Contrarian Christian living
Jesus didnβt die and raise again just to make me a βniceβ or comfy Christian.
I love Jesus more than anything
However, just because I love and follow Jesus doesnβt mean my faith has to look like the majority of white evangelicals who have subscribed to a mainstream, comfortable Christianity. After all, Jesus didnβt reinforce the status quo or make the religious people of his day feel warm and fuzzy all over. He disrupted everything and Heβs still doing it todayβif we let Him.
Though Iβve been a Christian since 1987 and walked with God since then, I would say that Iβve been pursuing the deeper things of Christ since 2010. A lot of people ask me what prompted the journey Iβve been on and how Iβve reached my current beliefs. The answer isnβt cut and dry, but the best I can summarize it is this:
Discovering whatβs good about following Jesus is not enough for me when there remains a best.
Just because Iβve been eternally saved through faith doesnβt mean Iβve encountered Godβs complete salvation from the world system. Just because Jesus canβand doesβuse the mainstream American church doesnβt mean itβs His ideal blueprint for what the community of God should look like presently. Just because I have a personal relationship with the Lord doesnβt mean I have scratched the surface of Godβs eternal purpose. I want more (everything!) I can experience of Jesus on this side of heaven, and Iβm following the Way to discover it. To discover Him.
In short, what Iβve learned (and unlearned) about following Jesus looks rather contrary to the traditions of American evangelicalism as theyβre often encountered today. I wholly believe it is the churchβs call to be the hope of the world, and I pray that I might participate in beingβand helping others learn to beβwhat it means to live that out in daily life. Thatβs why contrarian Christian living is the first and central theme of my life.
What a gritty, glorious adventure.
In service of others
Knowing that my life is not about me, I aim for this theme of my work to help curious believers:
Discover more of the inexpressible treasure found in Jesus and Jesus alone
Set aside the Christianβs easy good in pursuit of Godβs costly best
Lament, repent, and turn from the widespread complacency, ideology, and idolatry found within much of the American evangelical church
Experience radical, transforming expressions of Jesus Christ through the gift of familial, Spirit-led Christian community
Learn how to practice submission to Jesus as the active, functioning Head of the local church rather than to men or women
And more, because thereβs always more in Christ
Themes
Related projects
These are the projects Iβve either started or supported as it pertains to contrarian Christian living. Take a gander.
Related updates
Iβm known to write about this topic from time to time. Here are some of my latest messages and musings about contrarian Christian living.