No more Christian Culture...

I just finished reading one of my favorite blogs
(www.stuffchristianslike.net by Jon Acuff)and in it his guest blogger used the phrase "Christian culture" in a way that did not describe me or most of the Christians that I know and regularly associate with (not that I intentionally disassocaite from other Christ followers, but just not everyone of us travel in the same circles, right?)

But as I read I just realized that I don't think we can use the term "Christian cuture" accurately anymore. Several years ago we were the "Christian Sub-culture", existing in the underlayers of actual culture, as if in a galaxy far, far away. Realizing that we'd become quite a voting block we made the switch and demanded to be recognized as ACTUAL culture, not culture's little brother. As the switch was made we appeared to be content to be lumped together in one box labled Christian Culture.

BUT I SAY NO MORE!! - Well, maybe with less emphasis. I've just always had some personal issue with our culture's tendency to assume certain things are true about someone because of their particular label. I do know several Democrats who are pro-life, want small government, and are gun owners, and really really do love Jesus. (I know that I paint with a large brush there but there is indeed an assumption of stance determined by political party). Just because I am a Christ follower doesn't mean that I fit someone's personal expectation based on their previous experience with other followers of Jesus.

So then, what do we do? This could be quite a cultural pickle. - I guess we just have to follow the lead of Jesus who really appeared to be about people. You know, how He would come into town and actually talk to them. Eat with them. Engage them personally. I love that about our Saviour. He is relational. It appeared that He really loved, and liked, people.

I love to sit with a coffee (preferably venti Sumatra, black and if possible the first cup from the pot; or a french press of Kitamu or Sidamo - See, not all coffee drinkers are the same), and hear someone's story. To hear what God is doing in that person's life, or if they aren't a Christ follower, how they've come to that place. It is amazing how listening suddenly gives you a platform to share then about yourself, how you got to where you are, and often times to tell the beautiful truth of the gospel. Just as people tend to label all Christians the same way, often times unChristians do just that (read UnChristian if you don't believe me), we Jesus followers do the same to them. Not all Un-Christ followers are pro-choice, drunkards, promiscuious, pro-LGBT, or athiests. They may not even be anti-Jesus or the anti-church. But unless we engage in a way to be heard, we'll never know. We'll just give them a lable and expect them to wear it and move on.

Listening, loving, learning, and leading instead of labels defining. Maybe the birth of a new (or actually very old) Christian culture?

(No time to proofread, Mr. Mom today. Feel free to inform me of any mistakes. :))