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Atheists
Agnostics
Secular Humanists
Buddhists
Hindus
Muslims
Taoists
Jews
Mormons
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Scientologists
Satanists
Luciferians
Pagans
Baha’i
Spiritualists
Shinto
Rastafarians
Soldiers
Pacifists
Democrats
Republicans
Liberals
Conservatives
Capitalists
Socialists
Communists
Anarchists
Libertarians
Homosexuals
Bisexuals
Transexuals
Fornicators
Drunks
Pedophiles
Murderers
Gamblers
Adulterers
Idolaters
Thieves
Liars
The Rich
The Poor
Everything and anything in between that I haven’t mentioned
 

None of these are our enemies. These are all our friends. They are our neighbors. They are our family. It is not only our duty, but our joy to minister to these people, and love them whether they “deserve” it or not. We are all loved and served by One who’s love we do not deserve. We are called to show this same unconditional love to everyone. Chances are, if you are a human being, you are or have been one of the labels listed above. And Christ loves you no less in spite of this. Now that you’ve become a Christian, he loves you no more either. He can’t. That’s the beauty of agape. Our God loves us, even when we are Godless… and we are Godless often.

We are Christians. We love. We bless. We forgive. We serve. We shine bright. We show Christ.

And if some people don’t want to know our God, that’s ok… because it isn’t us who brings someone to know God. God does that work within a person’s heart. He is revealing himself to others constantly, wooing them with his unfathomable love, calling them home. 

But…
don’t we sometimes have the tendency to brush some of these people off? Sweep them off to the side? Neglect them? Judge them? Persecute them? Show them no mercy? No forgiveness? No compassion?

Weren’t we once sinners?
Haven’t we been Godless?
Aren’t we Godless at times?

These are not our enemies. They’re casualties. They are POW’s. And God is doing a work within them… and the best way he can do that, is through you, Christian. You are put here to bless others, no matter how much they curse you. You are here to help others, no matter how much they harm you. You are here to forgive others, no matter what wrong they did to you… Because the one we follow did this for us… because we are guilty… and he still loves us.

I had the privilege to hear Dr. Leonard Sweet talk at United Theological Seminary yesterday. He is one of the US’s most influential pastors, writing many books including “Jesus Manifesto”, which is one of my favorite books I’ve ever read, so this moment was exciting for me.

He was talking about leadership… about how, over the last 30 some years, everything in our culture has been focused on preparing us to be leaders in this world. He pointed out that also, over the last 30 some years, church attendance has declined. He stated that he denies being a leader. This is something that I found odd, considering he is held at such high regard, but then he began to explain that we all need to surrender our leadership over to Jesus and let him become the leader again. He then showed us this video:

This started with one person who wasn’t afraid to look like an idiot in front of possibly thousands of people… he was having a good time, enjoying the music, enjoying himself, and enjoying the crowd. Then, one person who saw this man’s passion, joined the man in dancing. After that, another. And then another. Then, the tipping point. Hundreds of people rushed over to join this dance party. Do you see the beauty, here?

Suddenly, it wasn’t about this man anymore.

A spark ignited a flame, which created a movement that pulled at the people of the crowd’s hearts. But it didn’t start with the man who was doing his own thing. It started with a follower, the man who came to join him in dancing first.

Do you feel like dancing?

You may not want to read this unless you read (or have read) these:

Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI

I promise you they are worth the read.

I IM’d Tesia back saying that I had just gotten off work. There, through instant message, she broke the news to me that she was breaking up with me. I wasn’t surprised, but insanely heart-broken, this being the girl I had been with (granted, off and on) for almost 5 years.

I knew the reason why. It was because of the guy she had recently met. He was showing her that he was interested in her, while she was showing him the same thing. But it was deeper than that… and I knew it too. I knew, even if she was unaware of it at the time, that she still deeply loved me. The problem was, at that time, I was insecure, clingy, needy, and controlling. I had a hard time when she wanted to hang out with her friends because I felt completely neglected. I was so clingy because I knew I didn’t deserve her. I feared that she would run off with someone more deserving.

My fears were correct. She ran away with someone else, leaving me in a deep, emotional rut that I felt was impossible to escape. For weeks, I wouldn’t leave my dorm room. I skipped a lot of classes, meals, and time to hang out with friends. I didn’t want to be around anyone. I even quit my job at American Eagle (Thank God). I didn’t want to deal with any added pressure.

Everything was going wrong for me. I lost an internship I needed to graduate, which ended up being not so bad because I later found out that I couldn’t go back to school the next year anyway. My Grandpa, who was my cosigner for my student loans, met his financial limit and could no longer help me. So, that completely sucked. And to add insult to injury, Tesia broke up with me. It is no wonder I became so closed off.

During these weeks, I flat-out blamed God for everything that had happened. I couldn’t see any reason why I shouldn’t. He was calling me to his purpose, right? He was supposed to protect me, right? He brought Tesia and me together, right? So where was God? God hurt me. He ripped my still-beating heart out of my chest, punted it, kicked me in the shin, ran away, and hid… like an apprehensive bully. That’s what I thought, anyway.

