Stamped: March 25th, 2009

This past Sunday night we were talking about normal and crazy Christianity in the faith of Noah and asking ourselves the question, “Are we are crazy in God’s eyes or crazy in the world’s eyes?” I think we all realized that the reality of being a Christian is that we will be crazy in the world’s eyes. This whole idea of normal Christianity before God is something that always attacks the complacency in me in fresh ways. Today I was getting together some messages and I came across the comparison of a Nominal (name-only) Christian and a Disciple and once again I was challenged to the core and I want to share those questions with you as well that you may be freshly challenged…

The Nominal Christian: The nominal Christian does not view their self as nominal but rather as a Christian, thus thinking that what they are is normal. This Christian has adopted the language of disciples and can use it fluently. This Christian is someone who knows the stories of the Bible while missing the application to life and living it out. This Christian comes to church but really doesn’t see the whole point of it and is not devoted. This Christian knows about Jesus and the stories of Jesus and knows the “sinner’s prayer” and has even recited it, but all that accompanied their so-called salvation were some new feelings and maybe even a tear. This Christian lives one way around Disciples and another way around the other “Christians.” This Christian is a chameleon of sorts and can blend in and be perfectly normal among whomever they associate with. This Christian is sometimes moved by spiritual songs in certain religious atmospheres but nothing to this effect has ever happened in isolation. This Christian believes they deserve more from Christ for taking on His name. This Christian has not taken up a cross but rather a crutch and thus uses that crutch when the need arises and things don’t work out to their benefit. This Christian is more concerned about success than service. This Christian loves singing but sees no need in praying. This Christian loves forgiveness and the idea of sins being removed but finds completely following Jesus burdensome. This Christian has divided their Bible unintentionally into sections that make them happy and are easy to follow and into sections that they don’t understand and that don’t fit into their view of Jesus. This Christian’s Jesus, if examined closely, is actually the way they picture themselves.

The Disciple: The Disciple rejects his own good name and bears alone the name of Jesus. The Disciple follows Jesus wherever He goes. The Disciple knows the stories of Scripture and stands in awe of God and trembles at His word. The Disciple sings from the overflow of a redeemed heart and cries for those who do not know his Treasure. The Disciple understands the importance of the church as God’s grand design and is devoted to Christ and His people. The Disciple has probably said the “sinner’s prayer” but more importantly knows himself to be a great sinner and looks at himself and sees a sinner’s heart. The Disciple sticks out in a crowd of unbelievers. The Disciple would rather not be known for who they are but for Whose they are. The Disciple is passionate about Jesus in the company of believer’s but is more than undignified when in isolation. The Disciple cares nothing for his own righteousness but only for that of Jesus Christ. The Disciple gladly bears the cross, but understands that what they bear is nothing to what Jesus bore for them. The Disciple does not view their self as one who is blessing entitled but as one whom had wrath diverted, and there they weep tears of joy. The Disciple does not ramble on and on about how “Christ-like” they are because their actions need no further convincing. The Disciple sees the Bible as the very words of their Lover and Father speaking to them and loves the whole of Scripture. Likewise, the Disciple loves the Lord’s discipline and His comfort; His love and His wrath. The Disciple not only knows the gospel, but lives the gospel. The Disciple’s Jesus, if examined closely, is One who is altogether glorious and of whom they are wholly dependent on in joyful submission and His ways are always higher than theirs. If you ask the Disciple who is Jesus they will rip their heart out and describe the healing that Jesus wrought for them on the cross. The Disciple lives humbly as if Jesus is bleeding on them each and every moment of their life. The Disciple carries the cross with a tear and a smile.