Cowardice

For this assignment, we were to choose something we hate and write about it. Ranting was allowed...which led to this piece, for which I do not apologize. In my future non-fiction work entitled Ye Brood of Vipers, you can expect a lot of this. Please reply with critiques, questions, etc.

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I abhor cowardice. I especially despise when cowardice stops people from acting as they should, doing what they are called to do. I have a friend who could be a great leader. She could run for president but she can’t imagine leaving the confines of her home town. What is she so afraid of? Why is the thought of living outside the norm so terrifying for some? Most people like little adventures. They like to get tipsy, spend all night partying, vacation in a different city, etc. But they can’t stand the idea of exiting their known realm. It’s too…uncontrollable. Too many variables could change the way they see the world. And that’s just unreasonable. 

I especially hate Christian cowards, people who say they follow Jesus but really only want to do so if it is convenient. They like to remember Jesus’ kindness and generosity and love, but they skim over the verses that talk about him eating with sinners and prostitutes and cleansing the temple of money changers with a whip. That would require genuinely caring about other people and then doing something about it. That would require taking a stand about something one believes in. And that’s unspeakable. What an uncomfortable idea!

Jesus’ last words before His ascension were “Go into all the world and preach the Good News.” He didn’t say, “Go to church and don’t do too many bad things.” He didn’t say, “Go…treat yo’self because you really deserve everything. You’ve earned it.” He didn’t even say, “It’s ok, you don’t have to go. Just send some money.” He said to get out of your comfort zones and find people who are lost and sick and hungry and naked and imprisoned for the purpose of taking care of them and sharing with them in times of grief and happiness. 

Many Christians cower behind security systems in their fancy houses. Only two live in an eight-bedroom house. (Yes, Brentwood, TN, I’m talking to you.) The idea of interacting with people who are different is just too ghastly to endure. They couldn’t possibly be expected to invite homeless people into their home for the night. How absurd! They would get something dirty! These “Christians” hoard food in pantries larger than some houses and only share on Christmas when they feel guilted. They can’t imagine giving money to people on the streets because those people haven’t earned it like I have. 

The comfort zones that console Christians have become prisons that we don’t even realize enclose us. And we cage in others, too, not just ourselves. Christians now create homelessness through vanity. We create starvation through selfishness. We create poverty through laziness and greed. Christians now create everything that Jesus stood against. Jesus who was himself homeless and poor and hungry and dirty. We would not know Him.

I refuse to be this. I stand against this hypocrisy. I loathe being near people like this. My blood churns and roils when I think about how many “Christian” cowards there are. I contend mightily with this cowardice within myself. Jesus was not a coward. He is a Lion, a fierce and mighty lion with so much love that He cast aside fear for our sake. To be a Christian, we must emulate Him in all respects, especially this one.

--“If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it.” —Stephen Colbert

Book Review: Tuesdays with Morrie

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Tuesdays with Morrie was a book I read for a class in college at Abilene Christian University. It was especially resonant with me because my best friend's mom had suffered and recently died from ALS, the disease that Morrie died from as well. As someone who strives for wisdom, I loved getting to hear all that Morrie had to say as he was facing the end of his life. This book is a tear jerker and a fantastic reminder of all the difficulties surrounding someone dealing with this tragically fatal disease.

Book Review: Mark of the Lion series

Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers
Books: A Voice in the Wind, An Echo in the Darkness, As Sure as the Dawn

I don't think I post a review that glows with enough adoration and appreciation to do this series justice. This is one of my all-time favorite book series. I am seriously considering reading this book every year because of the profound impact it has had on the person that I am and desire to be. Many readers of Christian fiction appreciated Rivers other book Redeeming Love, but I found that this work of historical fiction far surpasses that in quality. Not to say that Redeeming Love was bad, this was just so much better.  

I would recommend this book to anyone. I think Christians and non-Christians alike could enjoy this series. Following the endeavors of Hadassah just made me want to be a better person. For Christians, this book is a reminder of how we should serve others through prayer, complete devotion, and unfailing love. For non-Christians, this book is a picture of what Christianity is supposed to look like when lived out, not what modern, hipster Christians actually do. 

