids any better," or "its a good thing his pants aren't any tighter!" All of these comments turn people off from Christianity. They also serve as a very sad commentary of the faith lives of those who make them.
What about the envelope? Prominently placed so that everyone can see that the "Christian" has money to give to the church. Its almost as if he wants you to take note of the thickness of it and guess the literal monetary amount of his discipleship. Can you really put a dollar figure on discipleship?
Then there's the WWJD bracelet on his wrist that serves as a tangible reminder to the "Christian" that he needs to keep asking himself What Would Jesus Do? How interesting, the weekly church goer, the one who professes his faith in the way he dresses and the amount of money he contributes, needs a physical reminder to live out his faith in his day to day actions - outside of worship.
On the other hand is the Christ Follower, a person whom I believe embodies far more of the Gospel than the "Christian" does. A person who isn't caught up on external appearances. A person who doesn't need to be reminded to ask himself the Jesus question - because its intrinsic to who he is. A person who's commitment isn't found in an envelope - because its found in real life lived-out discipleship.
So who would you rather be?
Oh, and by the way, Jesus did worship on a Saturday.
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