Monday, November 2, 2009

my computer, cast away, and commands...

I'm still crying about not having my laptop. According to the FedEx Fascists, next-day delivery doesn't actually mean the next day. No, it means whenever they feel like delivering it. I guess if this was Cast Away, I'd be Tom Hanks, completely forgotten, and talking to a volleyball waiting for someone from FedEx to actually care I'm forgotten.


As I writhe in longing for my appendix, I will share some learnings I had in Chicago. The short: I'm totally the suckiest Christian ever. I started my Live Biblically challenge like all other challenges I self-impose: decide now, assess later. As always, assessing my decision to do this in the middle of the vow has been like asking for directions in the middle of a hurricane. As a control freak, I gave the illusion that everything was fine while my left eyelid twitched, heart stuttered, and head spun trying to follow my list. I've been driving myself crazy trying to be a good Christian. But that's been the problem. I'm will never ever live up the title Little Christ (literal definition).

Here's the best part--it was never expected of me.

What does God expect of us? What is the Christian faith about? Going to church on Sundays, praying before meals, and stringently following a list of commands--or does God expect more? When people say they are Christians, what exactly does that mean? If you're a Christian and you believe Jesus is the Son of God, then all He said and did is deeply significant to how we live our lives. So it's cool we believe, but God expects more. More than prayer, church attendance, or a list of rules; God asks us for everything. As Richard Stearns pointed out, He requires a total life commitment from those who would be His followers. In fact, Christ calls us to be His partners in changing our world, just as He called the twelve to change their world two centuries ago.

So, the challenge can be wrapped up in two simple commands, not 2,345,345,962:
Luke 10:27, ...'Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul with all your strength with all your mind,' and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' I think I might be able to pull this off after all.

13 comments:

Diandra Ann said...

I just preached about that on Sunday! How cool!

Anonymous said...

So many thoughts fighting to get out of my mind before the other...

First, I just ranted about fed-ex "2 day delivery" to my husband the other day. I went on and on and he rolled his eyes. Just would've liked him to nod in agreement and be as upset as I was. Didn't happen. See... marriage isn't easy, people. ;)

Second, your left eyelid twitch is exactly why I couldn't get on board with your Little Christ list. I would've failed in the first hour and had to cover myself in ashes and tear my sweatshirt. I like my sweatshirt too much to go through that.

Thirdly, lately I've had this weird thing about the "MUST DO IT" command of praying for my meals. So sometimes I don't. Just to prove that I'm not a pharisee. I hope I don't get struck down for that radical disobedience.

Okay... see. Your posts totally rile me up! :P

Hopefully your baby returns soon!!!

Tom Bailey said...

I like your blog. Not having a computer can be very challenging in todays world. I connected to you through another blog.

Jasmine said...

You da bomb. Computerless or not. xoxo

Brianna said...

I don't know if it's just me, but I was/am having trouble understanding what your challenge really is about. Maybe you can break it down in layman terms. I get those two commands, but it sounded like you were trying to do specific things...

Annie said...

It's great that you post this because lately we've been talking to The Boy about the idea that God judges the heart and not just the actions. He doesn't expect us to be perfect. The fact that you are striving to be more like Christ is really what it's all about. The commands are the commands, but thankfully His grace far outweighs anything we can or cannot do.

Thanks again, BeeBee!

Becky said...

Great post...I think you will be able to pull it off!
God does ask for everything and sometimes that is hard for me to wrap my simple mind around. I know God doesn't want just a few parts of me...He wants all of me! Good reminder for me!

Kayla said...

You know, that's totally what I thought when you first started talking about the living Biblically challenge. I've been wondering what the heck it even means to be a Christian, and how we get so overwhelmed with the idea of giving God everything that we try to follow a list of rules. In a way, we think that a list of rules will be more manageable because it gives us something definable. Then when we try to follow those rules, we have to confront out own inabilities.

I'm pretty sure God designed it that way on purpose. He's kind of infuriating in that way.

melissa said...

AMEN! Amen and Amen! :) We should celebrate! Jesus fulfilled the law...every single one of them...I could never live up! AMEN!

And thinking about God wanting all of us...practically speaking, is hard to understand sometimes. I'm constantly asking...okay, how do I LIVE that out loud? What does that LOOK like? I have been studing the old testament lately and constantly hear God say, "they have forgotten me...." How sweet it is that simply remembering who God is draws us into a closer relationship to Him...

juniorj said...

thanks for the post and great connection with Cast Away.

Justine Ray said...

So true! You rock:)

christy said...

awesome post Bianca! I am so glad I was not the only one having a hard time...or at least having a hard time even starting...did not even know where to begin:) Sometime in my walk I feel like I get legalistic and it drives me INSANE! Then the overanalyzing comes in and the heart goes out..."am i suppossed to b doing this...or is it suppossed to be done that way...how do i know if my heart is in it...what if i am being a hypocrite...on and on...question after question...I am so thankful God knows our hearts because sometimes i feel like running in place...

His Jewel said...

Well said Christy, I feel what you wrote exactly!

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