Many readers completely despise Julia but I found that her character was integral to this book. She is a reminder that there is always a chance to find something good in each person, no matter what happened in the past. While Hadassah is what I strive to be, Marius and Rizpah were the more relatable characters to me personally. Their questions and their faults depicted the way that most people struggle with God. I think that Atretes was a character to which people who come back from military tours could more easily relate. 

She did a fantastic job researching for this book. There were times when I just felt disheartened because I could never do such great research. I loved how she included the apostle John with such vivacity. The lifestyles of the wealthy Romans reminded me of modern Americans, and led me to ponder the fate of our nation considering the disaster that followed the fall of Rome. Her ability to depict the trade industry in the Mediterranean was an impressive feat. My only critique of this book, as a history nerd, was that when talking about the slaves in the colosseum, she mentioned corn, which was only found in the New World at this time and had not yet made it to Europe or Asia. Only after trade began with the Mexican Aztec and Mayan civilizations did corn appear in that area. There might have been one other similar mistake but they would only distract you if you had extensive knowledge on the subject. 

All in all, a fantastic work that is worth anyone's time. 

Radical

"That was totally radical, Dude!"

"That man is a radical."

These statements have completely different connotations based on their context. One seems to be a good thing, whereas the other seems something to be looked down upon. The definition of the word radical is this: throughgoing or extreme, in regards to change from the accepted or traditional way. It can also mean to go back to the roots of the origin, or fundamental.

I think both of these definitions should be something we aim for as Christians. However, if you tell someone you are a "radical" Christian, they usually give you a funny look like you have gone wrong somewhere in your upbringing. Like you are taking Christianity too far. You're too extreme.

But, it shouldn't be a bad thing to do that! Extreme Christianity is something we are called to. Jesus was not a mediocre person by any means. He was a Jewish man/God who took the religion of his ancestors to the next level. He didn't stop when the Pharisees gave him dirty looks or when the Sadducees talked about him behind his back. He didn't stop when they threatened to kill him. Instead he took it to the next level and created a whole new understanding of man's relationship with God.

If we desire to follow in His footsteps, as I think most Christians desire to do, we should be willing to take our actions and our faith to the next level. We should be returning to the foundations of the Word (Jesus) and be stepping up our game. We should be carrying out his commission in a big way. Putting extra money in the collection plate at church doesn't do that. Money does NOT take care of people. People take care of people. You can "send" all of the money you want to people, but if you don't have someone to take it to them, they will never get it. Our job, the last job Jesus gave us, was to Go into all the world preaching the Gospel. This means taking care of the poor and the sick, ministering to those who need it and those who don't, casting out demons, eradicating poverty, and doing what we are called to do. All of these actions require a person going to do them, not someone sitting in comfort sending others to do it. Sending others does not win you brownie points with God.

The American church at this point has this WRONG. Big time. We are too busy focused on our own kids and problems and living in the comfort of our own homes to care about the rest of the world. We have become apathetic and reactive instead of proactive. The root of the problem is that we are Americans before we are the Church. There is nothing wrong with being an American, until it comes before something that is much more important. It shouldn't just be "God Bless America." It should be "God Bless this Earth." But our identity is rooted in our country rather than our God. We too busy caring about "our own" people to care about the rest of the world. What makes Americans our people? Everyone on this planet is our brother or sister, regardless of their religious affiliation, skin color, sexual orientation, political orientation, social status, etc. Why do we think, as Americans, that we are so much better than everyone else?

Perhaps I am just young and angry at the injustice I see in the world. But I think that gives me power. It gives me the will to do something about it. So many have lost that or never had that at all. I challenge everyone, young and old: Begin to live differently. Begin to love. Begin to apologize for your small mindedness. Begin to be a radical person who can forgive when people wrong you. Begin to serve Jesus in ways he actually wants. Don't make excuses. Begin to be Jesus. Begin to be a radical Christian. If you need help figuring out what that looks like, I will be happy to help.