The Not So Miraculous Miracle
I‘ve heard some truly awesome testimonies given by Christians. Neck deep in sex, drugs, and violence at the end of my rope, minutes away from dying.
These are the kinds of testimonies that make non-believers Christians, right? I mean me going out and telling someone how I grew up the church, was baptized and saved at a young age, never did drugs, didn’t have sex until I was married isn’t the best altar call. My knowledge of the Bible is limited and my knowledge of other religions even less, which is sad considering the amount of time I have professed to be a Christian.
In our caffeine highed, adrenaline fueled culture I just cant see holding someones interest with my tale of salvation. So why should I think that anyone would bother to sit down with me and listen to my story?
My testimony and yours, so called boring testimonies, show a shallow view of both sin and salvation. Anyone who thinks like this is candy-coated shit.
We both think our sin isn’t all that bad, so our salvation isn’t as big or as sexy as a more ‘awesome’ testimony.
Included in this crappy view is the damnable notion that God isn’t all that holy, so our small sins aren’t really so punishable.
What every Christian like this needs (myself included) is a kick in their candy-coated ass so the smell of wretchedness breaks through our adrenaline pumped denial and self-righteousness.
Then maybe we’ll see the miracle of salvation and humbly show anyone how badly we need Christ
Why would anyone listen? Because of how you live your life.
But to the normal outsider how am I different from any other “good” person?
We as christians are really the same as other “good” people – with two major differences. We are not only forgiven for the wrongs that we have done, but we have been afforded the opportunity to know peace. What a difference that is – to have a solid rock on which we can not only stand, but when we no longer have the strength to stand, will still support us. Sorry, minor tangent:) Ultimately, I think the aforementioned is what makes us different to the outsider – it shines through. As cheesey as it is there’s truth behind that old kids song.
I like the peace idea but I think the most important thing a Christian can do it love someone. I think love is a revolutionary thing if its the type of love Jesus has for us.
I think thats where my problem rolls in I need to feel the need for Jesus’ love and that is determined by how good or bad I see myself. And since I dont see myself as that bad (yes I know this is the wrong answer but its how I feel damnit so back off) I have a lot of problems loving people who struggle.
I was discussing with Chris tonight how I am starting to get scared of what is going to happen when God actually shows me the depth and the problem with my pride and self confidence.
Well I guess it’s a damn good thing that some of us do have an “exciting” salvation story. =0) (AKA Red’s hard-to-argue-with excuse for why home schooling & Christian schools are NOT the way to go – I know stepping on toes here) Of course I guess you’d still have to share this story in order for it to be an effective witnessing tool…
Oooh, Love, that’s a good one! So you did know the answer to your question.
But here’s the thing – Love is such an abstract term. There are many…many people I do not love or even like; however, I think Christians embody a compassion that equates to love.
I completely agree with you regarding your plight in loving people who struggle (let it be known that by “your” I mean “our”) I think it depends on where we stand on that specific day – constantly changing with our moods. If we’re pissy, we have no sympathy or understanding for anyone (ok…I don’t); yet if we’re tuned in, we can allow our hearts to possess such an amazing amount of compassion.
Have you ever passed a person who seemed to be having an extremely difficult time and prayed for them, right there, that God bless them and hold them in his palm?
If so, there’s your compassion; if not, you were just keeping your eyes on the road and being responsible…was just giving an example.
This is my first post here, and speaking of tangents, I’ll take one; it was stirred by reading of these thoughts (especially Jim’s) and discussion with David last night.
As a new Christian with plenty to regret and repent for, I find a vibe of pity emanating from some Christians towards me. It’s kind of a, “how sad that Chris screwed up his life, how fortunate that I haven’t done so, thank God!” vibe.
These folks really mean well, and I don’t believe they’re judging me… I think it comes from a compassionate place.
But it shows a lack of realization of their own brokenness. And it pisses me off at first.
What I’d like to share with them is this:
I’m grateful that a lot of my shit became manifest, making it easier to recognize, repent, and feel humble… call it the gift of conviction, if you will. That gift opens the door to our forgiveness, God’s for us and for forgiving ourselves, and it’s followed by the peace you experience when pretense evaporates.
If more Christians would realize how much they really stink, instead feeling pride for how they’ve, “gotten it right,” they’d be better off – and not drive others away.
I would tell them that I don’t envy them their pride and the reasons for it, because when you stand back and really see yourself and the things you are and do – I mean honestly, self-appraising – it gives a depth and texture to your life and your relationship with God that transcends the facades we like to build. And for that, you are richer.
And in the end, ironically, I feel pity for them, and really hope they receive the gift that shows us our stark brokenness.
lol, James nice. So if I stop and help someone then I am the good Samaratin but if I drive on by then I am just being responsible. I like that logic.
Chris I like how the pity came full circle there it was nice, but I wasn’t really saying that I look down on people who have done things that I haven’t. In fact I was saying the opposite, I am saying that their witness is even stronger. They can relate better to and engage easier with the world then the folks who have been moralist all their lives. They have more life events to meet with the world on and they have a much larger view of forgiveness and grace that they can show and pass on.
David, I didn’t mean to give the impression that the pity place is where you were coming from, just that it’s one I often experience from believers.
And I agree that being able to relate to the broken-ness of others in the world through my own experiences is a valuable asset.
And I certainly don’t wish failure on believers so they can relate, but I believe that when we’re truly aware of our own sin, that sin is sin with no degrees of “goodness” or “badness”, we can avoid the trap of having pity and the accompanying pride when we reach that realization.
That was just a “for instance” – if you saw someone crying on the phone in the car next to you…that sort of thing.
Does that mean I can’t apply the good samaritan thing to it?
I was really hoping to justify some of the guilt away so the next time I drove by someone on the side of the road in need of help I wouldn’t feel so bad.
I mean I have stopped and helped people, but at the same time I have driven by a whole lot more (usually because I am in a hurry to get somewhere else because I am always in a hurry).