Christianity in America

Disclaimer: I’m directing all of these questions/statements to myself as well as to those like me. I’m not writing to be another complainer, but I’m writing about this because I need real answers. I don’t know what it feels like to be a Christian anymore. I’m foggy as to what it looks like. Going through the motions and being immersed in Christian culture for so long has numbed me.

Most of Christianity in America is not what God intended it to be. We will need to ask ourselves these few questions as we continue in this discussion: What does it mean to be a Christian? What did the first followers of Christ look like? What did they sacrifice in order to follow Him? How did their lives change because of following Him?

The American version of Christianity is watered down. Forgive me for generalizing, not every Christian living in this huge land mass is wrong, but I think a lot of us including myself are serving a different Jesus. The Gospel is supposed to offend people. Is it not?

The type of Christianity a lot of us cling to is not real. It’s just popular. It’s full of these popular themes: “social justice”, toms shoes, supporting “green” companies, having a mac book and going to Starbucks to have “creative sessions”. Let’s be honest, all these things are popular and somewhat the norm here in America. You don’t see anyone being persecuted for reading their Bible in a Books a Million or in a coffee shop at Barnes and Noble. The disciples were persecuted and even crucified [upside down] for just hanging out with Jesus, even after He wasn’t around anymore.

Jesus said this, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25) So what does that mean?

Well I guess, to live abundantly we have to live poorly.

And to find life, we have to give up ours.

What does that look like in America?

Jesus also said that the world would hate us if we followed Him. I don’t see a whole lot of persecution going on in America…most of it is in foreign countries such as China, and the Middle East. So what are they doing right and what are we doing wrong? Why aren’t we being persecuted?

I’m sure were all aware that America has turned following Jesus into a business. And we all know what happened when Jesus observed this in action at the Temple… “So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” (John 2:15-16)

Martin Luther also gazed on this very thing with disgust. He stood up to it just as Jesus did. As time goes on, it just progressively gets worse and worse. The sad thing is that we have become numb to it. We need real Christians in America. I can’t remember the last time I saw one…

So what does it mean to be a Christian? I’m asking myself, how much different do I look from everyone else around me that’s not a Christian? Why doesn’t the world hate me? Why am I not being persecuted? What is it costing me? What sacrifices am I making? Why is Christianity popular? Because Jesus said it wouldn’t be.

The disciples had it right. Why don’t I. I want the real Jesus. Not the watered down, Americanized one.

Where do we go from here? Please comment.

Are we too attracted to the idea of [christianity]?

The past year I have really become attracted to christian culture; christian music.christian books. christian art. christian blogs. and ooing and ahhing over modern [christian] mega-churches. After all this, I feel as if I’m engulfed in a culture that loves the idea of Christianity and it’s culture, instead of focusing on the reason and purpose of why we are Christians.

So many times I have put [christian] musicians, organizations, groups, and methods of presenting the Gospel above God Himself. It’s too easy in America. We love the way we [do] church, but aren’t sure why we do it. We love the production aspect of ministry, but don’t want to go out and tell people on the street about a God that can change their life. We love the worship, but not the One we are worshipping. We love the gift, but forget the Giver.

I love music. I am a huge fan of Hillsong, Jesus Culture, Charlie Hall, David Crowder, the Passion Movement…etc. When I listen to these guys play music, I absolutely love it. After a while, I feel myself more attracted to the music and the musicians more than the reason for why that music is being played.

I love production. I love sound, lights, creative stage set-ups,  new ways of doing worship. Yet, as much as I enjoy all this, I find myself more attracted to these methods rather than the purpose of doing these methods. The Lord is calling a people who are attracted to Him and nothing else. He wants our focus to be on pointing people to Him, not the method of how we point people to him. I really feel like satan will do anything to get our focus off Jesus, even if it’s getting us to be engulfed in our methods.

So remember why your doing what your doing in your ministry. Never lose sight of the true reason we worship, or why we go to a building to [worship] together, or why we set up the stage creatively, or wh make cool web-sites, or show our people cool videos…it’s not what we have been given that is as important as WHO it is that gave it to us.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.[James 1;17]

Where Am I?

Well, here I am. Writing finally. I ‘m at quite an odd place in my life and I feel like writing about it. I find myself at a series of crossroad with which I have no idea which one to take. My life feels like it’s just going along with the current. I guess thats what happens when you graduate from college and start working at a jewelry store. (Granted, probably my own fault).

I’m in an environment that I know nothing about. My relationship with God seems like it’s hit a wall. Most people say that life after high scool is one of the biggest transitions someone will ever go through, but I say that life after COLLEGE is an even more trivial transition. I won’t sit here and complain about my life because there is no need to. I have a job, a roof over my head, and greasy food as I eat out every day. It just feels good to talk about these things. At the same time, I see most of my friends either getting married or getting the job they want while im on the other side of the Great Wall working in retail to make ends meet. I guess it’s just not my time yet. The bottom line is-it could always be worse. I better not say that for fear that it might get worse.

