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UPDATE: Jeff quoted C. S. Lewis this morning in church. I thought it fit nicely with this post. Besides, you know I love me some C. S. Lewis:
"For the church is not a human society of people united by their natural affinities but the Body of Christ, in which all members, however different, (and He rejoices in their differences and by no means wishes to iron them out) must share the common life, complementing and helping one another precisely by their differences."
Let me first say that I'm not slamming the term "Christian". I'm okay with it. I am one. Secondly, while the Mac versus PC commercials are mildly entertaining, I have not yet nor do I plan to partake in the drinking of the Apple kool-aid. I'm sticking to my Gateway, thankyouverymuch.
Anyway, I thought these parodies were pretty cool, so I wanted to share them with you. I would also like to thank ThinkChristian.net, because they originally posted these almost a year ago. They have a pretty cool website, too. You should check it out.
And one that's close my little church planting heart:
There are several of these on YouTube. Just something to think about. Not bashing, just makes me pause and think about how non-Christians see us sometimes.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
13 comments:
I think it's a bit silly how so many people are co-opting the "Christ Follower" label while distancing themselves from the word "Christian."
I suspect they're hoping for something like this:
Pagan: Are you one of those Christians?
Christian: Definitely not! I'm just a Christ Follower.
Pagan: Phew, I thought for a minute you were one of those rightwing, intolerant bigots.
How can only one person have commented on that? Seriously though, I understand the problem. I really don't want to be associated with all the haters that call themselves Christians. I'd rather they stop play acting and be Christians, but at the very least they should stop trying to call themselves such.
Of course it is our job to teach them and judge them. What you thought we weren't s'pose ta judge? Yeah that's a lie we've accepted. We are explicitly called to judge anyoen who wants to put on the title, Christian, Christ's follower or whatever means the same thing. People that put these titles on and live the unChrist-like lives put God's name on the garbage heap.
I love those videos... although I do think that sometimes they seem like they're mocking things which aren't necessarily 'bad'.
Why can't we all just accept each other's differences and get on with it?
I LOVE that CS Lewis quote, BTW... wish I'd come up with it before him!
Peter, I'm not sure it is completely unreasonable to make a distinction. It is an opening to explain that you aren't part of a religion called Christianity but that you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ who came to end all religion not create a new one.
Some good thoughts. I'm wondering if the distrust of the term Christian has anything to do with it being abused as an adjective. That is, we have Christian music, Christian books, argue if the US is a Christian nation...pretty soon we'll want to eat exclusively Christian icecream. I think I'll write a post and title it "Christian is Not an Adjective."
Oh great. Lyn mentions Christian ice cream and all I can think of is how many colors should the 'What Would Jesus Eat' bracelet come in.
Let's not forget that our current culture encourages society to see Christians as a bunch of hypocrites. When was the last time you saw a positive Christian role model on a new t.v. series, or movie. No, when they roll out a christian, he or she is bound to say something unkind and / or act out in an unloving manner. How many Christians do you really know who act that way? True, I know a few, but I know far more who are people to emulate, not ridicule.
If we all as Christians (or Christ followers) have God as our Father, that makes us all brothers and sisters. What family do you know of that doesn't have a screw up somewhere in it? The question is , do we ignore the problem and hope it will solve itself, do we love the screw up, and try to help him or her straighten out, or do we distance ourselves?
I would hope that rather than change our names and high tail it away from them, we'd reach out to our brothers and sisters and say "Hey, is that how you want the world to see our family? Don't you know people will judge our Father based on how we act? Dude.....(or Dudette)"
Amen, Helen.
I'm with Peter and Helen.
Being a Christian is a beautiful thing. I'm happy to provide some shock value to others who like me, and later find out I refer to myself as a Christian.
I say something like, "It's kinda dangerous to say I'm a Christian, 'cuz there are people who say that they are, but they're hypocritical. Hopefully, you like me enough to get some good vibes on what it really means to be a good Christian."
Of coruse, not verbatim, but something like that.
It's too bad there is poor rep among believers, but, we can redeem it. If we don't, who will?
It's also a geat conversation starter to ask first, "So before I tell you, what is your impression of Christians?"
Then, I get to say, "Oh, I'm not *"that" kind of Christian. I'm the real kind. Let me tell you the difference."
It's important to clarify.
Of two people I know who have disavowed themselves from the Christian religion without picking up another in its place, both stated to me that they couldn't deal with the political nature of Christianity.
I think that's one of the largest obstacles Christianity in this country faces: "those Christians...real Christians..." What do these things even mean? Is not someone who claims Christ a Christian? What makes one more "real" than another? The bickering and in-fighting is all that people outside the faith see.
Like Helen said, Christianity isn't meant to be a religion, but a family. No one wants to be a part of a dysfunctional family. Until each portion of the family is more accepting of all within the whole, how can anyone be expected to see Christ for all the Christians?
I love those videos. Some of the best Christian 'homages' to pop culture that have been produced.
And I'm with you. Getting ready to buy a new computer on black Friday, and I think I'll be sticking with Dell. I'd love an Apple, but too much $$$!
I loved reading that in the Ragamuffin Gospel. It seems that good Christ-followers sometimes don't come across as good Christians. I'm OK with that, part of me wants to be that. Fun post Kathy!!!!
There is a large stigma with the word, "christian" due to a generation of non-christians growing up apathetic to America being built on Biblical ethics.
But I would strongly encourage all believers to continue the name, "christian" because it was used not only to identify early believers but also by the apostle Peter as well as King Agrippa speaking to the apostle Paul.
Look up the passages for yourself and be encouraged by the word, that the name, "christian" is of good value and worth using rather than trading it for, "Christ-follower".
Acts 11:26
Acts 26:28
1 Peter 4:16
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