Census induced frustration and B.S induced epiphony
the census, quite possibly australia's biggest waste of time, was a source of frustration for me on the evening of tuesday the 8th, "census night".
discussing and joking, as my father filled in the census for himself, my mother and my sister, but not me, being the organised person i am, id done it the second it had graced my doorstep, he eventually turned to page 9. now page 9 had the interesting question of; what religion are you?
i, naturally, quickly crossed the anglican doober, a little frustrated that christianity to the world got lumped into the religion box next to hinduism, islam, and other assorted "reilgions." my frustration continued as my family discussed their "reilgion."
"i was brought up presbyterian" my father said, as he crossed the pres. box.
"well... my mother always said i was church of england, so i spose thats anglican" my mother said.
"and ive been to st lukes a few times, whats your religion rhys, im probably the same as you?" asked my sister innocently.
i looked at with incredulity at my apparently and suddenly religous family.
the evenings events, shocked me into the realisation that my family all think theyre christians. now, im not one to judge, and i dont have the authority nor the desire to judge my family as non christians, but, knowing them, and how they live and their indifference to God, i know that they arent. and yet, for them, to say that they were brought up presbyterian, is enough. the world has deluded them so much so, that for them to announce theyre christianity, is enough. for them to label themselves with a denomination is enough. it saddens me to know that my family, the people i love the most, have such a skewed vision of christianity, of God, and of Jesus, that they are living a lie. i cant think of a better way to express it. and it kills me. i hate that they are so deluded that they liken their "faith" to that of myself, or any real genuine christian person. they havent given their lives to JC, nor have they professed a trust in His death in their place, and yet, to fill in the census as church of england, is enough.
following this increasingly frustrating conversation, i trekked along to bible study, anxiously waiting to be challenged and taught and encouraged and to fellowship. and i wasnt disappointed, as always.
the study comprised of looking at John 4, which is Jesus' meeting with the Samaritan woman.
i learnt a lot, which i wont write, cause it would take FOREVER. but one thing that stuck out, was a discussion we had regarding James' sermon on sunday. we discussed the whole "born again christian" vs. a regular christian. and i kind of came to the conclusion, that althoguh i may not like the label, nor may you, but having a trust in JC, and letting Him be in charge of your life, and living for Him first and foremost, makes us born again christians. and it sucks that our society thinks of the born again christian as a spirit filled tele-evangelist, hands raised and speaking in tongues. it makes our job really hard. it makes us decide which side of the fence we sit on. the regular christian, who crosses anglican or presbyterian on the census and does nothing about, or the born again christian, who has given the life to JC, been born again of spirit and truth, and lives for and in and on and around JC.
my B.S induced epiphony was that i want to be one of those born again christians. i want people to go, oh... he's a born again christian. i want people to know that i am a child of God. i want people to know im different, but more importantly i want it to be a tool with which people come to know God. i dont want to be different for me, i want to be salt and light on the earth, to bring those, like my family, who dont know Him into a full and genuine and satisfying relationship with our Lord and Savior. it saddens me that being born again has such a tacky cliche kind of charo stereotype, because it trivializes what its really about. but we need to shine in the darkness of our world, and live the lives that we were born again to live.
discussing and joking, as my father filled in the census for himself, my mother and my sister, but not me, being the organised person i am, id done it the second it had graced my doorstep, he eventually turned to page 9. now page 9 had the interesting question of; what religion are you?
i, naturally, quickly crossed the anglican doober, a little frustrated that christianity to the world got lumped into the religion box next to hinduism, islam, and other assorted "reilgions." my frustration continued as my family discussed their "reilgion."
"i was brought up presbyterian" my father said, as he crossed the pres. box.
"well... my mother always said i was church of england, so i spose thats anglican" my mother said.
"and ive been to st lukes a few times, whats your religion rhys, im probably the same as you?" asked my sister innocently.
i looked at with incredulity at my apparently and suddenly religous family.
the evenings events, shocked me into the realisation that my family all think theyre christians. now, im not one to judge, and i dont have the authority nor the desire to judge my family as non christians, but, knowing them, and how they live and their indifference to God, i know that they arent. and yet, for them, to say that they were brought up presbyterian, is enough. the world has deluded them so much so, that for them to announce theyre christianity, is enough. for them to label themselves with a denomination is enough. it saddens me to know that my family, the people i love the most, have such a skewed vision of christianity, of God, and of Jesus, that they are living a lie. i cant think of a better way to express it. and it kills me. i hate that they are so deluded that they liken their "faith" to that of myself, or any real genuine christian person. they havent given their lives to JC, nor have they professed a trust in His death in their place, and yet, to fill in the census as church of england, is enough.
following this increasingly frustrating conversation, i trekked along to bible study, anxiously waiting to be challenged and taught and encouraged and to fellowship. and i wasnt disappointed, as always.
the study comprised of looking at John 4, which is Jesus' meeting with the Samaritan woman.
i learnt a lot, which i wont write, cause it would take FOREVER. but one thing that stuck out, was a discussion we had regarding James' sermon on sunday. we discussed the whole "born again christian" vs. a regular christian. and i kind of came to the conclusion, that althoguh i may not like the label, nor may you, but having a trust in JC, and letting Him be in charge of your life, and living for Him first and foremost, makes us born again christians. and it sucks that our society thinks of the born again christian as a spirit filled tele-evangelist, hands raised and speaking in tongues. it makes our job really hard. it makes us decide which side of the fence we sit on. the regular christian, who crosses anglican or presbyterian on the census and does nothing about, or the born again christian, who has given the life to JC, been born again of spirit and truth, and lives for and in and on and around JC.
my B.S induced epiphony was that i want to be one of those born again christians. i want people to go, oh... he's a born again christian. i want people to know that i am a child of God. i want people to know im different, but more importantly i want it to be a tool with which people come to know God. i dont want to be different for me, i want to be salt and light on the earth, to bring those, like my family, who dont know Him into a full and genuine and satisfying relationship with our Lord and Savior. it saddens me that being born again has such a tacky cliche kind of charo stereotype, because it trivializes what its really about. but we need to shine in the darkness of our world, and live the lives that we were born again to live.
posted by toj at 10:52 am
3 Comments:
i like your blogs..very interesting.
yeah jesus!
ill change it.... failed again.
I love reading your blogs Rhys they really challenge me and Encourage me heaps!So many big words tho hehe... My dad was like that 2 he says that he is a christian but i know really that he isnt and yes it makes me so sad 2! ahhh Rhys ur an good kid! Keep Charging for Christ and know that nothing can move you! xox ysic
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