I never thought I’d be writing on a subject like this, but then, I never thought I’d be writing in this magnitude about ANYTHING. And I definitely didn’t think I’d write my previous blog: “Did I Just Do That?”
Where do I begin? One morning the Lord woke me up and was talking to me about Conventional Christianity VS. Radical Christianity. He was actually talking to me about my Son Chad, and how he’s not a “Conventional Christian” but rather, a “Radical Christian.” He proceeded to give me some examples in the Bible of Radical Christians: Jesus, John Baptist, King David, Peter, the Apostle Paul and many others. Chad doesn’t fit into a box and often calls God, “DUDE.” And quite frankly the DUDE speaks to him, … and a lot. He has a pretty tight relationship with God, does devotions and prays, and all of the things. I’ve never seen someone with more favor on his life! It’s actually quite crazy… He doesn’t do things by the books, and many people would judge him because he doesn’t fit their idea of what a Christian looks and acts like. He also proceeded to tell me that I too am amongst the Radical.
I am also not the type to fit into people’s molds or boxes, and that includes church molds. You know, “If you don’t do X-Y-Z, you are not a good Christian.” Now let me tell you, I am committed to my God and it is the deepest desire of my heart to please HIM. I have no desire to be a people pleaser. Just wanna please my God. Do I do that perfectly all of the time? Heck NO! I stumble, I fall, I blow it from time to time, and I ask forgiveness. In no way am a PERFECT. And you’ve heard it said probably thousands of times, “Christians aren’t perfect! They’re just forgiven.” We know the drill. When we transgress, we pray and ask forgiveness. And hopefully we learn along the way so we don’t keep repeating the same transgression over and over.
I just don’t do well around people with “Religious Mindsets.” Some people have a whole list of MAN MADE RULES that they try to live up to and expect others to as well, and they fail miserably. Many of these so-called rules are not always biblical. For instance, they may not be able to find a scripture that backs it up. And some times, people take scriptures OUT OF CONTEXT and make those rules as well. When interpreting the Bible we must remember that scripture interprets scripture, and we must consider the historical and cultural background and the things that were happening at the time the scripture was written. All of this comes into play.
Religious people are often very judgmental, self righteous and can be know-it-alls, whose opinions are the only ones that matter. You can literally cut it with a knife when you are around it. Because I do inner healing with individuals, I will gladly help people break free from these mindsets, but you’ll never find a person like this in my inner circle. I am FREE, and I will not surround myself with those who are not. It’s just too stifling and heavy, and quite honestly, it snuffs the very life out of me.
Funny thing. Jesus isn’t bound by “Religion” either. Neither is God the Father. I grew up feeling as if God was a big Ogre that was sitting on the throne with a whip, just waiting for me to mess up so he could whip me into shape. This is soooo not true. He is the most loving Father any child could ever want. Sure, he brings correction from time to time, but it’s gentle, and loving and kind. He’s long suffering and He’s definitely the God of second chances, third chances and so on.
So, if there’s a man made box, whether it’s a churches, or someone else’s, I’m steering clear. I am FREE to be me. I am accepted by the one who created me with all of my quirks and imperfections. I’ll be over here being Radical in a thousand different ways, and I hope with all of my heart that in some small way, this may help you to crawl of the box you may be hanging out in and be YOU too!
Lotsa Love SWEET LOVE, Carole
