YGT: Jesus to His Followers - Be Cool!

I Peter 2:9 - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar* people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

It can be a turn-off to meet Christians who believe they have to be completely churchy to be saved.  In my time, I'm learning that God is calling us to be pe-cool-iar. We should converse with sinners and saints, yet we should never fit neatly in either group. We can't be satisfied in our humanity - we're redeemed, but we can't take pride in our divinity - we sin.  That said, it's ok to know popular sayings and hold conversations outside of the church.  Christians can be cool!  Look at Jesus.  He was accepted in many places, but didn't fit in either...

Many non-believers (non-Jews) in the world considered Jesus to be awkward:

• He taught in the synagogue as a child
• He spoke of God as His Father
• He fasted and prayed often

Yet, Jesus was killed because the religious also thought he was weird:

• He criticized the leadership of the synagogue (calling them vipers)
• He became a wine supplier at a wedding
• He spent time with known sinners

Our Savior and example was neither overly religious nor worldly.  He was an amazing combination of the two (a concoction, if you will).  Jesus took time to be with people outside of the religious establishment.  He knew how to hang out and have a good time.  In my imagination, I can't see him being around people and not sharing in their stories and lives.  I just don't think Jesus was stuck up.  

Yet, He was the Son of God.  And He knew it.  If anyone could afford to be stuck up, it was Him.  Instead, He chose to share His message and His life.  He denounced false piety and yet called sinners into sanctification.  He was never unspiritual.

What kind of person should the Christian be?  We should be cool.  By cool I mean personable, approachable, and not stuffy. We should live in the space between heaven and earth (check out N.T. Wright's Simply Christian for great insights on this).  We are a people who should be able to speak to sinners and angels, always remembering we are the former and will one day be the latter.

Lord, please make these words plain.  As we seek balance in our lives, please give us the strength to be peculiar.  Help us to be comfortable challenging the status quo in religious and secular arenas.  Please give us hearts that can relate to the sinner and that strive for holiness.  As Your possession, we long to be in Your presence.  Until that day, please keep us in check.  In the name of Christ, we pray, Amen.  

Rebelling,

j.a.g.

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*The Greek term for peculiar from this verse, periousios, means to be selected as God's own possession.  That means we're not called to be belong to the religious or the worldly, but to God.  Almost.... like.... Jesus...


*Being cool doesn't mean being careless.  Jesus was careful with His witness, as was Paul and the other disciples.  All things are lawful (possible, doable), but not all things are expedient (upbuilding, edifying).  We shouldn't do EVERYthing everyone else does, then we aren't peculiar at all, just conforming.  Sorry for the soapbox, just wanted to clarify - coolness is not code for sin, it means to be comfortable in a variety of settings (and a bit abnormal  in each).

YGT: Christianity > USA

U.S. citizens treat Christianity as if it is synonymous with being American.  If we're not careful, we can collapse one into the other.  BEWARE.  Christianity is not:

• Capitalism. It does not support getting rich at the expense of others.  In fact, Jesus promotes giving wealth to the poor. (Luke 18:22) Below is an analogous map of the world's wealth (the larger the country, the more of the world's wealth they possess).  It's clear that we have a lot to give and that there are lots in the world who need what we have.  

• Exclusive.  Most Christians in the world don't look like US citizens.  Not only are they non-white, they are largely non-American!  Below is an analogous map of the Christian population in the world (the size corresponds to the amount of Christians there).  As we can see, we have no right to pretend that we have a monopoly on Christianity.  Our faith is continuing to diversify as it travels south of the equator and we should be doing our best to diversify ourselves.  Scripture shows us that the first church was diverse (Acts 2) and that God included many nations in His plans for salvation (Matthew 28:19).

• A Birthright - The Bible tells us that salvation is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Just being born in this country does not give us a right to Jesus Christ.  Although it's likely we have knowledge of Christ because of where we live, that doesn't guarantee our salvation.  

Make no mistake, it is a blessing to live in the USA.  We are priveleged far beyond most others in this world.  But that doesn't remove our ability and responsibility to critique the systems we live under.  To whom much is given, much is required.  

What does it mean that God has called us to live in this time in this country?  That God has called us to be laborers in a vineyard with bad crops?  We need to interrogate that.  Our country needs wholesale revival.   Not in Congress halls, but in Christian hearts.  As much as we love our country, we must love the kingdom more.




Lord, please give us the wisdom to see our nation as you see it.  Help us look past the trappings of plenty and see the vices that betray Your Spirit.  When we are called to choose sides, as we often are, please give us the courage to stand for You in the face of social pressure to stand for ourselves.  You will never deport us.  You will never depart from us.  You are our Lord and master.  In Christ's name, Amen.




Repenting,
j.a.g.




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Ephesians 2:8-9
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 

9 not by works, so that no one can boast.