According to the story, most traditional forms of Christian religiosity are in decline in this country. Less and less people are calling people of faith. The only groups on the increase are non-denominational groups (though there was also a story from a few months ago I commented on showing that non-denominational groups falling away from a charismatic tradition are also decreasing) and people that are increasingly bearing the label of evangelical or born-again. More and more people are apparently unable to continue an association with mainline Protestant, Catholic and some other groups.
So what is missing?
Why are people disassociating themselves from religious institutions?
Is it because of perceived empty tradition. Is it a failure of some Churches to be relevant - to be real - to fail in entering into relationship - to be Jesus? I know those sound like catch words, like I an trying to use the new terminolgy that people want to hear, but that isn't what I am really trying to say. I don't want us to be relevant by using relevant terminolgy - I want to be relevant by making a difference.
I want to be a revolutionary!
I want Jesus to live in me enough so that I can show others what he looks like. Not the man-made rules we have made up to keep people in line - to get them to act like good little Christian boys and girls.
Maybe we appear to be too safe to the world. Too content in our womb-like sanctuaries. Some people might even think we seem angelic in our comfort zones and masks and facades. But, even the worldly image of angels is wrong. Angels aren't safe. Why do you think they had to tell people don't be afraid every time one appeared. Angels are dangerous. maybe it is time for us to be dangerous - it is hard to put dangerous people away in plain sight and pretend to yourself that they don't matter. Dangerous people are exciting. Dangerous people affect everything around them.
I want to be a dangerous revolutionary.
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