Ish the Bible Says: What They Think I Do

What does it mean to be Christian?

As we celebrate Maundy Thursday, in remembrance of the washing of feet and Last Supper held by Jesus and his disciples, this is an important question to ponder on, let alone answer.

Open the eyes of our heart Lord.

We need to see you.

Amen.

We've dealt with this topic a little before. I do my best to carry out writing an entry for every title/suggested post on my list, so here we go again. The older I get the more I realize that the term Christian is a convoluted one indeed. There is no one explicit understanding of the term and those who ascribe to its nature, nor is there (as I feel) a way of life that's any more nuanced than that of a follower of Christ. By now we should know that Christian does not equate to being a Republican, nor a Conservative equitable to a Christian Republican, nor a Christian being the same as someone who is against government, and the list goes on.

If you're not careful there are too many descriptions of what a Christian is, some which tend to veer far left or right. And others which don't match up at all. The media doesn't help in this regard and that goes for any religious belief especially when people do something in the name of a higher power or particular doctrine. Whether it be Christians, Muslims, or you name it who have done some horrible deed in the name of their god or belief, there's so much disinformation that it's hard to be informed; more importantly those who do try to follow the way of Christ may feel isolated because those around them don't agree with how they understand a Christian is to live.

It is true that much of what consists of being a good person falls under being a Christian. This is due to the fact that at the fundamental level/root of Christianity is a love for God and love for neighbor. Everything else is built on this foundation. I don't want to beat this over the head too much so I'll link to some earlier entries which covers certain aspects in greater detail. At this juncture I was going to mention some things you probably didn't know about Christians. To sum it up I believe "we're not who you think we are", while simultaneously being "who you think we are". Confusing, isn't it? Even for those who are more seasoned in the faith, we all are still learning what it means to "take up our cross" and follow Christ.

In the next entry I'll talk about what Christians actually do. More specifically, I'll take a quick run through my experience in growing up as a Christian from grade school age til now.

What are some misconceptions you have or know about Christians? Any misconceptions of people of other faiths or non-faith (e.g. Muslims, Jews, Agnostics, Atheists, Buddhists, etc.)? Share below.

Why?

The quick skinny:

• The Bible says a lot of stuff. We're still figuring it out.

What does this mean for me? #theReader 

Obviously don't believe everything you see in the media or read online. Anyone should be able to read the Bible and understand some basic concepts that are inclusive of being a Christian. It's amazing how so many non-Christians understand this better than we do at times. If you're a Christian consider checking with friends who aren't Christian to see what they think of Christianity and how you lineup with/deviate from that.

For further insight: Read-Maundy Thursday, Misquoted Verses, Ten Cliches, Some Other Thoughts, You Other

This is F.U.N. (For Ur Needs)  Use your KEYS

• Know that all Christians are not the same
• Expect shortcomings (lots of them)
• Your relationship with God determines your relatability with people 
• Stay focused, committed, and prayed up!

Challenge

• Be a better Christian.
• Befriend a Christian (if you're not one)
• If you are befriend a non-Christian