Sean R. Reid

This was over at XXXChurch about the reactions of people, Christians and non, when see see the “Porn Mobile.” Sadly it seems they run into more “Christian” resistance than they do secular:

Today I found the following passages** and thought they were rather appropriate for the scene; [youversion]2 Corinthians 3:1-15[/youversion] discusses the concept of legalism and cautions against legislating spirituality and morality; [youversion]Romans 7:5-7[/youversion] talks about how such legislation usually results in rebellion more often than purity.  Short version: if you want to make sure someone does something you don’t want them to do, make it illegal.

My version?  I’ve run into a LOT of  “Christians” in my life that sound like the older gentleman in the parking lot.  To be perfectly honest, it made being an atheist the easiest decision in the world.  Nothing supported my stilted worldview than a legalistic, close-minded, loud-talking religious person practicing Quotation Christianity (aka “Christianity”).  Christ spent time with lepers, whores and tax collectors.  He was surrounded by sinners CONSTANTLY.  A common theme I’ve discovered as I’ve begun reading various Bible passages is that God often chooses the LEAST.LIKELY.CANDIDATES.  He takes those from the very bottom and after setting their eyes upon Him they rise to the top.  Abraham to David to Paul, practically all of Judges.  Seriously, from bottom to the top. Not because they followed the laws but because they fixed their gaze on the Lord and walked in the light through acceptance of God’s grace.

Since converting I can rightly be called a Jesus Freak.  I’m all in.  Done. Dedicated 150%.   I’m sure the gentleman in that video had the best of intentions.  However, his actions are not embracing the disenfranchised and bringing others into the love of Christ.  I pray daily that I don’t become a Quotation Christian.  I also pray for those Quotation Christians that I let lead me away from faith.

To truly have the Spirit inside of you then you must be willing to embrace those that will spit in your face, challenge your beliefs and continue to love them. If you can’t do that then you are trapped in your own quotation marks.  Your laws will make you a prisoner.

*note: I’ve begun using The Message Translation of the Bible.  I really like this translation particularly for my blog posts. The strucuture lends itself to my rambling style more effectively without losing the message.

**edit: I just want to clarify that the passages were part of a recent batch of devotionals. I  don’t want to give any misrepresentation with regards to my Biblical scholarship.  These are being put in front of me more than I am able to just pluck them out.

I subscribe to a LOT of Daily Devotionals.  I like to get email that isn’t spam or work-related.  Also, as a new Christian I’m trying to devour as much as I can and find inspiration from as many Biblical based sources as possible.  So when I say a lot I mean a LOT.  Today the following questions where part of one of the devotionals:

From Proverbs 31 Ministries:

I know the site is a ministry for women but that doesn’t mean the devotionals lack any relevance for men.

“-What if you live in authenticity and discover new and lasting relationships (even with those in your own home)?
-What if you face your fears and overcome them?
-What if you unmask your emotions and actually deal with them?
-What if you tell your secrets and they no longer suffocate you in the hidden places of your heart?”

I’m the kind of guy who is either asking “what if” and worrying instead of doing or I’m just jumping in guns blazin’ with no real idea of what I’m getting into.  Regardless I myself saying later, “I shoulda/coulda/woulda.”  In both cases I’m usually acting out of fear.  It’s either wanting to run to something new, run from something old or being paralyzed to enact any change.  I can’t say I ever even CONSIDERED that option of success.

I think the “what would you do if you knew you wouldn’t fail” question has become rather cliche.  But I think those four questions are pragmatic, they are game changers.  What would happen if I faced my fears and overcame them? What would happen if I stopped being focused on failure and started expecting success?  What if I dedicated my life to being so focused on God and what he wants for me (credit: Andy Stanley) that I didn’t have a chance to be afraid??  What if asking “what if” wasn’t from a place of worry but a place of strength.

What if?

Part 1:

“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them — every day begin the task anew.”

-Saint Francis de Sales

I was tempted to sound very official and start off with some sort of clinical definition of anger.  But really, I think that’s redundant.  We’re all aware of what it means to be angry.  We’ve all been angry.  Who hasn’t damned something or someone.  Who hasn’t cut off/been cut off in traffic? Who hasn’t felt wronged in some regard and thrown a temper-tantrum.  We’ve all been there and, unfortunately, kicking and screaming doesn’t stop when you get out diapers (or when you return to wearing them).

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