The Life of a Christian: an argument for Christianity, or against it?

I was up early this morning, really disturbed by an interview I heard yesterday with William Lobdell, Author of Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting On Religion In America.

William thought his prayers had been answered when he was assigned to the religion beat by the Los Angeles Times. As a Christian, he wanted to report objectively about how belief shapes people’s lives. Instead, his faith was eroded seeing that the majority of Christians live lives that are no different than those who deny faith - George Barna reports that the rates of divorce are virtually the same among Christians as non-Christians, 33%. He started to wonder why so many churches/ministries become corrupt. Each story chipped away at his faith. Eight years later, after intense encounters with believers of all sizes and shapes, he realized that his faith in God was gone.

Before we simply dismiss this as a Los Angeles/Hollywood phenomenon, can we say our lives as Christ followers look any different that those who don’t care about or deny Him? Should they?

God established the nation of Israel to live differently than the rest of the world. If you look at the Law given in Leviticus, much of it is about inter-personal relationships. In a world where people were abused by the powerful, God designed a nation where people would care for each other. Where else were farmers instructed not to harvest all the grain in their fields, but to leave some for those less fortunate?

Indeed, when Jesus came, He said He came to fulfill the Law, not to do away with it. He raised the bar by equating a lustful look with adultery, anger with murder. He tells us to love our enemies, and to give to the needy. He summed up the Law in two commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

If we Christ-followers lived in this way, would William be in a different place? Where would our friends, neighbours and families be? How different would our world be if all of us who profess to be Christians actually lived what Christ taught and lived?

More to come in later posts...


As a postscript to this post, the first song at church today was “Say So” by Israel Houghton. Check out the lyrics:

What does it mean to be saved
Isn’t it more than just a prayer to pray
More than just a way to Heaven
What does it mean to be His
To be formed in His likeness
And know that we have a purpose

Bridge:
To be salt and light in the world, in the world
To be salt and light in the world

Chorus 1:
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
Say so, say so (2x)

Oh that the church would arise
Oh that we would see with Jesus’ eyes
We could show the world Heaven
Show what it means to be His
To be formed in His likeness
Show them that they have a purpose

Bridge(2x)

Chorus 1(2)

Vamp:
I am redeemed, I am redeemed
I am redeemed, I am redeemed
I am redeemed, I am redeemed

Bridge (2x)

To be salt and light in the world, in the world, in the world

Chorus 2:
Let the redeemed of the Lord rise up
Let the redeemed of the Lord rise up
Let the redeemed of the Lord rise up
Rise up, rise up


I don't know about you, but this is wrecking me today!