I had no other choice but to take it up with him. And I spilled my guts to him, telling him how I really felt… how he wasn’t there for me… and how it was his fault that I was going through this hard time… and how I’ve got nothing left…
Then, I heard God’s voice. He told me that he heard me asking, “Why?” and that he admired my honesty. He said, “Now I will show you why!”

In May, two months after the break up, my brother called me to tell me about something that had happened to him. It was a big deal for the family, and I knew deep down that Tesia still wanted to be a part of this, so I went to her apartment to tell her what was going on in the family. Her reply:
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I thought you’d want to know.” I explained.
“Oh, ok… well… I have something to tell you too.” Her eyes began to water as her words came out, “Sean proposed to me, and I said yes.”
I was shocked. I was desolate. I was tormented.
I said to Tesia, “If you want to go ruin your life, fine by me, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I walked away.

I looked up, gesturing to God and said, “Ok, God… It’s just you and me.”

It was time to start my life all over.

Click here for Part VIII

I just wanted to let you know that no matter who you are and what you believe, Jesus loves you. Just consider it

If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Whenever I do a post on Christian Anarchy, there is always at least one comment saying that Christian Anarchy is an oxymoron. I used to fight it. But I was thinking earlier… maybe it is an oxymoron… and maybe I should embrace it.

One thing I know about Christianity is that it turns everything upside down. Forgive 70 x 7, turn the other cheek, the last shall be first, “I came not to be served, but to serve”- all of these were upside down ways of thinking in that time. Even today, most everyone agrees that these are good ideas, but to the majority, they are unrealistic. Regardless, Christianity has made an oxymoron out of my life… redeemed sinner?

When people think of Anarchy, they think of chaos. Not me, though. I think of the power of the individual. I think of altruism. I think of neighbor helping neighbor. No one is entitled to anything. We all work together, creating communion with one another. That’s not far from Christianity.

The difference is, we do submit ourselves to a leader. But what makes it anarchy is that we reject earthly authority. We see that there is no power any worldly ruler has than the power God has bestowed upon that person. Because of this- to honor God, not government- we yield to those who rule the land. However, we won’t yield if they cause us to go against God, giving God the ultimate rule.

The way I see it, practicing Christians don’t need the government. We have the Holy Spirit who helps us to discern right from wrong. It’s like the quote from Ammon Hennacy: “An anarchist is someone who doesn’t need a cop to make him behave.” or another one like it, “Oh judge! Your damn laws! The good people don’t need them and the bad people don’t obey them!”

It makes sense if you think about it.

So I admit that we do have a ruler- which isn’t anarchism at all. And we do yield to earthly authorities- which also isn’t anarchism at all. And we also pay our taxes (most of us)- which again, still isn’t anarchism. But our ruler isn’t earthly- and we yield to earthly authorities because the One we follow wants us to live harmoniously. And we don’t stand against the injustice of our world, even in our own land- and that is anarchy… Maximizing God and minimizing man. Worship is anarchy in principle.

So I can see how Christian Anarchy can appear to be an oxymoron. Really, the philosophy of Christian Anarchy isn’t that different from any other Christian philosophy. The entire idea is to live as if God is ruling our world, right now, in this present time. It’s our call as Christians to be “little Christs”. We live for God, show His love, forgive, live in peace, etc. It’s all about being a citizen of a different world, but joining this world in harmony. It’s a beautiful idea.

But you can disagree if you want. It’s like I always say, “Haters gonna hate.”

I’m really beginning to learn that when it comes to Christianity, it doesn’t matter what you know or don’t know. At the end of the day, all of our theologies are just a bunch of theories anyway.

Here are things I have a 100% certainty of:

1. Jesus is fully God and fully man- the only begotten Son of God
2. Jesus died to Forgive my sins
3. Jesus resurrected from the dead in body
4. Jesus came, not only to forgive the sins of the world, but to set an example for humankind to follow.
5. God is personal, knows us, and desires us to be with Him
6. God created the universe
7. God loves humankind
8. God is the beginning and the end
9. The Holy Spirit is the gift to every believer
10. I’m a new creation because of God’s grace through Christ’s sacrifice
11. Heaven is the Kingdom of God, and is gifted to His children
12. God is trinity. Father, Son, and Spirit.
13. The Church is a body of believers, Saved by God’s grace, marked by the Holy Spirit, and Commissioned by Christ to do good works

Here are things I believe:

1. The bible is inspired by God and is theologically inerrant
2. Hell exists
3. Jesus is the path a person must take to inherit eternal life
4. We are meant to live in communion with one another and with God
5. Government represents what is worldly and should be respected, but it is not wise to be involved in it
6. Christ was non-violent and expects His followers to be non-violently resistant
7. Christians should forgive every harm done to them
8. Open table communion- non-believers can partake if they feel like Jesus would allow them at his table
9. Satan is a real, evil, fallen being
10. Everyone is welcome in Church
11. Baptism is initiation into the Church
12. God’s grace comes to us in three ways: prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying
13. Women can preach and teach in Church
14. Christ is present when the believers take communion
15. You can be a Christian and smoke, drink, dance, play cards, have tattoos, donate blood, eat meat

