What is the difference between Jesus-minded and being Christianly-minded?
Theoretically, it should be the same thing. But as I realize more and more, there are a lot of confusion about Christians. But only a handful of thoughts about Jesus. You either think He's God...or He's crazy. Even historians thinks He existed. I've been encouraged to think more about Christ-ly things and less about Christianly things.
It is very hard to tell the difference between the church (man's implementation) and the Church (how it should be). But what people see is the church. They're not reading our book to tell us why we're screwing up. WE have to read our book and tell us why we're screwing up.
Matthew 7
I recently heard a sermon on Matthew 7. It wasn't anything new. I know very well there is a chance that I will stand before Him and be told "be gone". The passage into Heaven is not a right. It is a privledge. A privledge that is decided by Christ alone. You don't argue with Christ about passage into a sinless realm unless, of course, you are also sinless. But I'm not, so at Christ's mercy I must stand. The sermon surprised me not because the pastor told the audience that Matt 7 is a hard passage...but because he said many people feel that Christianity is about praying the prayer once, and go on with their lives as if nothing has happened.
Now...an encounter with the Spirit isn't something I can say that has happened too much with me. Certainly nothing dramatic, like running into a logging truck. But wouldn't common sense itself tell you that a life-changing event like conversion into another faith would have to change more than...nothing? That was upsetting to hear.
Reading the Bible
It's one of those things where "oh, I know I should do more" but don't. I've been there. I'm still there. I'm a student. Life is busy. We're always on a rush. But if we call ourselves scientists, and take pride in our understanding of organic chemistry, human physiology and quantum physics...if we call ourselves mathematicians (even applied ones!) and take pride in our ability to integrate over fields and complex planes...if we call ourselves [insert 'anime-watcher', 'chef', 'board-game player'] and am proud of our abilities and knowledge...why is it that we care so little about the Word?
I once attempted to read through the Bible cover-to-cover. I got through about 2/5 of the OT. I can assure you that the OT isn't just a collection of dusty old laws. It is an epic about how God pushes people to certain places, to do certain things. It is about God moving in lives of ordinary people (trust me, Moses was super-ordinary), to do big things. Yes, it is sometimes hard to relate directly, due to cultural differences...but we can be encouraged by their testimonies too. I've started again. Somewhere in Lev. Don't steal sheep, guys. You'll have to pay back an extra sheep.
Where is God in my life
I often ask that. When I'm scurrying around from class to class, meeting deadlines after deadlines. Trying to get all the logistics to work together and talk to all the people I need to talk to...it's often easy to lose track of ourselves. This is what you can do:
1) Take some breaks. Strangely, I now find grocery shopping and dish washing relaxing. Maybe it's cuz it's away from my eternally-on LCD monitor, and my "Gmail (1)" window.
2) I was once challenged with..."instead of asking that, why don't you ask, 'where am I in God's plans'"? Shift the focus off of us, and onto God. I'll pull from a Relient K song, and say that changing perspectives can change much.
