Have you ever felt like you were living a double life? Is there a creative, free, passionate person bound inside the shell of your daily routine? My journey into the world of writing has been a catalyst to face the “real” me. Sadly, I don’t like all the things that are part of me, but I discovered a fresh new life, once I struggled past the demons in my closet. Over the last ten years, I have steadily moved closer toward the opening, and I believe I have finally stepped over the threshold before a bright new future.
I have never been a shy, or reserved person, so, that is not really what I am talking about. Nor am I revealing a secret homosexual lifestyle (although in the future I will blog about the unbiblical fixation many Christians have with this topic). What I am talking about is being… me. How can I be true to myself, without being selfish? I love this modern paraphrase of an ancient Jewish proverb.
“Get skillful and godly Wisdom, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation); do not forget and do not turn back from the words of my mouth. Forsake not [Wisdom], and she will keep, defend, and protect you; lover her, and she will guard you. The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation).”–AB
It is important to try to understand others, but you cannot do this, until you understand yourself. If you are pretending to be something you are not, STOP IT! You are living a lie, and people will not enjoy being around you. You will not find peace of mind merely going through the motions. Just like the Genie told Aladdin, “be yourself.”
When people ask me if I am a Christian, I don’t know how to answer the question. The KJV Bible only uses the word three times, and most agree the meaning is Christ-like. Jesus was constantly:
- Provoking or rebuking religious snobs
- Hung out with slatternly women
- Ate with drunks, and publicans
- Encouraged those around him
- Primarily described himself, as, son of man.
If this is your definition, then yes, I am a Christian. However, if you identify the term Christian with the bullhorn preacher at the college campus screaming, “Jews, Muslims, and Catholics are all going to hell,” or groups like godhatesfags.com, or the judgmental blind lemmings that click the Bible as my favorite book on Facebook, yet they have never read it, then the answer is, NO!
When Lacey Sturm, (the original lead singer for Flyleaf) was asked about being in a Christian band, she asked the question back, “if a plumber is a Christian, does that make him a Christian plumber?” Her point is, don’t say you are a Christian, BE ONE! It’s worth thinking about. Everyday life is happening All Around Me, and I miss it because I am stuck in my cone of criticism.
If you are a wise mature believer and my disturbing outbursts offend you, then get on your knees and pray for me. If you are an educated skeptic with enlightenment from Bart Ehrman, be patient with me and politely engage me in conversation. Or, if you are just a person that wants to discuss philosophy, fantasy, and science, then please invite yourself over to my house for dinner. The bottom line is, come out of the closet with me, we all despise fakery, and crave authenticity.