April 9, 2008

Just Like Everybody Else...

According to some recent interviews, articles, and polls:

Christians now have a higher divorce rate than non-Christians.
Christians consume as much alcohol, tobacco, and cuss as much as non-Christians.
Christians attend rated-R movies at the same rate as non-Christians.
Christians commit adultery, lie, steal, cheat the same rate as non-Christians.
Christians look at pornography as much as everyone else.
Christians are more judgmental and less accepting of others than non-Christians.

For too long, Christians have pronounced Jesus with our lips and denied him so loudly with our lives. You can’t tell if someone is a Christian just by looking. So, here’s my question:

How can we be set apart, how can we be following Jesus, if we look just like everyone else?

From the beginning of Genesis, we are supposed to be set apart. God chose us, called us, and blessed us that we may bless the rest of the world. Following Jesus is supposed to be a contrast culture, not a country club. What marks us as different must be more than something external or superficial; it must be a peculiar way of living.

Peter writes, (1 Peter 2.9ff):

"But you are the ones chosen by God, set apart to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul."

The processing of these jumbled thoughts has resulted in these lyrics. Enjoy.

Trying to buy what's not for sale
With the currency of our lives
Making a mess chasing after our tails
Can't seem to get it right

Branding beauty, possessions steal
The freedom of our souls
Counterfeit, seductive appeal
Wanting to be in control

Interrupt the status quo
Live in kingdom come
Mustard seed conspiracy
The answer is love

Suburban dreams of lust and greed
Imprison and isolate
Indulging ego, ignoring need
There's only room for hate

Interrupt the status quo
Live in kingdom come
Mustard seed conspiracy
The answer is love

How can we be set apart
If everybody's looking the same
How can we claim to have a new heart
When we're really just playing a game

Interrupt the status quo
Live in kingdom come
Mustard seed conspiracy
The answer is love

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