GOT QUESTIONS

What does it mean to live your life as a Christian?

One of the clearest words to describe the Christian life is "disciple", which means follower or learner. When the first disciples were fishing on the shores of Galilee, Jesus approached them and for reasons that are not so clear, they become followers of Jesus. Jesus invited them to follow his teachings and learn from him, and they left their jobs and did just that. What that meant for them was to listen and learn what Jesus taught and to put his guiding principles for an abundant life into practice in every area of their life. When you add to this the faith that Jesus was (and is) the Son of God, then you are following what the Creator of the universe set up. Someone once told me that living the Christian life is like going with the grain of a piece of wood. It is so much easier and causes less damage than going against the grain. Following the teachings of Jesus, living your life as a Christian, is what God intended from the very beginning. Does that mean that living life as a Christian is an easy life? Not always. The culture is bent - and tries to bend followers of Jesus - in a different direction, and that can often be painful and hard.

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke (teaching) upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

I like Jesus, but I don't like the church. What do I do about that?

My gut reaction on this is "join the crowd!" Unfortunately, the reality is that many churches have become so institutionalized and bureaucratic that they are internalized and controlling. They have become in many instances closed groups that are difficult for new people to break in to. I am a pastor, and I could go on and on... believe me. But not all churches are like this, and the churches that lean this way have people in them who are premier examples of Jesus bar none. And also, every church is different, with different personalities and cultures; that makes finding a church sometimes a difficult thing to do.

However, churches are made up of people who are trying to live out their faith in the best way they know how. Church is a community of people who walk together down a road that is often - given the kind of world we live in - difficult to travel to say the least. It is a place where relationships are formed that minister to needs in the world, that create an atmosphere off accountability and care, and that push us to achieve higher commitments and greater good. I suppose that is idealistic. And I guess it is. But it also an important part of my story and experience.

I have told people before that I came into the church, because of the church. That may sound a bit odd... but not when you think about the church the way I do. I think of the church as a group of individuals who are committed to following Jesus Christ wherever he leads. And the direction that Jesus always leads those who follow him is outward. I believe that following Jesus is mission centered.

Acts 1:8 says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses [first] in Jerusalem, and [then] in all Judea and Samaria, and [then] to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

The mission of the church is like ever widening, expanding, growing concentric circles.

This is when the church is at its best. Reaching out into people's lives collectively as one beautiful body, bringing healing and wholeness, justice and hope, and the love and grace of God.

My suggestion is take a chance, commit deeply to a local church, and give it a try.

Peace,
Dr. Michael T. Dun