What I’m Thinking

Sometimes I think funny things.  Among our staff team at Kingsland I am known as the guy who says what everyone else is thinking.  Half the time, I wish I hadn’t said what everyone else is thinking because sometimes it isn’t good.

So here is what I am thinking this morning.  I am tired of empty religion.  Religion that doesn’t really give a rip about people or who Jesus really is.  Religion that is reserved for certain buildings and certain people on certain days of the week.  I am tired of systems of religion based solely on man-made traditions, concocted from skewed interpretations of Scripture.  I am tired of the religious facade that embraces hypocrisy allowing everyone to shake hands, smile, and insist that everything is OK -especially when everything is not.  I am tired of religion that says its all about God when its really all about the system and its requirements or its leaders or money.

Does any of this resonate?

Thankfully Jesus is nothing like that!  Jesus is an authentic lover of people.  He meets the needs of the poor and the rich.  He requires the same things of all people no matter where they live, what language they speak, or how much money they have.  Jesus is the same 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  He is not confined to any building or any day of the week.  Neither are his disciples.

Which bring me to my next question.

Who are the disciples of Jesus?

Maybe the answer to the question really is “who his disciples are not.”  Jesus said it this way in Luke 14:25-27.

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes even his own life – he cannot be my disciple.  And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

Instead of explaining this, I am going to let you chew on it.  Tell me what you think.  I will come back to it next week.