Season 2 Episode 2 - Have We Forgotten Who We Are?
Show notes:
Study by Pew Forum, that reveals nearly 70% of the U.S. population identifies as Christian.
With this percentage so high, it is clear there is a lack of understanding on what it means to truly be a Christian, and how that is expressed in our day-to-day lives.
Matthew 28:19-20 - "Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Discipleship and sanctification are crucial components of our Christian faith.
How does the church do at equipping us to grow as believers? Are we being given the tools to grow?
Churches track their attendance, number of salvations, new guests, and baptisms as a gauge for their success and involvement in the church. These things are indicators of growth, but not of depth. The problem is that these things alone ignore the discipleship process, and if they aren't careful, it can be a great place to start a relationship with God, but quickly become a place to grow stagnant.
In the podcast, I reference Christianity Today's podcast, "the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill." This podcast is interesting for a number of reasons, but one of the things I find the most fascinating is how church culture seems to revolve around celebrity pastors - and the danger that comes with this. The podcast put it so perfectly when it said how dangerous it is when leaders are put on a platform whose charisma outpaces their character.
Matthew 22:37-40 - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and prophets depend on these two commands.”
A Bible Study, The Sermon on the Mount by the Daily Grace Co.: "The first thing salt does is to preserve. Salt preserves things from decay, and in the same way, our lives as believers are meant to shine into the world around us. This does not mean that our lives have the power to bring lasting change into the world. Only Jesus can do that. But this world gets a glimpse of who Jesus is through our lives. "
Summary
Our greatest mission as believers isn't what we do, it's who we are, and who we represent. Our focus should mirror that of what Paul says in Romans 12: "Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed..." If you love Jesus, focus on being more like him. Live your life as a mirror of his heart and character. Love people, even when it's hard and they don't deserve it. These things speak more about who we are- and more importantly, who Jesus is, than anything else.
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