My Christianity Habit

A couple of weeks ago, my pastor made a comment about the "sub-culture" of Christianity. This comment, though hardly the point of his sermon, has stuck with me ever since.

The sub culture of Christianity...

the music "we" listen to
the phrases "we" glibly throw around...knowing others 'like us' will get it
the emblems on "our" cars
the books "we" buy by the bag full showing how educated and Christ-like we really are (because I just know Jesus cased Barnes and Noble looking for the latest book telling Him how to get it all together...or affirming that He already had it down)

So I am totally not making fun of my brothers and sisters in the faith. At all. This was simply a highly convicting moment for me.

You see, there isn't anything wrong with any of that. I'm not giving up my Toby Mac or love of reading. So why is this bothering me so much? Those things are all good things. But they aren't so great if they've replaced my 'first love.' Jesus. Have I replaced truly worshipping God by turning Christianity into...a habit?

I think there are many seasons that I've done just that...and I think I was just caught in one otherwise that single comment wouldn't have rattled around in this ol' skull of mine so persistently.

If we aren't very careful, we can let the joy of our relationship with Christ turn into simply another list of things to do and not to do. Tallying them up at the end of the week...making sure that we've 'acted' more like a Christian than not.

Where is the awe in that? The utter amazement at an amazing God.  I can sing along to lyrics that proclaim His greatness. Or I can read books that talk about how good He is. But do I stop to meditate on His truths, His Word myself? In this fast-food, instant gratification society have I succombed to letting others do my thinking for me?

I think I have sometimes. But I am so thankful that He is faithful and doesn't let me get too comfortable in this spot. He loves me too much for that.

Christianity isn't about what we do or don't do. It isn't about what we look like. Whether we say the "right" things or not. Whether our family measures up to the family sitting in the front pew. Christianity is about a relationship. The only one that matters. The one between us and Jesus. And that is way more fulfilling than a habit.

Tongue-in-Cheek...but not really

Okay, I have seriously had several thought-provoking ramblings rumbling inside this little brain of mine, but for now, this is what you will get. A little venting...but mostly humor. :)

I am debating on my new standard answer for all of those people who feel it is their duty to ask me, open-mouthed after founding out we were just blessed with our (gasp!) fourth child, whether we are done yet or if we have yet figured out "how that happens." My sister in law showed me a tongue-in-cheek article in a parenting magazine before I had Joy that made me giggle on this topic. Wow...I wish now I would have saved it. But...my naughty little mind isn't having much trouble coming up with my own this morning! So in response to: "So...you're done now...right?"...

1. Gosh, I'm just not sure. James didn't have enough items to deduct for his business on this year's taxes....so....

2. Well, you know...we homeschool...so, if I want to keep my job...

3. Ya' know, we just figured that God said "Be fruitful and multiply"...James and I kinda got a late start on this whole following-Christ deal so we figured we would make up for lost time by obeying this command with gusto!

4. Well I just don't know? We thought at one point, maybe we would just trade in our oldest for a new model...

Okay, so this probably isn't very funny to those of you who don't get "Nicki humor" or love me enough to overlook it but it gave me a giggle this morning. Sometimes people just give me the nudge I need to remember to watch my own conversations and how I respond to people. 'Cuz seriously people...it kinda takes the joy out of enjoying your new lil' one when someone stops to admire her and then says "But you're done now right?" We have a big happy bunch...and we thank God every single day for the full, crazy houseful that He has blessed us with.

Hope you laughed. I will work on a more serious post later...but right now, it's kind of crazy around here. You see, I have FOUR children running around....

;)