Well, we met Sunday night to watch Ordinary Radicals, a movie following the lives of Christians exploring Jesus. The movie documents Shaine Claiborne and his friends as they travel across the US explaining their views and interpretations of the Gospels and Christ's mission on this planet. Their travels explain for Jesus for President might be an excellent campaign!
I would highly recommend this movie to anyone wanting a challenge. It is the kind of Christianity that gets my blood pumping and makes me excited to live! The movie shows a refreshing view of Christianity that I am longing for.
I feel like I am learning every day what it means to me to be a Christ follower. There is not one specific way to follow Christ. The beauty of Jesus is that He is full of grace, mercy, justice, and love. What places in our world do those four words converge? A graceful dancer? Is she full or mercy or justice? The justice system? Is it full of love and grace?
How these characteristics of God play out in my life shapes for me what Christianityis/should be about.
I have seen many examples of how my America, Westernized, Capitalistic, Materialistic, Individualistic culture has shaped and even altered my view of Christ. For example, people in my childhood Christian circles might ask, "Do you HAVE Jesus in your heart?" Do we HAVE him? As if he is a possession that we can own? Is that Biblical language or is that materialism seeping into my view of God?
Every day, I am trying to simplify my faith into a Biblical faith, void of my culture's warping.
I think culture is inevitable to anyone's interpretation of a religious text; but, I think it is wise to see how culture plays into our views and opinions.
Culture even plays a part into our views, opinions, and judgements of other people. And, in Christianity, is there an "other." What is Jesus' view of the "other?" I try to be open and love because it is how Jesus treats me.
Lyrics I'm Humming:
Derek Webb's The Ringing Bell
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