Sometimes my thoughts are well-formed, sometimes they are scattered, but throughout the last couple of weeks I have found myself in multiple conversations about the nature and practice of Christianity as a whole.
Here are a few of the few thoughts about Christianity that have been rattling around in my mind this week.
1) Christ is sinless, but “Christianity” is not. Don’t mistake Christian Culture for God, they aren’t the same thing. Churches, pastors, theologians, and other believers will inevitably fail you, but Christ never will.
2) It’s okay for your beliefs to change. You’ll never have Christianity fully figured out. You won’t have an answer for everything. Theology is a journey, a Pilgrim’s Progress. Life, relationships, and experiences form, shape, and change the way you see, experience, and understand God. The disciples didn’t understand God much of the time, and you probably won’t either. It’s okay! Just keep an open, listening heart and spirit.
3) Christianity Isn’t Easy. It doesn’t magically fix things, make you more popular, wealthy, or healthier. In reality, it’s not a form of escapism but a lifelong process of dedication, service, sacrifice, and humbly loving others. It’s very, very, very hard, and not for the faint of heart. However, it is also the most sacred and fulfilling commitment you will ever make.
4) Christianity is complex. Nobody believes the same thing. Seriously, no matter what anyone else claims. There are hundreds of denominations. Doctrines, practices, and traditions are as varied as the people that represent them. This diversity of faith should be appreciated and celebrated. The goal of Christianity isn’t conformity, but an honest and intimate relationship with God.
5) Christianity is ultimately about loving God and loving others. It should never be co-opted by a political movement, a religious institution, gaining power, obtaining control, spreading influence, enforcing laws, or becoming rich and famous. It’s about a loving relationship with God, and loving all humanity created in God’s divine image—in our practice of discipleship, we should never let anything supersede this.