Counting The Cost

Random thoughts on walking with Jesus in this turvy-topsy world

Bad Christianity

One of my favorite bloggers is Dave Burchett, who writes a blog called "Confessions of a Bad Christian".     Burchett is an amazing writer and he manages to be both very cerebral and very down-to-earth at the same time.      I put his blog as a link on my own blog, but I've never said much about him until today.      Yesterday (I think) he added a post to his blog explaining why he calls himself a bad Christian.      I love this post - it is such an honest answer to all those who have been hurt by people claiming to be Christians - which, let's be honest, is ALL of us.     I am posting a very short excerpt below, but pretty please check out his blog for the full explanation of how "bad Christians" can happen to good people.  -Joy

FROM DAVE BURCHETT'S BLOG - 

CONFESSIONS OF A BAD CHRISTIAN:

My Blog Title Apologetic

 

Today I decided to revisit the whole “Confessions of a Bad Christian” blog title. I periodically receive an email that asks something like this.

“Why do you call your blog ‘Confessions of a Bad Christian’? Do you really think you are a bad Christian?”

And my answer is always something like this.

Yeah.  Sometimes I am. Sometimes “badder” than on other days.

The blog heading of “Confessions of a Bad Christian” started out as a bit of a joke. It was based on the title of my first book, When Bad Christians Happen to Good People. But I will tell you that I have grown attached to the title of this blog. I have come to grips with the truth that I can, in fact, be a bad Christian. And that is the point of the title. It is a daily reminder to me that I am capable of thoughts and actions that do not reflect Jesus. I have found that the realization that I can be a bad Christian at any given moment has been the beginning of real growth for me.

It breaks my heart to think that my actions would cause anyone to think that Christianity is false. The sad reality is that I encounter Christians all the time that do damage to the cause of Christ. I often tell people that my prayer is that they will not reject Christ because of Christians. I beg them to consider the person of Jesus. The question that each of us must answer is who is Jesus? Is He who He claimed? But too often those I encounter cannot get past the actions of a person who does not represent Jesus well. I do not want any part of a legacy like that.  So I challenge myself and other Christians to be real. Acknowledge that we are fallible. Seek to repair damage. Ask forgiveness. Drop the legalism.  I suppose that a big part of who I am is growing up in a church that would not have recognized grace if it bit them on their self-righteous posteriors. I know firsthand the damage that legalism can do in the life of person trying to follow Christ. I receive hundreds of emails from people wounded by others in the church...

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posted by: Jrobbins at 16:41 | link | comments |

Faith - never disappointed!

"that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

 For the Scripture says, "^(D)WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;

for "^(H)WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." "

Romans 10:9-13

posted by: Jrobbins at 17:22 | link | comments |

From discouraged to encouraged

This semester has been tough on me for many reasons, but one of the main reasons is that I seem to be running into a lot of students who are viciously opposed to the Christian faith and seem determined to make me a scapegoat for their anger and bitterness.      Now, I certainly don't mind reasonable debate or people who disagree with me about my beliefs.     On the other hand, I do mind being told to "shut up - because Christians are nothing but intolerant, close-minded bigots".     Helllloooooo, hypocrisy!   

I'm not writing this to complain (too much!) but because of a great thing that happened last night.   I was waiting with two other students for our evening class to begin, and I was really discouraged with all the negativity I had been faced with that day.    It turns out that the other students had been facing similar situations in their classes, and we were able to share our confusion and hurt feelings.   It turned out to be a great time of encouragement for all of us, and we left class last night refreshed to face another week of whatever comes our way.     I am really thankful that God is faithful to give His children the encouragement we need just when we need it - and from a totally unexpected source! -Joy

 

posted by: Jrobbins at 15:01 | link | comments (2) |

Faith - never foolish

He who provides for this life, but takes no care for eternity,
is wise for a moment, but a fool forever.

      -- Tillotson

posted by: Jrobbins at 15:00 | link | comments |

Faith - always resourceful

Depend on it, God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies.

      -- J. Hudson Taylor

posted by: Jrobbins at 13:57 | link | comments |

Faith - facing reality

The greatest act of faith is when man decides he is not God.

      -- Oliver Wendell Holmes

posted by: Jrobbins at 14:57 | link | comments |
quotes i love

Faith - a driving force

Our faith should be our steering wheel,

not our spare tire.

      -- C. L. Wheeler

posted by: Jrobbins at 15:26 | link | comments |

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