Here are things I don’t believe:

1. The Bible is simply a book of stories
2. Hell is only for bad people (define bad)
3. Every path leads to God
4. The Church and State should not be separate
5. The US is a Christian nation
6. The Just War theory
7. Satan isn’t real- He is just a personification of the evil within us
8. Church should close out the sinners
9. You must be baptized to go to heaven
10. Only believers experience God’s grace
11. Women must wear head coverings, men must have a beard
12. Christians should only vote republican
13. The bread and wine taken in communion is literally the body and blood of Christ
14. Speaking in tongues is the only way to be sure you are marked by the Holy Spirit

Here are things I’m not sure of:

1. God knows absolutely everything
2. Who goes to hell
3. If Hell is a place of eternal torment for non-believers
4. Whether God created the world 6,000 some years ago, or if He used the big bang and evolution to get us where we are today
5. If the Bible is word for word inerrant

There are a lot more to all of these lists, but these were the important ones to me.
The point of me writing these out isn’t for an argument to be started, but to show that we all believe different things about God. I’m sure some of the things I wrote alarmed some readers, while some things I’ve said brought comfort. I just feel like we focus too much on our differences and not enough on what we have in common- and that of course is Christ. These other things are important in a faith-building sense, but I’m convinced that as far as salvation is concerned, they are quite trivial. As Christians, I feel like it’s important to stick with what’s important when communicating with one another. These insignificant side notes to our faith can often push away both believers and non-believers, and no one wants that.

As I’ve said before, everything we think and know about our faith, at the end of the day, it’s just theory. And we all have different theories about the way God works.

Today marks my first anniversary that my wife and I have been married. I can’t believe it’s already been a year. I guess time flies when you’re having fun!

I used to believe that Christ loves all of human kind. I used to teach others that we have been offered salvation through Christ’s love, justice, and sacrafice. I used to believe in grace and mercy.

What a waste of time, teaching and believing all of this nonsense!

Thank you, TheTheologiansCafe, for showing me the error of my ways. Jesus’ sacrifice has nothing to do with salvation. It’s whether or not you send a mass message declaring that you believe in Jesus! Geeze… I feel sorry for those without a computer… or even a Xanga account.

Forget everything I blog about. Forget Church. Forget my volunteer work. Forget Christ’s death on the cross. None of this matters anymore.

For the safety of your souls, copy and paste this mass message and send it to everyone you know!

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33

If you are not willing to send out this mass message to all of your friends it is probably because you are not willing to take a stand for Jesus. So some day He will just have to deny you before the Father when you get to Heaven.

So send out this mass message to all of your friends.

Do it quickly! You’ll never know when your time will come. Jesus gets these mass messages on his computer too, so he’s looking to see if you send yours! Just remember you have to give an account of all your mass messages proving your Christianity at the end of your life.

So today, I couldn’t find my keys, and as a result, I was running late for work.

It’s a 20 minute drive. I didn’t have to speed, but I was still rushed nonetheless.

I was about a mile away from my exit in the far left lane. I was merging to the center lane when I hit something in the highway. I have no idea what it was, but it had to have been big. I knew that whatever it was, it wasn’t going to be good on my car.

I pulled into the parking lot at work, got out of the car, and heard “sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss”.

My tire was deflating.

This was at around 4:30 this morning.

My manager told me to try fix-a-flat, so when I got off work, I tried that. Sure enough, it didn’t fix my flat.

I had to change my tire.

I’ve never changed a tire before, but despite my inexperience, I successfully replaced my flat tire with a spare. It only took me about an hour, which was cool… but it was cold out side, so it wasn’t that cool.

I was so happy about the manpoints I was going to receive for changing my first flat tire, with no help, in the cold. It looked perfectly fine.

I got in my car to go to the bank. I needed some quarters because my spidey sense was telling me that I should put air in my spare. On my way to the bank, which is only about 150 yards away from my place of employment, I noticed my car was driving funny… a little lop-sidedly. I either knew my spidey senses were correct, or I just didn’t realize what it was like to drive on a spare. When I got to the bank, I got out and looked at my spare tire, and sure enough, it was flat to the ground. I got my quarters and headed to the gas station to put air in my spare.

I got there, dispensed my quarters into the air pump, applied it to my tire, and proceeded to fill my tire with air… with no effect. It didn’t work at all.

I went inside to borrow the phone so I could call my wife. I called about 15 times, with no answer. Finally, the clerk, who knew I was calling long-distance, asked me to stop calling because he feared for his phone bill. So I did. I was depressed because I had no idea how I was going to get home. After a minute of sulking around BP, the clerk told me that down the road, there was a Goodyear store and that they’d change my tire for me. I thanked the clerk and left promptly.

At Goodyear, they got me a brand new tire and they fixed my spare. It was a long morning.

So, to recap- the low points of my day: Ran late for work, hit something on the highway, flat tire, changed flat tire in 29 degree weather, flat spare.
Highlights- Learned how to change a tire all on my own, brand new left front tire.

Total bill, around $112.00- Not too shabby!

Do I still get man points?