American Christianity

It’s time to stop being Christians

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In the American church culture, being a Christian is almost synonymous with what I would call “conversational” theology. We discuss and argue about and pick apart our answers to “what would Jesus do” in almost every situation we encounter. It’s all very heady stuff, and while it’s good to study and know WHAT we believe, our passion will run dry if we stop short of knowing WHO we believe.

But being a follower of Jesus is practical theology. There’s not a lot of time to figure out what Jesus would do when you’re busy actually doing what He actually did. This seems much more typical of the life the disciples led while they tried to keep up with Jesus as He led them all over the place doing unexpected things in unexpected places with unexpected people.

I’d go so far as to say that the disciples probably said “huh?” a lot as they walked with Jesus. There were more questions than answers – and that drove them to trust Him more than to be taught by Him.

Christians discuss what Jesus said. Followers of Jesus do what Jesus said.

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Sometimes we need to obey before we understand. Wait, let me rephrase that: we’re called to ALWAYS obey even though we may not EVER understand. Followers of Jesus obey anyway.

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Followers of Jesus…

Go where He went.
Do what He did.
Say what He said.
See what He saw.
Love who He loved.

Christianity is easy.
Following Jesus isn’t.

But only one is worth your life because only one leads to life.

It’s time to stop being Christians and start being followers of Jesus.

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September 2, 2019by Paul Jenkins
Written by Paul Jenkins
Paul Jenkins is lead pastor of The Gathering, a community church located in beautiful downtown Albemarle, North Carolina. He's the author of God is My Air Traffic Controller and My Name's Not Lou. Paul is passionate about his wife, his 3 children, running, reading, coaching, leading people who are following Jesus, Swedish Fish and the Carolina Panthers.