On the spiritual side of things, the thing I am most thankful for is a God that doesn’t leave his child. (Even when I feel like He has). I haven’t been doing my best of course, but it’s nice to know that when we aren’t faithful, He still is. Maybe the person reading this is going through the same thing…Maybe it’s a terrible situation. Maybe life sucks for you right now. Just know this, things do eventually get better. As cliche as that sounds,  life is just a continuous cycle of things sucking, then things getting better, in my opinion. Oh, and lastly: Just know that the God of this universe knows the number of hairs on our head. If He knows this, He must be following us all pretty closely.

In conclusion, there is nothing but an open horizon for me. I have nothing tying me down or holding me back. I could quit my job and fly to California and live there right now if I wanted to. It probably wouldn’t be wise, but I could still do it with minimal consequences. Ah, theres pros and cons to every situation in life. Bye for now.

Tyler, out.

Transitions…

So, I finally graduated college. It really comes when you leact expect it. I can remember thinking when I was a freshman…”Wow, four years is a really long time…” Now that I look back, it’s really not.

If I could give anyone any advice while their in college, it would be to really find yourself when your there. Cherish the friendships you’ve made and are making continually. Before you know it, it’ll be over. It’s really sad actually, trust me, I am experiencing it right now; friendships you’ve made over the last four years, people you’ve met, good times you had…it just seems like it’s all over and all that’s left is the memories. It sucks, but it’s apart of life and most people our age have to go through it.

So what does this mean for me? Well, I’ve been trying to figure that out myself. It does mean work full time which I do have (Thanks to God). It means not alot of late nights partying with my best friends. It means no more people to hang with at 2 in the morning when I have nothing else to do. It means I have have to grow up a little faster than I wanted to. It means alot of things, but most of all, it means transition; something that I’m not liking too much right now.

It also means that I have to be away from my other best friend for a while, my brother. That’s the part that I will really have trouble with. We have always been together and I knew this day would come…just not this soon. Whenever we wanted someone to hang out with in college, we knew we’d always have each other. Whenever we were dealing with something, we knew we’d have each other. Cleveland won’t be the same without all of my friends and brother. More and more I am realizing that I can’t do anything about it so I might as well just deal with it.

Despite all of these things, God truly is continually good to me, as undeserving as I am. He’s provided me with a full-time job at Kay Jewelers which I like alot. He has provided me with a place to live, as well as the few remaining friends I have in Cleveland…(hey a couple is better than none right?) Life may seem like it’s stinkin, but when I really look at it, God is good. So I say thank you God for all you’ve done in my life these past four years. Thank you Lord, for the friendships, for the conversations, for the love shared, for Shi*ty food at the cafeteria, and for how you’ve grown me and are continuing to.

Life moves on to another phase…now all I gotta do is find my dream job and a wife! 

This Makes Me Happy

Check this video out…

Common money wasters

Yahoo! News

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Looking for a relatively painless way to save money? Stop buying things you don’t need.

Next time you mindlessly reach for an item you’ve grown accustomed to buying out of habit, stop and think about whether you really need it. Consuming less (of anything) is not only great for your budget, it also benefits the planet.

Here are some things most of us don’t need to purchase:

• Air fresheners are not only completely unnecessary, but they can also release hazardous chemicals into your home. The Natural Resources Defense Council found phthalates (hormone-disrupting chemicals that are linked to birth defects) in 12 of the 14 common household brands of air fresheners it tested, including those that were labeled “all-natural.” Open your windows and let the fresh (and free) air in. If your home has a persistent odor, your best bet is to find the source and fix it rather than simply masking it.
• Bottled water isn’t proven to be any cleaner or safer than tap (in the United States). The New York Times estimates that it costs $1,400 a year for someone to drink eight glasses a day of bottled water, versus around 49 cents for an annual supply of tap. Drinking filtered water is a lot less expensive, just as healthy, and good for the environment.
• Dryer sheets can do more harm than good since they are loaded with a mixture of synthetic chemicals that can cling to your clothes and be absorbed through your skin. Here’s a cheaper and healthier alternative to make your clothes soft and static free: Add 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar or 1/4 cup baking soda to your laundry, suggests Patti Wood, at Grassroots Environmental Education. Want your clothes and bedding to have a scent? Wood says to spray a small piece of cloth with an essential oil and toss it in your dryer.
• DVDs and books are easily borrowed from the library. Worried about due dates or late fees? Check out the growing number of websites, such as Swaptree, that can help you trade books, movies, music, and video games. Some other money-saving and planet-friendly entertainment tips: Download music from the Internet instead of buying CDs. It’s not free, but you can save money by only purchasing the songs you like and cut back on landfill-clogging packaging. Eliminate your cable television service. See if your favorite shows are available for free on Hulu.
• Trash bags are a necessity for most of us, but that doesn’t mean you always have to pay for them. Consider using the shopping bags you get for free at the grocery store instead of buying new plastic garbage liners. You’re helping the planet by getting two uses out of a bag instead of just one. It’s like having a bag made from 50 percent recycled content, says Martin Wolf, Director of Product & Environmental Technology at Seventh Generation.
• Wrapping paper is something most of us can get along without since a little creativity can go a long way. Raid your recycling bin for old maps, sheet music, kids’ artwork, newspapers, magazines, paper bags, and more. Wrapping gifts in newspaper or magazines need not be dull, especially with a little forethought. Is the recipient a sports fan, gardener, or cook? Choose relevant images or wacky photos. Paper bags can be cut up and decorated (or not).

