Christian Ghetto?

Is it just me or am I the only one that sees a HUGE Christian sub-culture in our society? I mean just look around and you will be surprised with what you see. We have our own bookstores, our own movies, our own music, our own candy, our own clothing and even our own Christian mechanics.

Now, don't get me wrong, I am not trying to ridicule or put down any of the aforementioned things. Those things, in and of themselves, are not "wrong" or "bad." I like some Christian music and I liked the Passion. I go to Christian bookstores on occasion and I even think testamints are tasty.

There is, however, a truth to our "Christian ghetto." We have not taken the biblical command to go into the world, instead, we have retreated from the world. We have created a safe place for us and our children to live so that they don't have to interact with the world.

In the world but not of the world? Nope that is not for us. We don't even want to be in the world. We do everything we can to be separate from the world. If we are even close to anything in the world, we think it to be defiling.

But I think Christ calls us to interact with the world, not run from it. He calls us to engage with those that are not followers, doing so in a way that is biblical and right.

But I think that the ghetto has negated anything that we might do. We have cheesy sayings and cliches that are offensive to all that are not part of the club, oops I mean church. For example, those that stand outside and hold up a sign that says "Jesus Saves" do nothing constructive for our faith. Nobody sees that sign and runs out to get "saved." I am not even sure I like that word so much. Saved and lost are words that are potentially harmful to a discussion on Christ.

I am calling us to rethink everything that we do that could be potentially harmful to those who do not follow Christ. We need to make sure that we are not building walls but instead tearing them down. We need to be engagers with the world not haters.

That is funny. I just used the word haters. But its so true so I will keep it there.

More thoughts to follow soon......

Outside?

I think WE have a problem. We have a problem of looking at the outside of a person instead of the inside. You see, I can say "we" here because I too am in this group. I look at "looks."

Drew: Hello. I am a outside looker.
Group: Hello Drew

Seriously, I look at the "looks" of people and judge them accordingly. I know its wrong and it is something that God has been impressing on my heart. I see someone and think, "there is no way that person is a Christian." But why? Why do I look at someone and judge them accordingly.

First it implies that there is a right "look." Secondly, it endorses the world's perspective on things. Last, it shows how truly immature and fallen that I am.

Lord help me.

I don't want to be focused on looks. I don't want to judge a book by its cover. I want to get to know the person. I don't want to see tattoos and think that they are "lost" (gotta love that word, with all of its stereotypes) because of some ink on their arms. I don't want to see piercings and think that they are not followers of Christ.

Christ has no uniform look for His followers. They are different. Just like the song says, "red, yellow, black and white - they are precious in His sight."

I am learning, albeit slowly. What can I do about people judging looks? Well, the first thing I can do is search my heart and make sure that I rid it of all unrighteousness.

That is something we all can do. Search our hearts and rid them of unrighteousness.

I hope people don't judge me by my looks. I know that I probably don't always "look" right.