Coming Soon…
If any of my readers are unfamiliar with who I am, which I find unlikely since to the best of my knowledge only my Mom reads this site, let me present to you my religious affiliation: Christian.
Now the modern day dilemma with such a simple word as “Christian” as expressed by C.S. Lewis is that generally Christianity carries with it some other implication. Lewis denoted this affect “Christianity and” in his book Mere Christianity and tries to get to the core definition of the word.
However in today’s society most Christian’s, as I have observed tend to switch Christianity to some new word that they the control thus controlling its implications. For example, Don Miller author of Blue Like Jazz, classifies his works as reflections on Christian Spirituality; while John Piper would call himself a Christian Hedonists. Although I disapprove of this trend of word bending, I find myself in the same conundrum as the aforementioned authors, “How do you label yourself, when you feel that the common label does not do your beliefs justice?” If Christian, as America defines it, is decidedly Republican, evangelical, and white, then this is certainly a label I find I can not have.
(Thankfully I have higher hopes of America’s definition of Christianity than that, I just use hyperbole to reinforce my point.) Thusly, I will define myself Christian and define Christian as a follower of Christ. (Which yes is a broad definition, but one that has brought me much joy as I have searched for what it means to follow Christ.)
Now as a Christ-follower I present a few verses from the Bible that I have wrestled with for quite some time. It is my hope over the next weeks or so to post an extended exegesis of these verses, my thoughts and reflections, what I was taught as a youth, what I think now.
- Mark 8:34-36 “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
- Luke 14:25-27 “Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
- Philippians 3:10-11 “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
So sit tight, there should be some good stuff coming soon….
