Trying to follow

This will be a brief review. I read a novel, The Church Ladies, by Lisa Samson. I wanted to read a known fiction Christian author and Lisa was the only one I could think of (besides Peretti and the left behind books). Anyways this was the shortest one available at the library and so I picked it up.

It’s a pretty decent book, a quick and easy read. I definitely felt like it was geared toward a female audience because there was some references to things, haircuts and such, without explanation, that I had know idea what they were referring to. The story was well put together as well, and though I did find some of the references and scenes a bit cheesy, I got teary eyed at others.

I sort of wanted to know if my recent fiction project, Giving Up, came even close to being able to have a chance in the ‘Christian’ fiction genre. It might, I’m not sure, but I do know Lisa Samson is a veteran in the field and has written and been awarded for her great work. I just hope I learned a thing or two from reading some of her work.

(note: Originally written my sophmore year of college in January 2003)
Continued from part I

Initial thoughts of the Christian community in America would say that we are indeed bearing much fruit. Many gain lovely relationships with Christ through the small groups and Bible studies and the sermons of the American Church. And our giving and outreach to the community is certainly there. Let me change our way of thinking for a moment.
I submit that the standard to which we hold our Christianity is nothing but the relative standard of what our non-Christian American neighbors are doing. But our standard should be Christ and His word, nothing less. When the cop pulls you over for speeding it does not matter whether every other car on the road was speeding twice as much as you were, if you were speeding you were speeding. It does not matter how “good” you are compared to your atheist neighbor, God’s standard is not your righteousness in relation to other sinners. And this is were our interpretation of the Bible and it’s words is falling drastically short of what it should be. I present a Bible verse to keep in mind as we endeavor to change our worldview to one that is Christ centered from one that has been self focused. “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” And as Christians in America our suffering is to be honest, completely absent. The Scripture is full of verse about suffering about Christ revealing himself in our need and in our trials. The word is full of calls to serve and to give and to be selfless. There are a billion and a half ways we can and should and need to be doing those things.

(Note: This series was written five years ago when I was a Sophomore in college, January 2003. It does not necessarily represent where I am at today, but that’s not to say it’s maybe more where I would like to be.)

Imagine for a moment that you discovered the text of scripture apart from the society in which you live. To imagine this is impossible almost because your culture and society has shaped the way you see scripture and interpret it and react to it. My premise is this Christianity in America is not Christianity. Those are strong words and I would hesitate to hold fully to it amongst a group of biblical scholars who would argue the theological and doctrinal nuances of the scripture and what “America”* believes. I am not saying that Christians in America are not “saved” in that their “belief” and faith in Christ our genuine and true. My main point is that Christians in America live lives that are so sparse of the fruit of the Spirit that we should be ashamed of ourselves.

*I will use the term “America” for the course of this series, but with the understanding that I am speaking specifically about the USA, or rather, what is commonly referred to in this country as “America.” Though, you should be aware, America is much more than this country, it includes two continents and a great many people who do not align themselves with the values of this country.

Book of Hope (ht. Nathan)

Aim Lower (what’s your take on this strategy?) (ht. Chris)

No Handlebars (music vid) (ht. Josh, JR)

And this is another pretty sweet Music Vid, Go To Hell, David Ford (ht. JR)

Digging into the archives again. I wrote this over five years ago when I was at Wheaton College. It’s a parable…

Once there was a great king who had three servants. The King had big plans for the servants and so he gifted them in different ways to accomplish their different task. To the first he gave a small home and food and immediately sent him about doing the daily chores that were essential to the functioning of the house. The second he also feed and clothed, but he sent this servant away to learn the skills for the trade he had in mind for him. He also had plans for the third servant to participate in the works he had planned. For the third servant he abundantly feed and clothed him; He gave the servant a very comfortable living quarters so that little could distract him from his studies and work. In addition he gave the third servant an abundance of resources with which to carryout his task. After a few years the King returned to check on his servants. The first reported, “I have diligently done those task which you gave me to do since you left, and I thank you for the blessing of food and clothing.” The king replied, “Well done. I have many more joyful works for which you can be a part.” The second servant reported, “I have learned the skills you sent me to learn and am ready for the task that you have prepared for me.” The king replied, “You have been faithful in your preparation, go now and participate in the joyous works I have in store for you.” Finally, the third servant reported, “I am proud to tell you that I have done well in the studies you have put me to. I far exceed in skill and intelligence your second servant, and in comparison to my peers in this school I am quite up to par. I do have a request though, I know the food you provide me is the best there is, but I’m tired of those slaves who provide the food telling me when I can eat, don’t they know who I am?” The king replied, “You wicked and foolish servant! Do you think you are deserving of anything you have been given?! You some how think that the resources and education and provisions you have been given are for your own worldly pleasure?! I have a plan for you to participate in my work in a way that is different, but no more superior to your fellow servants. But you have disgraced me and your fellow servants by using your gifts to satisfy your own desires. You foolish servant! Do you think I do not have your best interest in mind?! I have given you those resources so that you could share in the amazing joy of giving to others. But more importantly you have missed completely the point of your studies. I have not blessed you with your intelligence and put you in this place for you to measure up to the worldly standards of GPA. You lazy glutton! You are throwing away my gifts to you!! You have been blessed with knowledge so that you can bless others. There is a huge part of my body of believers that does not have a through knowledge of scripture. There is a world full of poor to which I plan on my hands reaching through your gifts. There is economic problems, I have given you the knowledge to fix it. There is political problems, I have given you the knowledge and ability to solve them. There are health problems, I have given you the resources and know how to heal them. How dare you take what I have given you and use it for yourself!”