Compartments & Halloween

1. Sometimes, being a ‘Christian’ reminds me of Halloween. As in, it is something where we can compartmentalize who we are and what we do and it isn’t weird. Actually, it is encouraged. One day a year, on Halloween, we get a chance to dress in a silly costume and act like something we are not. We plan get-togethers, parties, etc all in the name of dressing up in a costume and acting ridiculous. Now if anyone were to do this on any day other than Halloween, they would be laughed at. We would probably call them ‘weirdo’s’ or something awful like that.

2. As Christians, we talk about ‘doing ministry’ on a mission trip like it is our purpose. However, when we get home we don’t do any mission work in our own community. If it was truly our passion, we would do it continuously. No one has to remind you of your passion; no one has to push you to love whatever you love. If they had to do that, the passion would only rely on the person reminding you, and the love would be completely dependant on the push. Ironically, the people that pursue mission work as their passion in their own communities are the ones we call ‘weirdo’s.’ On mission trips, we do door-to-door ministries in order to try and connect/talk with people we may not ever run into otherwise. Now think about the people that do that to you (you know, on Saturday mornings… knock on the front door… those ‘weirdo’s’ on bicycles…). Why does going on a mission trip make things like that ok, but doing it at home make it weird? Why do we need to go far away to provide for the homeless and needy when there are a bunch of homeless people downtown?? …oh that’s right, the ones downtown are dangerous… “hurry, lock the doors, don’t make eye contact..!”

3. How does it help us to pray together on a team, in the office, in your small group, at home, etc if we never interact outside of that prayer? If our prayers are only rituals to begin and end our 10 minutes together, we need not waste each others’ time. Prayer isn’t something we are doing to change the heart of God, it is something we do in order for God to change OUR hearts. Praying with other people is a sacred, vulnerable, intimate act- don’t throw it around like it’s a text message to the God of the universe.

4. Do we really want to know God? When God shows up, things CHANGE. But most Christians hate change. Once we’re saved, change becomes a threat to the kingdoms we begin to build for ourselves. Ultimately then, it’s not about growing God’s kingdom, but growing OUR kingdom in the name of God. That sorta reminds me of Christopher Columbus- a man who came to America and massacred 1000’s of natives in the name of ‘God and riches.’

-I am a Christian. I want to learn how to love Jesus with every fiber of my being. I want to know how to love people unconditionally. Ultimately, I believe we, as people, preach what we need to hear. We love how we want to be loved. We attack others due to the insecurities we see in ourselves. Therefore, many things I write are probably things I am struggling with at that moment. I am never scared to offend anyone, but I hope nothing I ever write hurts anybody. If it does, I apologize in advance. These are just my thoughts, no to be taken as proven fact or reality… just my reality.

*For some reason I always dressed up like a vampire on Halloween- seriously, for 6ish years in a row I was a vampire… and that was way before Team Edward. ☺