I am writing on a more personal struggle today. I take my faith seriously. I have stopped calling myself a “Christian” because I don’t find the label so fitting anymore. I prefer the label, “Christ follower”. More specifically, I want to be a follower of Christ. I am certain, as well, that I do it rather poorly, too.
I have taken many paths on what might be called my “faith journey”. Rarely, have I found the comfortable path to be the right path. One well-known church leader said that “a good sermon is going to disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed.” Lately, I have felt neither.
I go to church to have my heart pierced. Yet, it has been quite a while since I have felt disturbed (or, for that matter, comforted). Instead, I feel like the church leaders are trying to entertain me. I don’t want to be entertained. Never once—in my bible—did Jesus say “A funny thing happened on the way to the synagogue, today….” I believe he had a sense of humor. I see the sarcasm in his messages from time to time. I see the subtle humor to his parables. I just don’t think he ever uttered a word solely for the purpose of getting a laugh. His humor would be used to drive home a point, as most good humor should.
I believe that when churches are focused on filling seats, they are off track. Church should “disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed”. Church, or rather those who are the church, should be about changing the world. I understand what churches are trying to go, but Christ did not come to build a church. He came to change the world.
Jesus didn’t do stand up. Instead, he calls us to stand up.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!