Christian-X?
Christian-- the new adjective?
How many times have you heard Christian used as a descriptive?
I’ve heard it used to describe various nouns: Christian music, Christian yoga, Christian books, Christian business, the list is endless. Heck, you can even buy a Christian President nowadays. I’m not completely sure what the advantages are to purchasing something Christian. It seems a little like the new and improved Tide-- you know it’s supposed to be better, you’re just not sure how.
I may even take up smoking if there were a good Christian cigarette. “Hey sweetheart, pick me up a pack of Heaven’s Air while you’re out.” No, I know that Philip Morris is located in the Bible belt, so they’d be the true Christian cigarette. I’ve actually seen some good Christians protesting gay folks and others who smoke those Christian cigarettes that are manufactured three miles from where they were protesting.
How ‘bout a good Christian beer? I’m not talking O’Dules. I’m talking something Jesus would brew and be proud of-- something that would make even uptight Aunt Betsey want to party like a Christian rock star. How ‘bout Paul’s Pale Ale or Moses’ Malt Liquor, available only in 40 ounces, of course. Nothing like a big Moses 4-0 and a pack of Heavenly Air or Desert Wind at the bible study (the Christian poker game-- wink, wink.)
Then there’s the wonderful descriptive inside the descriptive Christian circle to describe the descriptive which apparently became a noun. There’s Conservative Christian, Liberal Christian and more recently we have Progressive Christian.
I’m confused.
I bet the rest of the world is confused.
I imagine Jesus is a bit stumped.
For it seems that Jesus was more about verbs than he was adjectives.
He seemed more concern with action than with descriptions.
While the religious community was focused on appearances and labels, Jesus was concerned with how we treated and served folks who had been labelled by the religious community. As a matter of fact when his boys were concerned that some other folks were using his name in some of the work they were doing he told them to stop complaining. “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us." You mean there actually may be people who follow Jesus without using the Christian logo?
What makes one a disciple, a follower of Jesus? I certainly think that it is easier to be a good Christian; to purchase Christian products; vote for Christian Presidents; and to be an overall good Christian than it is to follow Jesus. And for some reason, that seems like the only things that matters to Jesus. "Follow me."
20 Comments:
I like your point (a LOT) but it did make me giggle. Especially the part about Desert Wind. Cigarettes did not come to mind...holy flatulence did. I'm such a school boy, sometimes. :D
And speaking of a beer Jesus would approve of, the Pete and I came up with a good name for a beer last night: Strange Jesus. It happened completely by accident, as I said, "I wish we had some good, strange cheeses in the house to snack on..." and the Pete said, "What?! Strange Jesus!?" and thus, our idea for beer was born. It would be dark and chewy, with a grainy-malty flavor. Good with fishes and loaves, salty meat, and roast lamb ;)
preach it rev. rick..
right up my alley, as usual.
yep, it's way easier to be a "good Christian" than to follow Jesus.
Been down that road and didn't get much opposition from anyone. People in my "Christian" life thought I was "holy" and everyone else accepted me as a "nice person". Then I realized that I was not following Jesus, I was playing church.
Now I've got people in both camps all riled up cause I support things that "good Christians" don't but I still profess my faith in Christ. I have GAY FRIENDS, tattoos, I occasionally use the F word, I support AIDS research but don't support war, I even listen to "bad music" - the list goes on and on.
(I guess Jesus wouldn't use the F word would he?)
Great comments. Thanks.
Layla, depends on which Jesus you're talking about. :)
"The word Christian first appears in the Bible as a noun. The problem with turning a noun into an adjective and then tacking it onto words is that it can create categories that limit the truth."
--velvet elvis
rob bell
xtian beer?
no doubt about it...
He-Brews...
LEE! That is too funny!
Did Jesus ever want to others to call themselves Christians? Why would he, why would he not? His words say that the 'father is willing to give us every good thing'- well then how about the freedom to not be a Christian in the sense that the label itself defines and confines the Father?
I seriously think Jesus would not want his name linked with 90% of what the Christian church deems policy.
Why aren't we followers of Jesus called "jesustians"? Instead, we call ourselves 'christians' and fall at the feet of the label and missunderstand that "Christ" wasn't Jesus' last name.
I seriously think Jesus is not linked with 90% of what the Christian church deems policy.
He-Brews. That is funny.
You would call a twelve pack "tribes" I guess and name each.....Hey pass me that bottle of Ephraim, Reuben is empty.
Oh, man! Rick, this one went straight up to the "quotes" part of my home page! You should let your wit show more often!
I think humor helps people to hear when trying ot get those ough points across. It's like the fine needle that penetrates the skin, whereas the big one hurts too much. But you still administer the medicine!
Steve, Yowza! He-Brews! I want some!
interesting post. i'm a Christian, but i'm sure that you might agree that at times, we're included in a group whose actions are very UnChristian. i'm thinking now of extremists who murder abortion doctors in the name of Jesus, etc.
thanks for the read. i'm sure Jesus Himself doesn't approve of all the things done in His name... i just try to live according to the Word and not worry too much about all the other Chirstians out there.
b.s.
well said.
when you make 'christian' into an adjective you are subscribing to this create ingroup/outgroup labeling that stinks of superiority.
it's a lot easier to just accept the label 'christian' and copy the behavior that you believe constitues that label. it's a lot harder to discover the meaning of following christ, have that meaning shattered, but then re-discover it, then lose it and have to re-form your notion of discipleship, then have broken down again, and so on and so on. faith is not stagnant. so why pretend that we have all the answers?
p.s. i love the beer ideas.
This has to be one of the funniest blogs i've read in a while. And the comments...there is a mass exodus from sanity and reverence. Pass me another he-brews, mate, and let's party on.
B~
confused here :( I posted a comment a few days ago and it didn't register.
I was listening to Louie giglio on cassette the other day - he said there is no such thng as a good or a bad person, you are either dead or alive, and if you are alive it's because God is re-born in you. It was an interesting way of looking at it and I for one am tired of the finger pointing. No wonder Jesus encouraged folk to stop looking at or for splinters in others' eyes. We are in bad shape becasue we aren't following Jesus, not really, not will all our heart. We've made it all me me me oriented, and follow Him on our terms only. Sigh
I want something more
and yet feel so stuck in what we nowadays call church
there has to be more than this.
Great post.
I love what you say, but I’m also a little sad about the state of affairs. Where do we go when the local church is just a social club, coining it on Christiaan merchandise?
I think I'll use another label myself. Funny that you wrote this. I had posted something along the same lines on my blog. I just get so tired of people trying to live according to a description instead of living according to the prescription that Jesus gave us to live by. Jesus said, "Follow me." So why can't "followers" be the name? Or how 'bout we just forget the labels and descriptions altogether? Eventually some of us in our imperfections will ruin that label too, just as we have with the term "Christian."
Oh wait, I'm having a Homer moment.....mmm.....beeeeeeeeeerrrrrrr....
My favorite is "Testa Mints" -- Christian breath mints with a Bible verse on the wrapper.
Christian beer has been around for centuries. Ever hear of Trappist Ale? (It's really quite good!)
It is sad, unfortunatly they have taken a great spirituality and turned it into a marketing strategy.
Just like the many MEGA-Churches popping up all over.
Sad.
Good stuff... My friend and I were discussing that (we go to a VERY conservative, though very good, bible college) and some guy criticized us b/c we don't care fo xian music, we don't support the xian party, and we don't think that america is an xian nation. Crazy world.
Jesustians internet site in suppport of human rights, social justice, anf environmental protection of potential interest.
http://www.jesustians.com
www.christianpoker.com
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