So I recently bought this amazing book on Amazon. It’s written by a California pastor named Dan Kimball, and it’s called “They Like Jesus But Not the Church.”
The book is absolute dynamite. It includes real interviews with non-Christians, talking about how much they love and appreciate Jesus. But when asked about the church, their reactions are far more negative. Pastor Kimball explores why that is the case, and encourages Christians to get outside of the box and to remove themselves from Christian subculture.
I, for one, am passionate about this book because I was raised in a Christian subculture. Sure, my hometown had many godly people, and I’m greatly blessed to know many role models who can be great examples for me, even now at college.
But at the same time, it became so suffocating – especially as I got older. I looked around me, and almost everyone I knew followed (or claimed to follow) Jesus. It became too much of a good thing.
Here at NMSU, when people ask me why I came here from Virginia, I usually give three reasons: I visited here and liked it a lot, my major is really good, and it’s affordable. But the honest truth is that I didn’t want to be isolated, and that’s part of the reason I went out-of-state for college.
This is not a way for me to vent my feelings about Lynchburg; rather, it’s about trying to live out the example of Christ. Living in a “Christianized” environment, I believe, can be very damaging. We become more focused on church music, sermons, and Christian music/literature, than about saving the lost.
If we really want to follow Jesus, then we need to live as missionaries. I have great respect for people who go into third-world countries and spread God’s Word, but the truth is that we’re all missionaries, and we should all be living like missionaries.
Being “salt and light” has nothing to do with isolating yourself. Jesus’ last commands to His disciples were to go and make other disciples. He did not want us to sit around in our Christian circles and only interact with people who share our beliefs.
A great song that I learned as a kid was “Be a Missionary Every Day.” It’s a perfect example of a fun kid’s song that, unfortunately, is not taught or thought about consistently. Jesus wants us to be missional believers and to reach out to those who are suffering or hurting and who need the hope and peace that only He provides.
“Be a missionary every day, tell the world that Jesus is the way.
In a different town or country or a busy avenue, Africa or Asia, the choice is up to you!
So be a missionary every day, tell the world that Jesus is the Way.
The Lord is soon returning, and there is no time to lose
So be a missionary, God’s own emissary
Be a missionary today!”
Are you living like a missionary every day? It’s your choice!
Letters from Las Cruces 