Yahweh Follower.
Why is it that so many folks like Jesus but so few people actually like those who call themselves Christian? Even those folks who would fall under the classification of Christian try to avoid the word.
I must admit I sometimes find myself explaining what I am not to folks rather than just being who I am. Did Jesus ever do that? I hear him now, "Basically Saul, I am Jewish, but I am not like those other Jews you know. I am a follower of Yahweh or as some of us say, Yahweh-follower."
He partied with the poor and healed the hurt and when folks encountered him they took a step closer to Love. As a follower of Yahweh, maybe that is how people will recognize God in me, they will feel loved by the God in me. That way I don't have to get caught up in what I say I believe. Besides, I like to drink and dance at weddings too.
Christ-follower. What is a Christ follower? I am stumped. What does that mean?
Jesus-follower. What is that? I don’t want to offend anyone but some of the folks I know who refer to themselves as "Jesus Followers" seem like the same folks who used to call themselves Christian.
Why is it that so many "Christ-followers" want to disassociate from "followers of Jesus"?
Somewhere I think we missed the point.
I heard someone say the other day that if he was Jesus he may be tempted to change his name.
Watch out though for name changes, some folks have tried this… (wink, wink.)
Just because we remove our denominational name from our sign on the front lawn doesn’t mean that we are different. It is like a big sign at a restaurant that says, UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT, it doesn’t mean that the food doesn’t still suck or that the same cook is in the kitchen.
Just because I can recite the Pledge of Allegiance or read the US Constitution doesn’t make me an American citizen any more than saying the Lord’s Prayer and reading the Bible makes me a follower of Jesus. I suspect he was attempting to get religious folks not to allow the doctrine to get in their way of life and loving God, themselves, and others.
Does your belief about God get in your way of loving God, yourself or others?
If so, do what Jesus did, become a follower of Yahweh.
7 Comments:
Hmmm...yes and no. My thoughts on the restaurant simile are here.
Still, you've again hit on something near and dear to my heart. How am I ever supposed to blog anything original if you keep beating me to the punch?
Another home run, brother.
To adopt a 12-step truism, I can spend 1,000 Sundays in a McDonald's, but it won't make me into a hamburger. If I wanna be a hamburger, it's likely I'm gonna need to get on the grill.
In the same way, I can spend 40 years in the front row of my church. (Of course, in the Lutheran church, if I were in the front row, I'd be there alone...)
But if I walk out the door and don't at least strive and struggle to live what Jesus tells me to live, then I'm a "churchian," an "attendee" - not one who lives as any one of the Trinity (Creator, Redeemer, or Comforter) would have us live. If I'm not taking that action, it doesn't matter what I think I am.
Christian. Disciple. Christ-follower. Jesus-follower. Yahweh follower. You can split the labels any way you want. But I know that if I'm not doin' what Jesus told his followers to do, I'm just playin'.
It's pretty clear: I'm supposed to love my God, and love my neighbors. (Yes, even the ones who annoy the hell out of me. Yes, even Karl Rove.) If I'm not doing that, then it doesn't matter what degree I have, how many Bible verses I've memorized, how much money I give to the church or how many committees I'm on.
The trouble I see with so much of "the church" (emergent and otherwise) is that we (institutionally) want to be judged on our intentions, rather than on our actions. So many "church folk" wave the Bible around as "the rule and guide of life" for everyone else - but are particularly careless about how those same words apply to them.
As a dear friend often says to me, "Action talks, and bullshit walks." Or as the late Chuck Chamberlain would say, "You show people you love them by what you do for them."
I don't care whether Bob Geldorf made a bazillion dollars this last weekend. If the spotlight shines on the desperate plight of Africa - and so much of the "least of these" in the world - and if change comes from his efforts, then I'd suggest that his actions are in the love-your-neighbor column, regardless of his motives.
And if my actions don't show who I'm following, it doesn't matter a jot or a tittle who I say I'm following.
(oh, and Allison...if you wait to speak until you've beat Rick to the punch, you'll remain silent a long, long time. I've learned that I'll likely never be able to write like Rick does - but that doesn't mean my writing doesn't have value. I've had to learn to just step up and swing for the fences. As the young'uns would say, "You GO, girl.")
Another amazing post and amazing comments from your readers! I like what Steve said about the church and basicall, if I can be so simple, I think he was saying Actions Speak Louder Than Words, when it comes to following Christ sometimes less words are better. If I say I love my neighbor then ignore them it would be better off for me never to say I love them in the first place.
Great post my friend! It reminded me of the Batman Begins movie that I saw last night. "It's what you do that defines you." You can change the costume all you want, but until you allow your actions to define who you are you're just playing dress up!
Lead on...Yahweh Follower!
when did we become more interested in following rules than in following Jesus?
thanks again, Rick.
great stuff.. this post just says it all.
drinking and dancing with you at the wedding, my friend.
My girlfriend came up with a great slogan for a T-shirt (which you can buy at Cafe Press) just for fun.
It says "Jesus Called...He wants His Name Back"
That about sums it.
http://www.cafepress.com/bestbloggage.23465871
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