Jesus Saves; Americans Spend

Will the church rise up as a voice of reason in a culture addicted to spending?

Collin Hansen | posted 2/20/2009

 

(Leadership Journal)

The hits to the American economy just keep coming. Shortly before the crucial Christmas shopping season, the Commerce Department announced that the nation’s gross domestic product declined more severely during the third quarter than previously estimated. It was the deepest decline since the months following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The culprit was the biggest drop in consumer spending since 1980.

In an effort to resuscitate the failing economy, the federal government has racked up a record $455 billion deficit with the potential to balloon even bigger. The government wants to help banks loan money, so that businesses can grow and families can buy cars, homes, and other major items. The American economy crumbles without consumer spending, which composes two-thirds of economic activity. The significance of this fact hit home in the aftermath of September 11. Even before the dust had settled, the nation’s leaders urged patriotic Americans to get out and spend.

“I would hope the American people would, in effect, stick their thumb in the eye of the terrorists and say they’ve got great confidence in the country, great confidence in our economy, and not let what’s happened here in any way throw off their normal level of economic activity,” Vice President Dick Cheney said on September 16, 2001.

This attitude should trouble the government as well as the church. Distressing news at home or abroad can send the entire economy into a depressing, downward spiral. The government has embraced the role of propagandist/cheerleader to assure everyone that everything’s all right. Or they feed the beast with stimulus packages the government can’t afford to ensure the economy will become even more dependent on consumer spending.

The church’s concerns should be clear. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned his followers not to store up treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves steal. Instead, we should store up treasures in heaven. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19–21). Jesus didn’t mince words: “You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matt. 6:24).

There will be significant pressure on the church to once again miss this lesson amid a national crisis. At one point, Americans valued saving. Now the practice puts our economy in jeopardy. Wachovia economist Sam Bullard observed that declining home values and job losses have prompted Americans to pay down their debt rather than spend more money they don’t have. In fact, personal incomes actually rose 0.3 percent in October, and they rose 0.2 percent in September. The October rate was three times the increase economists anticipated. With personal incomes increasing more rapidly than inflation, real incomes jumped 1 percent. Americans saved this money and more. The savings rate was 2.4 percent in October, more than twice the rate of 1 percent in September. But apparently this isn’t good news.

Emerge Conference

This weekend we had the “Emerge” conference at the T.L Lowery Ministry Center. Friday was great with Bob Bevans, his band, and his lovely wife leading musical worship, then Damon Thompson with his usual intense messages. They are indeed things that need to be said though. It was a different but great Friday night nonetheless. Today me and The Extreme band led musical worship at nine a.m. with the fantastic Mark Casto giving the word. Mark did a great job this morning and I believe he wa obedient to what the Lord wanted him to say this morning.

Damon spoke again at eleven, talking about how the Lord isn’t coming back for a whore, but He IS coming back for a pure bride. He talked about how we need to be demonstrators, seekers, seers, and doers. Too many times, we’ve settled with church lingo, church activites, and the easter/Christmas Jesus. We shouldn’t make Jesus image conform to us, rather, we should conform to who and what Jesus is. At the end of the service today, Dr. Lowery did an “impartation” time in which he prayed for each and every person in that building. We watched a video on what impartation was, and the video gave the well known example of Elijah and Elisha.

I believe that this generation needs spiritual mothers and fathers to parent this generation spiritually. We are indeed a fatherless generation spiritually, and yes, it may not solve everything, but I believe there is something about having a spiritual mentor who has advice, wisdom, and annointing to pass down to his/her son or daughter. Overall, this week was incredibly tiring and stressful, but I learned so much and was stretched.

CRAZY WEEK!

To say the past few weeks have been ridiculous would be an understatement. I have been looking for job after job, homework after homework, music thing after music thing…This has definitely been a major shaping year for me though which is good. It’s been hard and sometimes painful, but when God cuts things away from our lives I guess it’s meant to be painful.

So I got a call yesterday from a senior pastor. He pastors college park COG and wanted to speak with me about a youth pastor job at the church. I honestly had given up hope for a full-time ministry job and had started applying for jobs here in Cleveland. So yes, it was very out of the blue. I was like, “What just happened?” I’m fine with it, it just goes to show that the Lord indeed does work in some mysterious ways. I’m still praying about the position. I’m really wary about leaving Cleveland. My friends are here, the ministries i’m involved in are here, the past four years of my life are here! I’m asking God to show me what to do, but it’s hard to know when you’ve figured out the answer to go or not. Well I’ll be helping with a conference this weekend, doing homework, and looking for jobs! More to come later.

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