The Opera Populaire

I've been thinking recently about the increasing difficulty in what we Christians love to call "living a Christian lifestyle." What exactly does this term means? Many non-Christians tend to conjure up images of their friends rising up early to go to church on Sundays, participating in ministries or Bible study sessions on other days, going out to the street to perform that task of evangelising. Yes, I do mean all of that, but there is more to it as well.

Many events in the time leading to my recent marriage and post-marriage adjustments led me to thinking. Yes, the church is an are where we are to find fellowship with other Christians, replenish spirtual knowledge etc. Then there is also the task we are, for the lack of a better word, "destined" to do outside of the church. I'm not a super Christian and in the period following graduation and into working life, find it even more difficult to be one. And, difficult as it is for me to say this, or even explain this fully to even believing friends sometimes, I know for certain that the bulk of what God is asking of me is not to be inside the church. For your info, I am not trying to say that I am henceforth excused from attending church and participating in its activities! What I am trying to put across is that sometimes, if we as Christians hope to make a difference in the world, then it is not within a walled compound or even among people of the same beliefs that we ought to stay. At least, that seems to be my calling. But that is also as far as the revelation goes.

I may not be terribly forthcoming about my views sometimes, but this does not mean that I hurt none when people I care about blast the reality of God in front of me. Admittedly, some of the criticisms aimed at self-professed Christians does ring some truth, but still, it is saddening for me. It's like someone decided to spit at your Dad's face and you wish you could reason with him/ her why she was wrong to do so somehow without ramming your entire head at his/her stomach. I wish I have the academic means of persuasion to reason out my faith. For one thing, why does it seem like it is so wrong to vilify Muslims these days, but it is still cool to jeer at Christians?

Theological thoughts aside, I learnt something from a blog that I ought to put more into practice. To lean on faith rather than attempt to reason it all out.

PS: Sorry, but another thought: "Rich Christian" is an oxymoron? Sigh....

Labels: Rambles